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Australia’s 400 Thunder Moves To IHRA Sanctioning
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Australia's new professional drag racing series, 400 Thunder, will be sanctioned by the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) for future events, starting with December’s Home Group WA Nitro Slam at Perth Motorplex.
The move to the IHRA comes after a successful debut for 400 Thunder series at the East Coast Nationals, recently held at Sydney Dragway. The event attracted 62 professional teams with entries from every state and territory of Australia, as well as the US.
The East Coast Nationals was sanctioned by the Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA), which indicated to Perth Motorplex it will not sanction future 400 Thunder events, according to published reports.
ANDRA also reportedly notified its members that it is unlikely permits for Perth and Willowbank Raceway will be issued "in the foreseeable future for any event that forms part of a non-ANDRA series.”
400 Thunder spokesman Gerald McDornan said the move to IHRA was a decision not taken lightly, but is an asset for the future of professional drag racing in Australia. IHRA President, Scott Gardner welcomed 400 Thunder to the organization and said all the facilities at which the series will visit had already been inspected and approved.
"The International Hot Rod Association is proud to welcome 400 Thunder, running at Willowbank, Sydney and Perth, to the IHRA family," Gardner said.
"We take great pride in being an organization that reaches beyond the borders of our country in an effort to promote drag racing on an international scale throughout Canada, Aruba, the Bahamas, New Zealand, and now Australia.
McDornan said the IHRA would recognize the existing rules, technical regulations and licenses in Australia in the interim to ensure a seamless transition for competitors.
Sportsman racers will also be included in the 400 Thunder IHRA switch with local rules, regulations and licenses recognized as per the professional categories to ensure competitors incur no additional costs.
"400 Thunder's arrangements also open up a new world of opportunities for Sportsman competitors, including the opportunity to represent Australia at the IHRA World Finals,” McDornan said.
"We will make more announcements over time, but we are already excited by the opportunities."
For more information, visit www.IHRA.com
The move to the IHRA comes after a successful debut for 400 Thunder series at the East Coast Nationals, recently held at Sydney Dragway. The event attracted 62 professional teams with entries from every state and territory of Australia, as well as the US.
The East Coast Nationals was sanctioned by the Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA), which indicated to Perth Motorplex it will not sanction future 400 Thunder events, according to published reports.
ANDRA also reportedly notified its members that it is unlikely permits for Perth and Willowbank Raceway will be issued "in the foreseeable future for any event that forms part of a non-ANDRA series.”
400 Thunder spokesman Gerald McDornan said the move to IHRA was a decision not taken lightly, but is an asset for the future of professional drag racing in Australia. IHRA President, Scott Gardner welcomed 400 Thunder to the organization and said all the facilities at which the series will visit had already been inspected and approved.
"The International Hot Rod Association is proud to welcome 400 Thunder, running at Willowbank, Sydney and Perth, to the IHRA family," Gardner said.
"We take great pride in being an organization that reaches beyond the borders of our country in an effort to promote drag racing on an international scale throughout Canada, Aruba, the Bahamas, New Zealand, and now Australia.
McDornan said the IHRA would recognize the existing rules, technical regulations and licenses in Australia in the interim to ensure a seamless transition for competitors.
Sportsman racers will also be included in the 400 Thunder IHRA switch with local rules, regulations and licenses recognized as per the professional categories to ensure competitors incur no additional costs.
"400 Thunder's arrangements also open up a new world of opportunities for Sportsman competitors, including the opportunity to represent Australia at the IHRA World Finals,” McDornan said.
"We will make more announcements over time, but we are already excited by the opportunities."
For more information, visit www.IHRA.com
