Winternationals ready to rev up

The long wait for Australia’s velocity junkies is over as the 50th Winternationals starts today at Willowbank Raceway.

Qualifying blasts off at Willowbank from 8am today.

With a weather forecast predicting cool, dry conditions, these aficionados of the straight-line sport of drag racing could be in for an avalanche of performance treats.

As the air temperature drops, there are fewer water molecules in the atmosphere, a factor that means it will be cold, but more importantly, allows engines to make more power.

At the top of fans’ wish-list is a new set of records for the ground-pounding, nitromethane-burning Top Fuel dragsters.

Willowbank has been the quickest quarter-mile outside of North America for many years, but the man who set that record for Willowbank, American driver Larry Dixon, has returned to drive for team owner Santo Rapisarda at the Winternationals.

Dixon, who holds the record for the quickest quarter-mile (402m) outside of North America at 4.503sec, is partnered in the three-car Rapisarda team with Wayne Newby, who is the second quickest driver in Australia at 4.534sec, and Damien Harris, who has recorded the fastest speed outside of North America at 336.99mph (542.33km/h).

Breaking the world quarter-mile record of 4.420sec is possible, but fans will be happy with any figure that puts our quickest time below 4.5 seconds.

Harris’s speed mark is also well within reach of the world record of 338.85mph (545.33km/h).

The Pro Alcohol field contains the five quickest for this category in Australia, including the car of John Cannuli, which holds the world record for methanol-powered Funny Cars at 5.358sec.

The Winternationals continue until Sunday.