16/10/2024
Time to Fly!
The flying Formula 500’s are back this weekend and thrilled to be part of the Powerpalooza event once more as the Perth Motorplex celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary season!
Last season it was all about Steven Ellement (Steven Ellement Motorsport), six feature race wins at the Motorplex alone. The current State Champion set the all-time feature race winners record at the venue at the same time, but he is not content to rest on his laurels and would love to add to that tally this season, starting this Saturday night as he takes on another thirteen drivers in the Powerpalooza event.
Indeed, the level of competition is always fierce and Ellement will have to fight hard to stay atop the tree this season, with names like Turacchio, Newmarch, Andersson and Sinagra just some of the names set to trouble him.
Across the off season the Formula 500’s had a few runs with events held at Kellerberrin and Ellenbrook Speedway’s.
Cody Turacchio (Cody Turacchio Motorsports) claimed the DTN 500 at Ellenbrook back in May while Brendan Newmarch (Newmarch Racing) was victorious in the most recent event at the end of September at the same venue. Both men also recorded feature wins at the Motorplex venue last season, the first ones of their careers, and would love to kickstart their 2024/25 campaigns by making their way back onto the top of the podium.
It has been a long time since Shane Andersson (Team Ando Racing) nominated for the opening show of the season. Some may say it is due to disorganisation, but Shane is keen for people to realise that his absence has also been partly due to the opening event always clashing with his partner Abbey’s birthday! All jokes aside, Abbey supports Shane’s racing 200% though, and with a renewed focus on racing, Ando could well get himself back up the front come feature race time after a fifteen-year absence from the top step.
Former State Champion David Sinagra (Sinagra Motorsport) has committed to running the full season and knowing what he is capable of when he gets laps under his belt should make the other drivers sit up and take notice. Interestingly, Snags has never claimed a feature win at the Motorplex, so could this weekend be his chance?
Brendon Marshman (Opal Finance F500 Racing) is another who has been on the pace at each and every show. Mr Consistent scored two wins and six podium finishes last season and would love to build on that once again. Working hard behind the scenes as part of the committee, not to mention being the main sponsor of the Perth Motorplex Track Championship through his business Opal Finance Home Loans, a feature win would be just reward for his efforts.
Darren Rodwell is another working hard behind the scenes, recently returning to the President’s role. Hitting the track at a recent practice session, Rodwell got more and more comfortable in the car and with a little bit of luck, could well be troubling the front runners.
Chloe Newmarch (Newmarch Racing) and Logan Dean (LSJ Motorsports) were also at the same practice session, the recent Junior Formula 500 graduates doing all they can to build their experience. Fellow graduate Marcus Pages has also nominated for the weekend, while at the opposite end of the scale, the experienced Jeff Ross is also in the field and both shouldn’t take long to be right on the pace.
Todd Broadwood and Rhys Cu***ng (RJC Motorsport) both took the chance to cut some laps at the last show, Cu***ng in particular impressing with his speed, and could well be a real threat come feature time on Saturday. Debbie Garland (Woodys Racing) also put on a show at that same show at Ellenbrook, recording a strong heat race win and then fighting her way forward to grab a podium result in the feature and with a rejuvenated attitude towards racing, she too could trouble the front runners.
Make sure you get to the Perth Motorplex early this Saturday night for Powerpalooza, with the Formula 500’s first race just after 4pm!
Release by DTN Media.
Powerpalooza History
2017 Chris Dymock
2018 Chris Dymock
2021 Glenn Carstairs
2022 Steven Ellement
2023 Steven Ellement
