RX8 Cup R4 Enduro Rundown @ Sydney Motorsport Park

The RX8 Cup Enduro weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park brought good, clean racing and plenty of positives for our team. Behind the wheel were two drivers returning to racing – Mark Wilks (A) and Cassie Dellit (B) – both settling back into the groove of RX8 Cup racing.

The cars were heavily scrutineered through the weekend by Motorsport Australia and we were happy to pass with flying colours. Overall the tone of the weekend was good clean competitive racing.

Practice focused on re-familiarising with the cars and running an enduro mindset: keep it under 9000 rpm, using a longer brake pedal sequence, and avoid over-using the tyres. The goal was to maintain competitiveness of the car right through to the end of the enduros where the cars tend to drop off. This played out nicely during the two 50 minute enduros with the car maintaining excellent brake pedal and tyre grip.

Qualifying

• Mark – 1:52.3232

• Cassie – 1:58.0899

Enduro 1

• Best Lap: 1:53.2651 (Lap 4)

Enduro 2

• Best Lap: 1:53.0119 (Lap 11)

Mark began to find his competitiveness again after some years away from regular racing, moving up around five spots in the second enduro. Cassie built confidence with every session, sharpening her racecraft and improving lap times across the meet.

We finished the weekend in 15th overall, completing 26 laps with a race time of 53:02.2780.

Thanks to Ric, the RX8 Cup crew and Motorsport Australia for organising another fantastic event. Racing in this category always feels like home, especially with Phil’s long connection to rotary racing at the heart of it all.

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3 Pro Coaching Tips to Improve Your Lap Times @ One Raceway – Wakefield 300 Prep

With the Wakefield 300 coming up this weekend at One Raceway, it’s the perfect time to fine-tune your driving. We’ve spent a lot of time here lately with professional race coach Phil Alexander, and we’ve picked out three sections of the track where a smarter approach can drop your lap times and make your tyres last the distance — especially important if you’re running a front wheel drive car in an endurance race.

Click to download One Raceway Track Map

1. Turn 1 – Forget the Traditional Apex

Most drivers naturally aim for the inside apex at Turn 1, but Phil’s advice is to break that habit.

Instead:

• Go wide – use all the available track width on the outside.

• This opens up Turn 2, letting you hit the apex cleanly and carry more speed through the exit.

• That extra momentum feeds straight into Turn 3, giving you an advantage early in the lap.

It’s not just about speed — this line means less steering lock and less tyre scrub, which pays off over the course of 300km.

2. Slingshot Onto the Straight – Choose the Kind Line

The last corner called “Slingshot” is a right turn double-apex complex with a flick left that decides your run down the main straight. There’s more than one way to tackle it, but for endurance racing, the right choice can save your tyres.

Phil’s take:

• Test all approaches – running high for the exit or tucking in tight to the inside kerb.

• In a front wheel drive endurance car, staying tight on the second apex has proven quickest and gentlest on the tyres.

• Avoid big steering angles here — if your tyres are squealing, you’re scrubbing speed and cutting tyre life short.

Driver John Connolly in the RaceAway Mazda SP25 (Front wheel drive) getting into the gutter on the second apex of the Slingshot at One Raceway

3. The Straight – Work the Tow

One Raceway’s main straight is longer than before, which means drafting can give you a real edge.

Here’s how to make it work:

• Get behind a car that’s just quick enough to break the air for you without pulling away too fast.

• Position yourself out of the slingshot close enough to latch onto their slipstream.

• Use the extra speed to your advantage without using more fuel or wearing the tyres.

In a long race like the Wakefield 300, this is “free power” — and it all adds up.

Wrapping It Up

Heading into the Wakefield 300, keep these three things in mind:

• Go wide into Turn 1 for a faster setup into Turn 2.

• Take the most tyre-friendly line through the slingshot.

• Use the tow down the straight whenever you can.

Small changes like these can help you improve your lap times while keeping your car in the fight right to the chequered flag.

Want a hand dialling it all in before race weekend?
We’re offering professional race coaching at One Raceway with Phil Alexander to help you get the most out of every lap.

📞 Contact Us 0472 535 354| 📧 info@raceawaytracktime.com.au

RaceAway RX8 at One Raceway with Professional Driver Coaching

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