Regional News

Glyn Edis Crowned Inaugural Radical Australia Cup Champion

1st November 2009

The 2009 Radical Australia Cup has been run and won by first-year racer Glyn Edis.

Sydney’s Oran Park Raceway attracted the largest field Radical field yet seen for the running of the eighth and final round of the Radical Australia Cup.

Coming into the decider, the Championship was right down to the wire with Glyn Edis on 222 points, Richard Fricker on 220 and Peter Opie on 202.  All three had mathematical chances of taking the honours.

Twelve Radical SR3s took to the grid.  In addition to the three title contenders, first-time racers Mark Hurcum and Richard Bloomfield (who flew 4000kms from his home city Perth to run) joined Phil Anseline, Geoff Brunsdon, Ed Singleton, Greg Tasker, Greg Smith, Chris Medland and Ollie Smith.  All were determined to give their best at the final race meet at the famed Oran Park Grand Prix configuration.

Qualifying saw Peter Opie get fastest time with a Radical-record 1:08:50.  Glyn Edis and Richard Fricker also went under the record.  Race One saw Opie lose the lead to Edis going into the first corner, only to regain it three bends later and hold the lead for a win, followed by Edis and Fricker.  At end of day one, Opie had clawed back to just 14 points behind Edis and 9 behind Fricker, setting the stage for a riveting Sunday’s racing.

Race 2 on Sunday morning did not disappoint the spectators.  Following another poor start, Edis and Fricker jumped past Opie.  For five laps Glyn was able to hold his lead on the harrying pair.  On lap six Opie overcooked his entry onto the straight and, after nudging Fricker, became beached on the ripple strips.  This left the path clear for Glyn to pick up a worthy win over Richard, followed by the weekend’s surprise packet Bloomfield, then Anseline, Ollie Smith, Tasker, Brunsdon,Medland, Hurcum and Opie.

The results therefore meant that in the Trophy Race, Edis only had to finish no worse than fourth if Fricker finished first.  Glyn drove a smooth and sensible race to end up second behind Richard, thus securing the 2009 Championship.  The final pointscores saw Fricker and Opie take the minor placings, with Anseline and Brunsdon fourth and fifth.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have won the Radical Australia Cup”, said Glyn.  “The racing and comraderie has been great, and I can’t say enough about how wonderful the Radical cars are.  I’m looking forward to coming back next year to do it all again”.