Following his Super Sedan victory in Round 4 of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series at Willowbank Raceway in April, Paul Doeblien is out to double up with a win in the season ending Fuchs Winternationals June 4-7.
He will have to navigate a packed field of 74 cars to do it ensuring it will be a race of attrition with championship implications on the line for many competitors.
“The Winternats is extremely hard to win, firstly we will have at least two more rounds of racing than most other meets to be the winner plus the competition also ramps up with a lot of really good racers from interstate,” explains Doeblien.
“To win a meet like this you don’t only have to perform well as a team but I think a little bit of luck goes a long way.”
Doeblien insists he is there to win despite his chances for the national championship being impaired by the unique situation of the Nitro Champs cancellation due to weather and the requirement of competing outside competitors own Division at least once during a season.
“I will be at the Winternats for the same reason as most of the other racers, there to win,” he says.
“I want to finish on top, most Queenslanders have been screwed by the Nitro Champs being rained out even though we had committed to compete in Sydney.”
Doeblien is a previous winner of the 2000 Winternationals in Super Street and although he is a regular at the event every year, the atmosphere never fails to to give him goose bumps.
“My favourite moment is an easy one, in 2000 I won the event as well as the national championship in Super Street.
“The other favourite moment happens at every Winternats – and that is the atmosphere that surrounds this event. If it doesn’t make the hairs on your arm stand up and give you goose bumps you’re in the wrong sport.”
The Fuchs Winternationals featuring 500 racers across the six ANDRA Drag Racing Series Group One categories and 12 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series brackets from all over the country take over Willowbank Raceway June 4-7.
Tickets are on sale online now – including discounted pre-purchase only tickets. Looking to bring the family? Don’t forget that children aged 13 and under gain free admission, while students with ID and Concession Card Holders can access discounted entry (terms and conditions apply).
For more information including race scheduling please visit the event page here.