Queensland Raceway Michelin Sprint Challenge Round 4

Published on the 17th of August 2023 by McElrea Racing

We were looking forward to racing at our home track, and as always, confident of some solid results for our drivers.

Brett Boulton was overseas on business so was unable to race and Tom McLennan has moved on to another team, so we were able to run MR Tuning customer Ramu Farrell, in Pro-Am class in his first ever race weekend.

Lockie Bloxsom #23

12th, 8th, DNF - Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge 'Pro Class'

Lockie Bloxsom with McElrea Racing in the Michelin Sprint Challenge Round 4 at Queensland Raceway 2023

Caleb Sumich #14

7th, 10th, 7th - Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge 'Pro Class'

Caleb Sumich with McElrea Racing in the Michelin Sprint Challenge Round 4 at Queensland Raceway 2023

Ramu Farrell #888

2nd, 1st, DNF - Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge 'Pro Class'

Ramu Farrell with McElrea Racing in the Michelin Sprint Challenge Round 4 at Queensland Raceway 2023

Richard Cowen #2

4th, DNF, DNS - Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge 'Pro-Am Class'

Richard Cowen with McElrea Racing in the Michelin Sprint Challenge Round 4 at Queensland Raceway 2023

Summary

As usual, Lockie was quick and only missed pole by 0.08 of a second! He was hit by another competitor traveling backwards at high speed in race 1, which always makes the rest of the weekend an uphill climb.
Caleb had his best qualifying session of the season, posting a time which was only 0.2 of the pole pace. He took three top-10 finishes over the weekend including 7th place in races 1 and 3.

Ramu surprised everyone by qualifying on pole in his first Michelin Sprint Challenge race weekend. He finished 2nd in race 1, took the win in race 2 but in race 3 found himself in the gravel trap and a DNF.

Richard qualified another very solid 4th and also took 4th in race 1. In race 2 he and another Pro-Am, Andrew Goldie, had contact sending both cars into the marshals post at turn 4. Both Richard and Andrew were seriously injured in the accident and were transported to Princess Alexandra hospital in Brisbane for surgery on broken bones and internal bleeding. We wish both drivers, especially our great mate Richard a speedy recovery after such an enormous accident.

As usual, many thanks to the MR drivers, their families, sponsors and supporters and of course the AMRC (awesome MR crew), Lethal Leigh and the Supercoach, Luffy. Next race is at The Bend in SA 13-15 October.