New AASA Nationals format for Formula RX8

Image: Riccardo Benvenuti

Round 2 of the Hi-Tec Oils AASA Short Track Nationals powered by WOLF SPORTS will take place at One Raceway this weekend (June 20-21) and is headlined by Formula RX8.

At this event, it is the popular one-make rotary-powered Mazda RX8 Championship that will be competing for the honour of becoming the short track national champion.

Notably the Yellow Express Formula RX8s will utilise a different race format to that used by the Legend Cars in Round 1.

For starters, every race across the course weekend will count in determining who takes home the National title status, rather than a winner takes all affair as seen previously.  

Secondly, the Formula RX8 nationals round also couples as a round of its regular championship season, instead of a stand-alone event.

The format itself is different also, instead of drawing the first set of grids at random, Formula RX8 will run a dedicated qualifying session which will determine the grids for the heats.

There will be four heat races on Saturday, Heat 1 will be made up of the even numbers in qualifying, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 etc, while those who qualified in p3, 5, 7 and 9 etc will go into Heat 2. The fastest driver lines up on pole, with the slowest at the back.

Heats 3 and 4 will see the groups split into the two groups, odds and evens once more, however the grids will be drawn off the drivers second fastest qualifying times.

Sunday’s competitive action will begin with a one-lap Shootout session, the driver lowest on the event points overnight will go first, through to the current event leader who will go out last. The fastest driver will earn the luxury of starting on pole for the penultimate race, but more on that later.

The Final itself will be split into three parts, Stage 1 will see the grid inverted in groups of eight. 8-1, 16-9, 24-17 etc will be rotated.

The finishing order of the 10-lap Stage 1 will determine the grid positions for Stage 2, albeit the driver that was fastest in the morning Shootout, this driver will start from pole regardless of their Stage 1 result. Stage 2 will be 12 laps in duration.

The final third stage will be determined by the accumulated points to this point in the weekend, with the best scoring driver going to pole position, and the lowest going to the rear.

The 15-lap third stage will be the final race of the weekend, with accumulated points determining the event winner.

Cleverly those races later in the weekend are worth more points, with the Stage 3 final a double points affair.

A grid of over 20 cars is expected to compete for the national crown, notable names returning include Geoff Connell and Brett Thompson and a couple of newbies including Robyn Kriel, this event is one you are not going to want to miss.

Some graphics are below to explain the format further.

More event information will come out shortly.

Ben Portelli – Formula RX8 category manager

“The format was developed with Marcos Ambrose to provide the best racing for our cars at this track,” Portelli said.  “We will be crowning a National Short Track Champion, while maintaining the integrity of our championship.

“A mix of a one-lap shoot out, short races, longer finals, double points and with championship points still being awarded over the weekend, there will be something to play for in every race.

“With the double points Nationals in the Final there will be plenty of drivers in the running for the Nationals crown. 

“It is an amazing opportunity provided by the AASA for Formula RX8 to headline a national event.

“With more track time than ever before and having all eyes on us, it provides a great opportunity for our drivers to show their talent on a national stage and provide good exposure for their sponsors. 

“We have some new drivers to series as well as some returning drivers from our previous seasons including Brett Thompson and Geoff Connell, while Robyn Kriel joins us for the first time.

“We are expecting a close battle up the front with our current championship leaders. We have had close and clean racing at our first two rounds and with so much to play for we expect to see the same this weekend.

“Brad Harris, Cadel Ambrose, Stiaan Kriel, Matthew Boylett, Anthony Cafiso and Liam hall are expected to be battling at the front with new commers Toby Waghorn, Sean Bennett and Robyn Kriel hoping to shake things up.”