John Zappia won round three of the Australian Top Doorslammer Championship at his home track Kwinana on Saturday, almost producing a repeat of the famous five second weekend at WSID in round 1. Faced with engine damage after his second qualifier, the Zappia Racing crew thrashed all night to repair the damaged head, turning up only 30 minutes before the first eliminator to put the engine back together.
Zap made it to the start line in time, and disposed of Ben Bray with a 6.090et @ 237.46mph, to the Kid's 6.146et @ 241.93mph, and fellow West Aussie Grant O'Rourke with a 6.026et @ 240.0mph over a tyre shaking 7.331et @164.23mph.
The atmosphere was set for a thrilling final, with the crowd all talking about a possible local five second run. Steve Stanic was out first after deep staging, but Zap ran past to stop the clock at 6.004et @ 240.64mph to Stanic's 6.153et @ 238.72mph.
"It could have easily been another five" said Zap afterwards during celebrations, "I staged at lower revs because I was nervous about the track, and as the car moved towards the centerline mid track and started hazing the tyres, I short shifted to settle the car down."
"This win was completed after some very hard work, both last night with the heads, and over the last two seasons trying to get this car down our home track. It's the first event the new HQ has won here at Kwinana. A very special thanks to Andrew Kostecki from Kostecki CNC Racing Heads, who helped me restore the damaged head all through the night and the following day without much sleep or rest."
The win further increased his lead in the Top Doorslammer Championship, and gave firm notice to the other teams that the five was no fluke, and this RENTCO Monaro Doorslammer is the car to beat this year. The team will now compete at three local meetings here at Kwinana, before Round 4 at WSID in Feb.
