A truly national field of drivers are preparing for battle this Friday and Saturday night at Ballarat’s Redline Raceway in Victoria, where they will compete for top honours in the 2017-18 season Australian AMCA Nationals Title.

Despite a lack of track time this season, defending Australian Champion and current Western Australian Champion Tim Reidy will be one of the strong favourites heading into the event, having achieved a momentous victory in last season’s title at Kalgoorlie International Speedway in Western Australia after eight previous unsuccessful attempts.

Returning to what has been a happy hunting ground for him in the past, having taken out last season’s Victorian Title at the Ballarat track, Geelong’s Jamie Collins is expected to fare well and will be hoping to go one better this time around, after coming home in the runner-up spot last season for the second time in his career.

Another regular front-runner throughout Victoria, Dean Heseltine will be hoping to capitalise on his knowledge of the track throughout the Australian Title weekend, as will Grant Cullinger, Paul Sullivan, Mills brothers, Mathew and Jamie, Sharon Tindal, Bill Lodwick and former Victorian Champion Darren ‘Plugger’ McCarthy.

Other home-state contenders include Allan Cullinger, Frank Thierry, Keenan Casey, Bruce Tait, Jimmy Harris, ex-Tasmanian-based racer Garth Stevens, Neale Peachey, John Churchyett and Greg Firmin.

Making the long trip east to fly the flag for his state, David Boyes will surely be out to prove that last season’s third-place finish was no fluke, while fellow Western Australian representative Greg Horan will be hoping for a strong qualifying result.

25 1 2018 Tim Reidy

Heading up the Queensland contingent will be Matt Hardy, who has one aim for the weekend and that is to reclaim the Australian Title crown, after winning the 2015-16 running of the event at Lismore Speedway in NSW. Placing fourth in Australian Title, Hardy also managed to take out last season’s Queensland and NSW Titles and is certainly not to be discounted.

Former Victorian Champion Steve Potts, who has a history of dominating local competition throughout his home state, while also performing strongly in title events, will be joining Hardy in the Queensland field, along with Russ Hardy (Matt’s dad), Steve Price, Chris Wright, four-time Australian Champion Shane McKinnell, David Moore, Cody Simmons and Nathan Durston.

From South Australia, Jeremy Moore is going to be one to watch, having previously finished amongst the top-five in numerous title events. Jason Robinson, Lachie Gwynne, Leanne Turner and Kelsey Allen will also be hoping to do their state proud.

Representing New South Wales, current NT Champion Shane Newstead, Tony Blanch, Shane Cartwright, Spano Gutierrez, and Peter Markulin are aiming for strong qualifying result in the Australian Title to give themselves the best chance to claim the crown, as will Raymond Kime, Troy Kennedy, Lindsay Cornwall and Mark Chiplin.

A strong field of drivers from Australia’s Apple Isle will make their way across the Bass Strait, with three-time Tasmanian Champion Daniel Brooks and consistent front-running contender Andrew ‘Dooie’ Ryder leading Rodney Bassett and his son Adrian, Craig Bargoski, Jake Briggs, and Shaun Sutton into battle.

Making their way to Redline Raceway from the Northern Territory, youngster Jacob Belcher, who placed second in last season’s NT Title, is aiming to prove himself up against the rest of the stout Australian Championship field.

The 2017-18 season Australian Championship will commence this Thursday (January 25) with scrutineering and the calcutta, followed by three rounds of heat races on Friday night (Australia Day). Saturday night will see drivers contest the remaining round of heat races, followed by a C main, B main and the 40-lap Australian Championship-deciding feature race.

To find out more about AMCA Nationals, visit their website at www.amcanationals.com.au or LIKE them on Facebook by searching AMCA Nationals.

2017-18 Season Australian Title Nominations:
NSW 0 Lindsay Cornwall
Aus 1 Tim Reidy
Vic 2 Greg Firmin
Vic 4 Sharon Tindal
WA 4 Greg Horan
Qld 6 Steve Price
Vic 7 Frank Thierry
Tas 8 Craig Bargoski
Vic 9 Bruce Tait
Vic 10 Allan Cullinger
NSW 11 Shane Cartwright
SA 11 Jeremy Moore
Vic 12 Jimmy Harris
Tas 13 Rodney Bassett
Vic 13 Bill Lodwick
NSW 14 Troy Kennedy
Tas 14 Adrian Bassett
Qld 15 Matt Hardy
Vic 17 Jamie Mills
Qld 18 Russ Hardy
Vic 20 Mathew Mills
NSW 22 Raymond Kime
Tas 22 Daniel Brooks
SA 23 Jason Robinson
NSW 24 Tony Blanch
SA 24 Lachie Gwynne
Vic 24 Darren McCarthy
Tas 26 Andrew Ryder
NSW 27 Shane Newstead
NT 27 Jacob Belcher
Tas 27 Jake Briggs
Vic 28 Paul Sullivan
Qld 32 Steve Potts
Tas 32 Shaun Sutton
Vic 34 Jamie Collins
Vic 39 Garth Stevens
NT 46 Spano Gutierrez
Vic 51 Neale Peachey
SA 54 Leanne Turner
Vic 55 Grant Cullinger
Vic 63 John Churchyett
Qld 75 Chris Wright
SA 75 Kelsey Allen
Vic 84 Keenan Casey
Qld 85 Shane McKinnell
Qld 88 David Moore
NSW 91 Peter Markulin
WA 91 David Boyes
Qld 93 Cody Simmons
Vic 93 Dean Heseltine
NSW 97 Mark Chiplin
Qld 97 Nathan Durston