22 May NEW APC RECRUIT READY TO TAKE ON THE BEND
WA racer Brent Peters is looking forward to making his Meguiar’s Australian Production Cars debut at The Bend Motorsport Park next weekend, after being recruited to the national category by fellow West Aussie and APC champion racer, Chris Lillis.
“Chris basically talked me into it,” laughed Peters.
“It wasn’t hard though – this is the best value endurance racing in a national category, and after enjoying podiums and wins in drifting, Excel Cup, Sports Sedans, RX8 Cup and Production Cars locally, I was looking for a new challenge.”
Peters got started in racing in hill climbs and drifting at home in his native New Zealand, before getting hooked on circuit racing when he moved to Darwin in 2010.
Now based in West Australia in Perth, the Project Engineer is preparing to field the #32 Luxe Performance VE SS Commodore in the B2 class next weekend with co-driver, Damien Croxon, who is currently leading the WA Production Car State Championship.
At top and above: Brent Peters in action (Track Snap Photography)
“It is a new car to me, but previously belonged to my tuner Shannon of Tune Corp,” Peters said.
“I love it because it is rear wheel drive and easy to maintain.
“A fun fact about it is that it has gone 300kph once at the 2019 Racewars event – I don’t think I will be taking it to those speeds on the twists and turns of the Bend’s Western Circuit though!” he laughed.
The four one-hour races for Meguiar’s APC will be the first experience of The Bend Motorsport Park for Peters, and while on-track, Peters and Croxon will be looking to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute.
“I am a Bend ‘virgin;’ so I am very much looking forward to the experience,” he said.
“It will be great to get some national experience and hopefully we can be competitive as well. Hopefully having a larger, stable car will help us in the long races.
“While we are on-track we will be continuing our fundraising efforts for the Black Dog Institute – so far we have raised $4,000 across our racing in WA, and hopefully we can add to that tally at The Bend.”
The 42-year-old has already signed up for the newly announced Meguiar’s APC racing at SRO Motorsport’s GT Festival at Phillip Island across August 23-25 also.
“I am absolutely keen to race at Phillip Island, the track is awesome,” he said, while thanking sponsors Luxe Performance, DC Auto Centre, Tune Corp, Penrite Oil, Culture Fitness, Des Leeder and CJS Motorsport, as well as Andrea, Matt and Flynn, Shane and ‘Smurf’ and the rest of his crew who have helped him prepare for the upcoming event.
Peters and the rest of the Meguiar’s APC field will take to The Bend Motorsport Park across May 31 to June 2 for what four one-hour races at what will be the second round of the category’s 2024 season, which was recently announced as expanded to six rounds.
Entries for rounds three through six are open now – for entry forms, costs and more, please visit https://ausprodcars.com.au/entry-form/ or email admin@ausprodcars.com.au
2024 AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION CARS CHAMPIONSHIP DATES:
- Round 1 – Sandown Raceway – February 9-11, 2024 – Four 30-minute races
- Round 2 – The Bend – May 31-June 2 – Four 1 hour races
- Round 3 – Queensland Raceway – July 12-14 – Two 2 hour races
- Round 4 – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit – August 23-25 – four 1 hour races
- Round 5 – Sydney Motorsport Park – 18-20 October – Four 1 hour races
- Round 6 – Bathurst International – 8-10 November – Four 30-minute races