THE Kings Challenge sprintcar event is finally here for the 2017-18 season, with plenty of focus for Limestone Coast fans at the Borderline Speedway tonight.
One of the biggest names in the sport – Brooke Tatnell – is now based out of Mount Gambier with the Scott Motorsport team and ready to take up the challenge and bring the coveted trophy home.
The car looks resplendent in its new blue livery and showed plenty of pace at its debut in Sydney last weekend.
With limited time in the car and just a few weeks to make his mark on the sport in Australia this season before he heads back to America, Tatnell is focused on one thing – winning races.
The Kings Challenge is one such race he would dearly love to win this year.
“I have always been a person who has skipped the Kings Challenge,” Tatnell admitted.
“I focused so much on winning the (Grand Annual Sprintcar) Classic and the (Australian) title.
“I put more effort into that, but it is a different perspective for me now.
“I know what Mount Gambier and the Kings Challenge mean to Ray Scott.
“Now it goes back to passion and respect.
“This is not just about Brooke Tatnell.
“We as a team are here to win.
“The Kings Challenge is more important this year than ever.”
Tatnell is coming off his first hit out in the car at Sydney, where the initial time trial saw him well and truly on the pace.
But just like other forms of motorsport, tenths of seconds can make all the difference, with Tatnell having faith in his crew chief Peter Caporn to hone the package.
“You talk about a 10th or two – you clap your hands and there is a 10th,” he said.
“On a quarter or 3/8th mile track, that’s how close the competition is.
“In Sydney we turned terrible laps, we were way too tight on Friday, but we came down the next night and we were faster.
“That’s how critical the crew chief is.
“The driver/crew chief relationship is a marriage and I have the best guy in the business in that aspect.
“The biggest thing for us is getting dialled into this motor program and to make sure we have fun.”
From there Tatnell will look to the Australian championships the following week – also at the Borderline Speedway – which is another event he would like to win, not just for himself, but for the Mount Gambier based team and the fans in the region.
“I am super passionate about the Australian title,” he said.
“It took me 17 years to win my first title, then I was fortunate enough to win four more in the next seven years.
“After the first one, I did not care if I won another one, I just wanted that picture that said Brooke Tatnell has achieved a life-long dream of having number one on his race car.
“But I still want more.
“Being in Mount Gambier I am more driven to win a sixth title than I have been in a long time.
“I know what it would mean for Ray and Ash (Scott) and I know what it would mean for the township of Mount Gambier to see one of their own come out on top of the nation.”
