Three returning drivers and a debutant will form the line-up at Ashley Seward Motorsport for the 2022 Porsche Sprint Challenge.
In a 2021 season that ended almost 13 months ago, ASM contested the Pro-Am trio of Andrew Goldie, Terry Knowles and Ross McGregor. All three will return for the 2022 season which commences this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park and will be joined by newcomer to the racing scene Jacob Li.
McGregor has spent eight years in the category, building a wealth of experience and coached by 2015 Elite Class Champion Geoff Emery.
Knowles made his competitive debut in the 2021 season, but the lengthy break has left him feeling as if he is making his debut once more.
“The last race I did was the last Sprint Challenge round at the start of May last year,” said Knowles.
“I’m a bit over track days, I’ve done a fair few since then. The idea of buying the car though was to go racing, I’m looking forward to hitting the track with other cars that are the same as mine again.
“I’ve got a new car, with a new livery. I bought the 991 that Dale Wood drove for Ash in the 2021 Carrera Cup Championship. I actually made the purchase early in the year, so I was wincing a bit when that car kept getting corners torn off it!
“There’s a bit of anxiety because it has been so long, so I just want to get back in the car, get the first race in the books and get into a full season finally.”
2019 Class B runner up Goldie will continue with backing from Cirrus Aircraft as the experienced racer looks forward to a first full season of racing since that 2019 result.
“I am definitely excited to be getting back into it, and to do a full season again which it looks like we will be able to achieve this year,” said Goldie.
“Sydney is a track I enjoy, it’s got a good mix of corners which produces some good racing. Night qualifying last year was interesting, a lot of cars going off which compromised my session a bit so hopefully this year everyone adapts a bit better to the different conditions, including myself.”
Li has only started racing this year, and will make his debut in national competition when he lines up in Class B as part of a 27 car grid.
“Before this year I spent a couple of years doing track days in road cars,” said Li.
“I’ve always been interested in it, my first time driving on a racetrack was in my Brother-in-Law’s car when I was 17. I took my first car at 18 for some track days and then I got the money to buy my dream car, the Gen 1 991 GT3RS.
“I spent a lot of time learning, doing track days in a sportscar was very different to what I had been driving previously. All in all, I did probably 30 of those last year.
“It was Andrew Hall that introduced me to Ash last year and from there we’ve decided to go racing in the Cup car.”
The opening event of the six round season gets underway this weekend from May 27-29 at Sydney Motorsport Park with qualifying to take place under lights on Friday night.
Weekend Schedule:
Friday:
Practice 1 – 11:05am
Practice 2 – 2:35pm
Qualifying – 7:05pm
Saturday:
Race 1 – 12:40pm
Race 2 – 4:30pm
Sunday:
Race 3 – 12:40pm