Chris Perini will enter this weekend’s Shannons Nationals with the hopes of securing a double dose of success as he competes in both the Australian Prototype Series (APS) and the Radical Australia Cup (RAC).
With a number of Radical drivers taking part in the APS’ season opener this weekend, including 2017 RAC champion Peter Paddon, the entry list features a strong pool of talent across both categories.
Perini will be aiming to get his RAC season back on track and begin the APS on a high.
“The field for this weekend is very interesting on the APS side of things,” Perini said.
“My main goal is to compete with the big APS names and try to take on the really experienced guys like JP Drake and Jason Makris, while I enjoy battles with Peter Paddon and the Neilsons in the Radicals.
“I am pretty confident that I am the quickest out of the Radical competitors, but what I have been lacking so far this year is a combination of discipline and execution.
“At the moment I can only improve that with more track time and more focus. But I feel like the preparation for this round has been solid and I feel good ahead of this weekend. I am hoping for a strong result.”
It has been a pretty mixed bag of results for the New South Welshman who currently sits third in the Radical Australia Cup just two rounds into the 2019 season.
With Perini in the running for the elusive RAC title, something he came close to last year, finishing second behind eventual champion Kim Burke, Perini believed there was a lot of pressure going into the round.
“This weekend in the Radicals is crucial. It’s do or die. We are not where we should be,” Perini explained.
“There have been multiple occasions where I have been leading the field and all the hard work was done, but I spun out and lost it which has been frustrating.
"If Mitch and Brad Neilson or Peter Paddon have strong rounds and I fail again, I will be disappointed and will have my work cut out for me for the rest of the year.
“I won't completely be out of the running, but I do need to get some good luck and I need to execute well. For this weekend, I feel we’re on the right track and we are due for a strong weekend."
While Perini will have an extremely busy weekend set up with a double amount of track time, the Radical pilot is looking forward to the getting out there and racing against the Prototype drivers.
“I wouldn’t race in both categories if it wasn’t fun and none of us are professionals but essentially every time I go on track, I put in 100 percent and clench it with both fists. This what I will be doing this weekend,” Perini said.
"All track time is valuable no matter the category and especially at Sydney Motorsport Park. No race is the same and I am going to basically hone my skills for a good result.
"If I could be near the front with the APS boys, then that would be fantastic. If I could also bring home a strong result in the RAC, then it’s happy days.”
Both the Australian Prototype Series and Radical Australia Cup will have qualifying on Saturday morning before both categories hold their opening race on Saturday afternoon and the second race on Sunday.