The Radical Australia Cup will have an eventful start to its 2020 season when 16 drivers line up for the first round during the Production Car Nationals at Sydney Motorsport Park.

 

Headlining the strong field will be reigning champion Chris Perini, who enters the round having claimed his maiden title in 2019 after coming close the year prior.

 

It will be a busy weekend for Perini with the New South Welshman opting to race in both the Radical Australia Cup and the Australian Prototype Series (APS) – a feat he did multiple times throughout his title winning year in 2019.

 

Ahead of the new season, Perini was looking forward to the year at hand and was confident he was well prepared. 

 

“I’m excited for the challenge. Perhaps I may be a bit of a target from my competitors. It’s just something I haven’t had to do before, but I am confident and ready,” Perini said.

 

“I won’t have too different of a mentality this season. It’s mainly the confidence of doing what I can is enough. I won’t let any of the mind games or confidence levels affect my approach.

 

“It will be a matter of going out there each round and doing what I can. If it’s enough, it’s enough, if not, then that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.

 

“I definitely have a more relaxed mindset this year round. I also have a bit of expectation, but I won’t think about it too much.”

 

Perini won’t be the only driver doing both categories with RAC veteran Peter Paddon and Stephen Champion also choosing to run in both categories – the former likely to run in every round of the other series.

 

A number of regulars will also return for the first round of the season with Peter Clare, Bill Medland, Rowan Ross and 2019 rookie-of-the-year Jim Hernandez all looking to continue pushing the top drivers. 

 

Zig Fuhrmeister will make just his second start in the Cup, while a host of drivers of will be making their debuts – most of whom will be making the switch from the Australian Prototype Series (APS).

 

After solid first seasons in the APS, Susan Esselmont and Jonathan Grant will join the series’ 2019 Radical class winner Carmelo Bonaventura for the round, which Bonaventura believes will give him an idea as to where he wants to race in 2020.

 

“I really enjoyed the Prototype Series. It’s a great community and they are legends, but I wanted to race against cars like my own and I like the idea that it’s just the one class,” Bonaventura said.

 

“This weekend will be a trial and I am going to test the waters. I’ll be looking at a few things during the round. If I don’t have the legs for the endurance race, I get flogged or I’m not sure about the vibe as a whole, I’ll be back to the Prototypes. 

 

“I feel like a new boy again. I am probably more nervous than the Prototypes because I can’t hide with this one. There are no excuses this year and endurance races are a bigger challenge. It’s something that I want to do.

 

“I have a little bit of confidence as I won the class last year. I wouldn’t be doing it if I wasn’t confident, but I don’t have too much. They are 50-minute races and I am used to 25-minute races so it’s a whole other level for me.”

 

The Radical Australia Cup has two races over the course of the weekend with a 50-minute race on both Saturday and Sunday.