Aiden Cale
THE roar of engines will be replaced by pedal power at McNamara Park this weekend when the 2023 UniSA Australian HPV Super Series kicks off.
Round 1 – the City of Mount Gambier 8 Hour – will again make good use of the picturesque circuit, usually the domain of motorcycle racing.
The circuit includes 2.4km of fast straights, sweeping bends and technical banked hairpin sections, all of which favours riders with a vast skill set.
This year will see 84 of the human-powered trikes take to the start line – a significant increase in numbers from last year’s 70 entries.
There is a certain level of unpredictability heading into the first round, as reigning national champions, Aurora Racing, have decided to not defend their 2022 title, leaving the number one vacant for the 2023 series.
With Aurora on the sidelines, there will be a close battle between teams for the overall victory.
Platt Racing have shown strong improvements in their race pace, claiming an overall victory in the Victorian HPV Series at the back end of 2022, finishing on the same lap as Wattle Racing in the inaugural race of that state’s racing calendar in Casey Fields.
As 2019 national champions, Wattle Racing will also contend for the overall victory in Mount Gambier and look to be the favourites on paper.
They were the only other team to claim an overall victory last year on South Australian soil, clinching the Adelaide event by an 80-second margin.
Trump Trikes Factory Racing have shown they are aiming to achieve nothing less than an overall win in 2023, after taking home the national championship in the C6 Under 20’s category, plus fourth overall in all-but one of the races held in South Australia last season.
Peninsula Human Power, GTrikes and Reload Racing have all been regulars at the top end of the standings in previous years.
They will look for top-five finishes to start their 2023 campaigns off on a high.
Although Aurora will remain off the entry list, their race winning trikes will be raced by Bendigo Racing Team, BRT – newcomers UniSA Pedal Prix Team.
The former placed a respectable 10th overall in their debut outing at the 24hr Australian International Pedal Prix at Murray Bridge last season.
Team director and rider of the UniSA Pedal Prix Team, Darcy Strudwick, talked about the team’s expectations for their inaugural outing.
“While we would love to do well, we more want to see a successful application of University level technology and knowledge into this awesome sport,” Strudwick said.
“We think we have a really good starting point for it all, however, starting a team from scratch isn’t easy.
“We are in a good position for the beginning of the UniSA AHPVSS.
“With a FCR Velodrome experience being crucial for testing procedures and practices, we just need to iron out a few organisational challenges.
“However the vehicle is running incredibly fast and we are feeling very motivated.”
Strudwick claimed three overall fastest laps in 2022 and aims to build on those achievements for the 2023 season.
“Last year was an awesome year for me, racing for Gtrikes and getting the successes that we did was really a big mental step forward,” Strudwick said.
“I am feeling the fittest I ever have.
“However, just the implication of the team and completing some of our own internal objectives would feel enough for me.
“I might have to go for a few more fastest laps.”
In the C7 Open Females category, She’s The Man from Wattle Racing look to be the ones to beat based on previous form, as they took home four wins and were crowned national champions last year.
Fast Cats Racing will return to challenge Wattle Racing, competing in the C7 Open Females category for the first time at McNamara Park since 2019.
The City of Mount Gambier 8 Hour will run on Saturday, April 1 from 9am to 5pm.
The series will then head to Tailem Bend to tackle the Bend Motorsport Park circuit for Round 2, with Victoria Park in Adelaide the venue for Round 3.
A return to Tailem Bend for Round 4 is followed by a long trip across the Nullarbor Plains to Geographe Bay in Busselton, before culminating at Sturt Reserve in Murray Bridge.
