Willowbank is well-known as the home of the largest drag racing competition in the southern hemisphere, the Winternationals, but it’s not the only major drag racing event held in Ipswich.
Later this month, more than 200 competitors from across Australia and New Zealand will descend on Willowbank for the 2019 Garrett Advanced Motion Brisbane Jamboree.
It is one of the world’s largest sports compact drag racing events.
Among drivers headed for Ipswich this year is the only female racer entered in Factory Xtreme, Gina Bullians, who is looking to dominate in her 20b Mazda RX8.
Factory Xtreme cars are full-bodied, purpose-built, turbocharged, rear-wheel drive cars with very few restrictions, which means plenty of speed.
Bullians has been racing since age 21, and over the past 19 years has honed her skills in circuit racing and drifting, but drag racing is the motorsport in which she continues to be the undisputed Factory Xtreme Queen.
“I have raced an array of cars over the years, but when I moved to Australia in 2011 (from New Zealand), that was when I jumped into my first purpose built drag car,” she said.
“I ran this car in the Pro Turbo class, becoming the first female to compete in this class and I also gained the Australian import record for first three quarter chassis to run over 200mp/h and was the quickest three quarter chassis with a 6.87 seconds elapsed time, a record I held until recently.”
Bullians is currently the quickest female import drag racer in the world, a title she plans to defend when she visits Ipswich.
This year will be the third time Bullians has competed in her 20b Rotary powered Rx8 in the Factory Xtreme category.
“Brisbane Jamboree is going to be a big one for us. We have made several upgrades to the car and are very excited to see the improvements,” she said.
“Our aim is to better our time, dropping into a 6.3 (seconds) zone and run over 220mp/h.”
Bullians’ partner Bill Nabhan will also race at the Jamboree, guaranteeing a busy weekend for the pair as they balance driving duties with servicing cars between runs.
The 2019 Brisbane Jamboree will be held at Willowbank Raceway on 24 and 25 August. More info here.
