Racewars to test the limits

Racewars will partner with the Australian Auto-Sport Alliance this year, with the 1000m VMAX Challenge which tragically led to a driver’s death in 2019 set to return in March. In a Facebook post last month, Racewars event organiser Jon Murray said that under AASA sanctioning, competitors and passengers under the age of 18 would now be allowed to take part in some Racewars events. The death of Brody Ford, 26, is still the subject of a coronial inquiry after his Shelby GT500 Ford Mustang failed to stop at the end of the Albany Regional Airport runway, which hosted the 1000m VMAX event on March 3 last year. One competitor reached 351km/h during the 2019 VMAX event. Mr Murray said the partnership with AASA would bring Racewars’ technical standards in line with the SFI Foundation, a not-for-profit motorsport safety organisation. “We made the choice to partner with the AASA because they get it and they want to support grassroots motorsport like our event any way they can,” he said. “The event’s safety management systems were already proven and met or exceeded the industry standards; as such there’s not going to be a wholesale change to the way the event runs aside from some administrative changes for competitors and, of course, additional support on the weekend from AASA staff.” On the Racewars Facebook page last month, Mr Murray said the organisation would transition from running as an independent event to AASA sanctioning. He outlined some of the key changes under AASA, which included lowering the age limit. Competitors will need to hold an AASA Extreme Event licence or AASA Club Race licence. Passengers will no longer be allowed during half-mile roll racing sessions. Mr Murray said Racewars had partnered with AASA because of its support for the grassroots motorsport community and that the alliance avoided “needless politics” and “outdated closed-minded thinking”. He said Racewars was “the subject of a campaign against the event” last year. “While other organisations may claim to be the be-all and end-all in Australian Motorsport, the AASA are putting the work in to engage with the grassroots motorsport community, providing support to events like ours and competitors like you,” he wrote The head of Australia’s peak motorsport body has been a vocal opponent of the event. Confederation of Australian Motor Sport chief executive Eugene Arocca said last year no Australian venue could safely hold a 1km speed test. City of Albany chief executive Andrew Sharpe said AASA would run the 1000m VMAX event and provide a steward for the event. “The end of the runway for this event will also undergo works to remove any obstacles that could negatively impact a vehicle that fails to stop, and Parker Brook Road will be closed during the 1000m VMAX events in order to enhance public and participant safety,” he said. The City has liaised with the Department of Transport and Regional Express has agreed to reschedule flights. Mr Sharpe said Royal Flying Doctor Service flights would be accommodated. Sports Minister Mick Murray said the State Government had not provided funding to the event. “I would expect the event organisers to put in place stringent safety measures and driver checks to ensure as safe an event as possible,” he said. Racewars will be held from February 28-March 2. The AASA was contacted for comment.