It’s been a promising debut season for Nicholas Whell in the Junior Formula 500 class, with the youngster reaching new heights recently at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway, where he achieved his season-best result.

With around 14 shows now under his belt since joining the class at the beginning of the 2016-17 season, the majority of which were held at the Brisbane venue, Whell, who thoroughly enjoys the speed of the Junior Formula 500 cars, tasted success for the first time, managing to steer his Yamaha R6 powered Qld # 15 Toowoomba Car Wreckers / Linear Graphics supported PMP machine to his best performance of the season.

“It’s awesome to get more competitive and running regularly at the front of the season,” commented the 14-year-old racer from Toowoomba, who has also contested meetings at his home track, Toowoomba’s Hi-Tec Oils Speedway, along with Rockhampton’s Rocky Speedway and Gatton’s Lockyer Valley Speedway.

“I’m really enjoying racing in Junior Formula 500s, it’s a great way to gain experience before I can step into the senior ranks.

“A lot of my mates from the speedway race in the class, so that makes the class and the racing more enjoyable.”

With his dad, David, currently racing 410 Sprintcars, Whell has grown up around speedway from an early age, first commencing his own racing career in Junior Quarter Midgets, where he contested two seasons in the 120cc Open class, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the Chilli Cup at Hi-Tec Oils Speedway, before taking a three-year break.

Planning to continue his career in competitive racing in the future, Whell aims to follow in his dad’s footsteps to eventually step make the move into 410 Sprintcars.

Whell would like to thank the following 2016-17 season sponsors: Toowoomba Car Wreckers, Linear Graphics, Onshore Oils, JCW Towing, Wilko’s Metal Recycling, Ally Arc Welding, Apelt Floors, and One-Stop Stationary Supplies. He would also like to give special thanks to his mum and dad, Jenny and David, his pop Vic, and Steve Thorley (Brisbane Formula 500 Club President) and Tony Cochrane (Queensland State President), who are two of the driving forces behind the Junior Formula 500s class.

Photo: Colin Stratford