PERFORMANCE AND RACING
SUMMERNATS SLAM 2021 The Summernats team is gearing up for a big 2021 Summernats recently released an all-new calendar which it says features some of Australia’s best automotive lifestyle events taking place across the country. If you’ve never been to a Summernats, organisers say this is the year to check out the nation’s best car builds and unveils, show ‘n’ shines, vehicle demos and competition plus a huge trade show with the best aftermarket solutions and products on display.
POTENZA RE-71RS WINS OVER TIME ATTACK CHAMPS The new tyre made its competitive debut at the Australian Time Attack event at Wakefield Park Bridgestone says its new street-legal semi-slick tyre, the Potenza RE-71RS, entered the market having already proven its credentials with a onetwo finish in the Australian Time Attack Club Sprint class at Wakefield Park. Bridgestone explains that the RE-71RS has been released on the Australian market promising increased grip levels, improved handling, and better wear life over its predecessor, the RE-71R, while retaining practicality for everyday use. The tyre made its competitive debut at the Australian Time Attack event fitted to the Mitsubishi Evo VI of Club Sprint winner Jamal Assaad and Evo X of runner-up Nik Kalis, who both recorded personal best times around the NSW track on the new tyre. Bridgestone Potenza shod cars filled the top four positions of the class, with Andre Naz’s Evo VIII fitted with the RE-71R tyre claiming third, and the Honda Civic of Adrian Pazman also on the RE-71RS in fourth.
The all-new Summernats Slam will feature three huge days of drags, burnouts, show ‘n’ shine, motorkhana, trade and more at Sydney Dragway across January 8 to 10. The event kicks off on Friday January 8 with the Garrett Advancing Motion Drag Day – a huge day and night of racing on the newly upgraded track with $10,000 in prize money up for grabs. There are categories for everything from dedicated race cars to street cars, and everything in between. Plus, there is a 10,000 HP Blower Vs Turbo showdown ready to rumble on Friday night. Saturday and Sunday at Summernats Slam will see the madness of the Burnout Masters hit the pad as well as Motorkhana, Show ‘n’ Shine, Skid Row, and a VIP park-up in the pits, as well as non-competition drag racing sessions. Organisers say it is set to be a huge weekend with a total of $30,000 up for grabs. Another first for the event is the offering of exclusive Corporate Box Packages which include seven Corporate Season Passes for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, premium viewing of all the action from a private airconditioned area plus a food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage package. For more information, visit www.summernats.com.au/slam 90
Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine November 2020
Winner Jamal Assad and runner up Nik Kalis both praised the new tyre, vouching for the RE71RS’ increased grip levels, as well as better longevity and consistency across their flying laps throughout the event. Jamal set an impressive 1:01.1130s to take out the Club Sprint class, bettering his time by more than a second on the RE-71RS, and was reportedly impressed by the consistency of the new tyre. “It’s the best road-legal tyre I’ve driven on to date. The feedback the tyre provides is outstanding,” Jamal said. “I was surprised by how consistent the tyre was and my lap times reflected that. It didn’t drop off during my runs and every lap on the RE71-RS was giving me more confidence to push harder.
“It feels like a very safe tyre because of the amount of grip on hand and the feedback it gives in the corners and under brakes. When you’re chasing Time Attack results, being able to trust your grip levels is crucial and the RE-71RS is a tyre you can trust.” Runner-up Nik Kalis has been a part of the Australian Time Attack community for the better part of a decade and rates the RE-71RS as the best tyre he has competed on, impressed by its responsiveness, grip and durability. Nik believes the switch to RE-71RS was the key factor in setting his 1:01.9020s time – a respectable improvement of half a second. “It’s so direct. Wherever it wanted the car to go, it went and what I wanted it to do, it did. It feels like a really good tyre,” Nik said. “The grip level is noticeable over the older tyre and I was adapting my driving style to carry more speed through the corner. I was able to go deeper under brakes and be back on the throttle earlier because of the ridiculous amount of grip. “The other impressive thing I found with the RE71RS was how long they stay in the optimum window for. Other tyres I have used in the past are only good a lap of two, but the RE-71RS seems to have a longer life in each run, and each session felt as consistent as the previous.” The RE-71RS is available through Bridgestone’s network of Bridgestone Select and Bridgestone Service Centre stores, as well as dedicated motorsport tyre distributors. For more information, visit www.bridgestonetyres.com.au
