Australian Funny Car driver Damien Harris came out on top in the opening round of the USA vs AUS Nitro Funny Car Challenge at Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway.

The challenge is part of the two-round International New Year Drag Racing Series with Harris and fellow Aussie Ricky Steffens taking on American Jack Wyatt.

Harris was clearly the star of the evening with a series of strong runs highlighted by a 4.968s at over 300mph on his first run of the evening, the first 300mph Nitro Funny Car pass by an Aussie racer at the track.

Steffens was also strong with two full passes with a five (5.768s at 186.59mph) and six second pass (6.520s at 148.87mph) for the Regency Downs racer.

Wyatt struggled with set up all night , running a 7.150 at 155.74mph and a 7.049 at 126.67mph after having to lift off the pedal at intervals during both runs.

“We just kept smoking the tyres and also struggled a bit with the tune up, but we think we know what the issue is now and are confident we will be on the pace come January 16,” he said.

“The Aussies are just fantastic – the fans are brilliant, so many came up and spoke to us and thanked us for coming and you can tell they are just die-hard racing fans, they love this and I am so glad we could come out and put on a show and hopefully we can do better for them next round.

American racer and regular visitor “down under” Gary Densham is overseeing Wyatt’s local campaign, and despite a tough night of chasing setup he was thrilled at the performance of the Aussie challengers.

“I am just so proud of the Aussies performance and of Harris, he ran over the 500kmh mark recently and then again over 300mph tonight, the Aussie racers here are just amazing,” said Denhsam.

“That is the thing about the Aussies, and this isn’t the first time this has happened when I have come over here – you give them a challenge and it never takes long for them to rise and take it, and that is just what has happened this time and I couldn’t be happier.”

While Densham was overseeing Wyatt’s campaign in the battle for national pride, he also took to the track in his Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car, taking on Australian Peter Leahy (son of the recently-passed racer Roly Leahy) in his front-engined nostalgia dragster.

Gary Densham brought back a time when Funny Cars only looked Funny. Not ridiculous

The run is not only a nod to where this racing started, but also to the time when Densham ran against Roly back in the 1970s. Densham and Leahy entertained the fans with two runs, with the nitro-running Densham crossing the line ahead of the methanol-burning Leahy in both with a 6.304s at 202.36mph and 6.143s at 227.80mph to Leahy’s 7.432s at 178.57mph and 8.173s at 172.81mph in his front-engined dragster.

Also entertaining the fans were professional Top Alcohol competitors Steve Reed and Stephen Ham, who performed two Top Alcohol Funny Car Match Races. The pair were one a piece at the end of the night, with Reed taking the victory in the first run when Ham turned the tyres off the start line and Reed powered through for a 5.842s at 245.00mph, while Ham bettered Reed in the second with a 5.961s at 239.10mph to Reed’s 6.409s at 177.35mph.

Three runs of the Nitro Funny Cars, Nostalgia and Alcohol Funny Car match races were originally scheduled for this evening, however due to a delay earlier in the evening caused by a light shower only two were run.

For full event results please visit the results page the Willowbank Raceway Website

http://results.willowbankraceway.com.au/

The International New Year Series featuring the USA vs AUS Nitro Funny Car Challenge is being run over two rounds. With tonight’s opening round now complete, round two will take place in two weeks time on Saturday January 16. The Aussies Harris and Steffens will be joined in their battle with American Wyatt by New South Welshman Chris Stipanovich for round two.

Meanwhile down in Victoria…?