Two Kyneton race drivers have claimed podium positions and one has the title of Improved Production Under Two Litre National Championship.
Well-known Kyneton race champion Brad Vereker won the IPRA Nationals title at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit last month.
“The win is still slowly sinking in,” Vereker told the Express.
The national championship is now his second, since claiming the Hyundai Excel Masters Champion title in 2022.
Since then, Vereker has also put in a strong performance for the Tyrepower V8 SuperUte Series to earn Rookie of the Year.
Phillip Island was a whole different experience but Vereker went in with confidence and a clear head.
For the Phillip Island Nationals weekend, Vereker raced a Datsun 1200 coupe that his friend Simon Phillips had rebuilt.
“He did a huge amount of work on the car,” Vereker said.
“We went with the hope of winning and being very competitive.
“We wanted to last the weekend. The plan was to just manage the car and to push, but not push the boundaries too far early in the weekend.
“I started the final in pole position, managed it, and won.”
Vereker was proud to claim the national title at his ‘home track’ in Victoria and to share the podium with fellow Kyneton racer, up-and-comer Josh Perkins, who came in third.
“We have been family friends for a long time. It’s great to see Josh on the podium,” he said.
PERKINS DEBUT
Perkins’ placement was an impressive end to his first ever race meeting, which was not short of adrenalin and skill.
The 20-year-old competed in a unique Rx7 with skinny 12a to meet the U2L class rules.
Racing runs deep for Perkins who has been watching his father, seasoned competitor John Perkins, race since the age of five. This time, both father and son competed at the same track but in different classes.
On the Saturday, Josh qualified 13th of 26 to finish eighth in his first race. It set him up to finish fifth in his second race following some competitor mechanical drop-outs but also some genuine place gains.
Sunday’s wet track saw John clip the wall in the second lap of his first race that day, wiping his chance at a trophy in the Over 2L class.
He was checked by the medical team, although uninjured, and Josh had seen the incident without knowing the outcome right before his race.
Josh began 11th and handled the rain well to finish sixth, setting him up for his final race.
Starting in fifth, Josh could never have expected what was to come next.
Two drivers in third and fourth smashed into each other to come off the track. Josh held third for the last two laps despite heavy pressure from seasoned professionals behind him.
“Josh. He held his nerve and got third place. We were celebrating. It’s not common to get two on the podium from Kyneton,” John said.
“Josh drove exceptionally well for someone who was racing for the first time, and it was the first time he had raced that car. He really showed a great race maturity.
“I have been a competitor for 42 years but, I’ve been told, now I’m not a competitor: I’m Josh Perkins’ dad. Myself and wife Kim are very proud parents.”
