2024 PDNR Winter Champs – Report

Sydney’s Brayden Stanley was the big winner at the 2024 Winter Champs, hosted by Penrith District Nitro Racing in Greater Western Sydney.  Stanley scooped both IC Touring and ISTC Modified Classes in a powerful display.  This was the 16th year that PDNR have hosted the Winter Champs, Australia’s premiere non-sanction on-road events.  With 12 classes over two days, the Winter Champs hosts both nitro and electric racing in 1/12th, 1/10th and 1/8th categories on PDNR’s temporary car-park layout.  Scotty Ernst and Chris Mitchell provided event announcing to heighten the quality of the event.

Saturday saw 1/8th (Open, GT and GTE), 1/10th IC Touring, 1/12th (13.5), Formula 1 and Short Course Truck classes.  Sunday’s racing featured four ISTC classes (Modified, 13.5, 21.5 and Junior) together with Front Wheel Drive. Brayden Stanley’s performance headlined the results, the current 10th IC Touring National Champion and former IFMAR Worlds A Finalist too strong in IC Touring ahead of fellow PDNR member Tate Firth and Michael Stone.  Stanley would back it up on Sunday with a big ISTC Modified win over a quality field that included Jeffrey Macke, Tim Moylan and Simon Nicholson as the Sydney driver made his first appearance with an ARC. The clash between Stanley, Mackie, Jeff Hamon and Ryan Maker at the upcoming Queensland Championships is something to look forward to.

The GT and GTE classes provided some of the best racing of the weekend, the big bangers spectacular around a layout that included both high-speed swoops and technical sections. Cameron Kendall prevailed in GTE after three brilliant finals, while Rick Seymonsbergen was too strong in a GT final that started in light rain before the track dried to enable a fast finish.

A PDNR tradition, the Short Course Truck class saw temporary jumps added to the track, 17 trucks going at it for 6 heads-up races in a spectacular and crowd-pleasing display. Tate Firth defeating US visitor Scotty Ernst and Clinton Mackenzie.  PDNR continue to champion junior drivers, and a 12-car Junior ISTC field saw some big performances from future stars – none more so that Tye Moylan’s dominant win. Tye made it a big weekend for the Moylan family after father Tim had earlier won both 1/8th Open and Front Wheel Drive classes, and been on the podium in ISTC Modified.

Thanks to Scott Guyatt of Action RC for the report.

Source: Penrith District Nitro Racing [pdnr.org.au]