Get set for action packed racing this weekend

This weekend more than 100 competitors will converge on Stanthorpe for the running of the Preston Peak Wines Queensland-New South Wales Sprint Challenge and the Short Circuit Touring Car Championships.
This event, the final round of the 2011 series, has attracted a large field from many parts of Queensland and NSW.
This year has been the closest fought out series for top honours in the seven-year history of the event.
The series is being conducted on a points system and the final results will go right down to the wire, as there is no competitor that has a clear-cut lead in either the short circuit racing or the super sprint challenge, so this should produce some close, action-packed racing.
The super sprint side of the weekend is too close to call and it is anyone’s guess who will come out on top in the sprint, which is run over four-lap heats, with four cars on the track, with each competitor being timed independently.
NSW drivers are dominating the lead in the sprints. Lismore’s Nicholas Contojohn is on top of the points ladder in his Subaru WRX with 35 points, and will be the one to beat as he is very quick at Carnell Raceway. Second on the points table is Lismore’s Adrian Moore on 34 points, while another NSW competitor, Daryl Watt from Glenreach, is a close third on 33 points.
Gold Coast’s hillclimb star John Gilbert in a Holden Commodore is the first Queenslander on the points ladder with 31 points. Toowoomba’s Cameron Freeman in his Datsun 1200 coupe Sport Sedan is on 27 points and rounds off the top five runners after the last round.
Stanthorpe will be well represented in the sprint challenge. Doug Chippendale will be at the wheel of his immaculate Ford Escort, competing in the pre-1972 Classic Touring Class 1600cc–2000cc. Doug will be hard to beat in the class as he always runs some very quick times.
Mick Irwin will be running his Datsun Sunny in the 0–1600cc Improved Production Class and should do well in the class. John Eldridge will be in his well-presented 1200cc 1974 RB Corolla F3 open wheeler. John is very competitive and always sets some very quick laps on the home circuit, but he will have some stiff opposition from Manly West driver Vern Hamilton in a very similar open wheeler.
The highlights of the weekend will be the Shoot Out on Sunday afternoon when it comes to the teams challenge for the coveted Queensland-New South Wales Sprint Challenge Shield. The shield is held by Queensland, who are at present one up in the series. It is rumoured that one NSW team member has stated that they will be coming to teach the Queenslanders to drive, but we will have to wait and see.
Gatton based Improved Production champion Brendon Pingel, last year’s winner of the Short Circuit Championship, is on 92 points. Pingel holds a slim lead for outright honours over Forest Hill’s Sports Sedan star Cec Morgan, who is on 90 points. It is going to be a real battle for outright honours. Pingel will be hard to beat as he has been competing in the 2011 Aussie Car Series and finished third at Philip Island a few weeks back. This has given Pingel more experience, but Morgan, who was 2009 Short Circuit Champion, is a very competent driver and will keep Pingel on his toes.
Ballina’s fast improving Bill Heuchmer, who is holding down third place outright on 78 points, still could get enough points to be in the top spot at the end of the day. Toowoomba’s Peter Cusato could be the one to watch in the Improved Production up to 2000cc class in his Ford Escort. Cusato was going well at the last round and could well have been points leader if the Escort had not developed engine trouble.
The dark horse in the pack, Tamworth club’s Alastair Bell in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo11, comes with top credentials; Bell is untried at Carnell Raceway. There are still several competitors who are in striking distance of the leaders, so the short circuit racing is sure to be interesting.