Two-time Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Super Sedan Australian Champion Martin Mirco went all the way to the finals at the Goldenstates at the weekend, and now has South Coast Nationals victory in his sights this weekend (December 2/3).
The 2020/2021 and 2019 champion will be undertaking back to back Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series weekends when he fronts up to Portland’s South Coast Raceway for this Saturday and Sunday as part of a field of more than 160 sportsman racers.
Mirco heads to Portland fresh from a runners-up result at the Perth Motorplex last weekend, following a double break-out final against Nick Puglia.
“It was disappointing to lose the final of course, I have won just about every event at the Perth Motorplex, but the Goldenstates has eluded me for around 13 years, it is the only one I haven’t won!” said Mirco.
“The car went okay in the early rounds even though it was a bit tricky with the very hot conditions, and in the last couple of passes it went really well.
“Obviously it went too well in the final – it normally doesn’t go that well on a short turnaround, instead normally going slightly slower, but this time it went twenty seven hundredths of a second quicker so that was a bit of a curveball!
“Even so, it was good to go to the final, to get the runner-up, and to get some good points. I needed to get to at least the final to move up the ladder a bit, so it was good to achieve that.”
With this weekend’s event the last for the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series, Mirco says he expects the intensity to be particularly high.
“South Coast Raceway is a good track and I have made a couple of semi-finals, I really enjoy going there, even if it is quite cold,” Mirco said.
“A win at Portland this weekend would be really good. It is always good to win an ANDRA Christmas Tree. I think everyone is going to be trying extra hard to get their hands on one this weekend.
“It can be challenging having the quick turnaround, but at the same time, the advantage is that I have run two meets in a row, so everything is really fresh in my mind, and I haven’t been waiting four weeks for an event – hopefully some of the other guys a bit rusty,” he laughed.
“I will be keeping everything the same, that is a big key in sportsman racing: routine, routine, routine! I don’t change much even from one track to the other, as you have limited time for testing and going straight into qualifiers, if you muck up you are disadvantaged, so I try and keep everything the same and just change the dial-in on the window if needed.
“Hopefully we can get a win, and plenty more points to put us up the pointy end,” Mirco concluded, while thanking his family and crew for their support, WADRA, and his valued sponsors One Residential, Lost Racing Products, Gyeon Australia, WA Bolts, Xtreme Auto Detailing, JD Automotive, Comp Engines, Dimoff Transmissions, Allfast Converters, A1 High Performance and Complete Freight Services.
The Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series will descend on South Coast Raceway for the South Coast Nationals this weekend (December 2/3). For event info, go to www.southcoastraceway.com.au
For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au
PHOTO THANKS TO HIGH OCTANE PHOTOS