28th June 2010: FIA Top Methanol Funny Car

Bennett Racing are very pleased to announce that for 2011 we are planning to step up to race in FIA Top Methanol Funny Car (see www.speedgroup.eu for details of the class). Obviously this is a big jump from our current class of the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association, but once we achieved what we always set out to do, which was to win the class, which wasn't easy, we felt it was time to move on to a new challenge.

In 2006 we came a close 2nd, for 2007 we came in 3rd, then due to Luke's ill health we didn't race a full season in 2008, but we came back fighting in 2009 with 3 out of 4 event wins and became the class champions. We also ran the car soft, did little damage and easily ran a 6.42 best at only 191mph (currently 2nd quickest methanol altered in Europe) but this was only a tame tune and clicked off at 1000 feet, so there is much more to come from this engine. Talking of engines, we will be keeping the current big block Chevy motor and see how far we can go with it, its no old junk, everything is good kit due to our past sponsors, a huge thank you to them.

We will then run the Chevy to its max and see what it will do then we will look to make
the switch to a hemi motor, but for now we want to just get the car back out.

The body as you will see from the photo is a beauty, it's a 2003 Pontiac Firebird, the
body itself is carbon fibre and was bought from the Mongoose team, we must say a big
thanks to Sue and Mark for their great help with the body. We had a long journey
picking it up from Cheshire but got there and back safely in a day.

Also a huge thank you to dave for the loan of the trailer, we owe you one.

Our aim is not to just make up the numbers but we are going to do our best. Yes, we
will be underpowered compared to the screw blowers/hemi equipped field but we're no
push overs and we hope to do some great racing in this class.

Finally, racers/fans/sponsors alike will have noticed that Bennett Racing have a good
number of sponsors and as ever with this step up in competition we are hungrier than
ever to attract new ones. FIA Top Methanol Funny Car gets worldwide exposure and is
a great way to get your company seen by thousands of people. Just one example of this
is the vast amount of people that stared at the funny car body on its way back to Essex,
its a great moving billboard, imagine it once we get it on the track in front of thousands
of spectators.

Anyone wanting to know a little bit more can check out
our team website at www.bennettracing.co.uk (over
205,000 visits to date) or please get in touch via
email - info@bennettracing.co.uk 
or call us on 07843 619 724.