The Motorsport Australia WA State Speed Series will officially kick off its 2022 season this weekend with a double header at the Collie Motorplex.
 
More than 60 competitors have entered the weekend’s double round season opener at the popular circuit, with round one to run on Saturday and round two on Sunday.
 
Both days will run as a supersprint with competitors to get multiple attempts at posting the fastest anticlockwise lap around the circuit on each day,
 
However to avoid repetition, Saturday’s competition will see participants take on the long 2.55km circuit, while Sunday the shorter 1.6km circuit will be used. 
 
With a number of returning stars entered in both rounds, including Ray Ferrari, Marcel Every and reigning champion, John Webb, the series is expected to start off with a bang.

Series organiser Phillip Morley was looking forward to the first round of the year after a big break.

“It’s been a long time as our last event was in late November so it’s been a good three and half months with no events – I think everyone is keen to get started,” Morley said. 

“The crew is also happy with where our numbers are at; to have 65 entrants with a few extra late ones is fantastic and it goes to show how much people want to get out and do something again. 

“I think what’s more impressive is that not only do we have many of the top contenders ready to go, but we also have many classes where there are at least two to three competitors who could win, so it’s we’re going to have some healthy competition, bit just this weekend, but for the whole season.” 

Like 2021, the season will have 13 rounds this year after the organising team recently confirmed the calendar.
 
Six of those rounds, including this weekend, will take place at Collie Motorplex and will run as a double round.
 
There will also be visits to popular hill climb tracks in Jack’s Hill, Mount Ommaney and at the Albany Windfarm, while the Western Australia Sporting Car Club will host three events at Wanneroo Raceway – two of which will be run as Point 2 Point shootouts. 
 
Adding to the series’ strong position, almost 100 competitors from around the state have registered their place and will contest at least one round throughout the year.

“We had a few rough years at one point, but I think it’s turning around and everyone is happy with how the series is heading,” Morley added.
 
“We’re getting a lot of good feedback from competitors and clubs about the calendar it’s about keeping everyone happy, which makes 13 a good number because it works out to almost one a month. 

“Having the likes of the Vintage Sports Club and WASCC involved is also great for the series, as well as the return of the Mount Ommaney hill climb – which is very special for this series.

“It’s a popular round and it was part of the original calendar of this series, but unfortunately we lost it for seven months, so it’s really good to have it back. 
 
“Finally, I think the series is in great shape and it’s huge to have 95 competitors already 959 registered. Last year we had around 70 for the whole season, so already be up by more than 20 is brilliant and I am sure it will continue getting bigger.”

The opening rounds of the Motorsport Australia WA State Speed Series takes place at Collie Motorplex on 19-20 February. 
 

2022 Series Calendar

Round 1 - 19 Feb - Collie Sprint - Collie Motorplex
Round 2 - 20 Feb - Collie Sprint - Collie Motorplex
Round 3 - 19 Mar - Sprint (WASCC) Wanneroo Raceway
Round 4 - 9 Apr - Mt Ommaney Hillclimb (VSCC) Northam TBC
Round 5 - 22 May - Point 2 Point (WASCC) Wanneroo Raceway
Round 6 - 4 Jun - Albany Windfarm Hillclimb (GSSMA)
Round 7 - 6 Jun - Pendeen Sprint Albany (GSSMA) Pendent Industrial Estate
Round 8 - 9 Jul - Collie Sprint - Collie Motorplex
Round 9 - 10 Jul - Collie Sprint - Collie Motorplex
Round 10 - 3 Sept - Point 2 Point (WASCC) Wanneroo Raceway
Round 11 - OCT TBA - Jacks Hillclimb (TECCWA) TBC
Round 12 - 26 Nov - Collie Sprint - Collie Motorplex
Round 13 - 27 Nov - Collie Sprint - Collie Motorplex