SIBLINGS SET FOR SUPER SEDAN SHOWDOWN THIS WEEKEND
11 November 2014
At the final round of the 2014 Queensland Drag Racing Championships (QDRC) at Willowbank Raceway this Saturday (15 November), Ipswich brothers Paul and Darren Doeblien will go head to head for the Powercruise Super Sedan championship with the pair currently tied on points.
While older brother Paul has won no less than six Super Sedan championships, including the last three in a row, Darren – the 2006 Super Street champion - is yet to secure his first title in the bracket.
The Doeblien brothers and their Powercruise Super Sedan compatriots will be amongst an expected field of more than 100 racers shooting for QDRC glory this weekend, across the QDRC SuperComp, QDRC Comp Bike, Donnelly Blasting Services QDRC Outlaws, Knijff Earthmoving Modified, Prime Signs/Speed Elec Super Street, Modified Bike, Junior Dragster and Super Gas brackets
“To be heading to the final round for the season tied with my brother for the championship lead is awesome, of course I want to win, but if I have to lose I would like him to be the one taking the victory,” said 46 year old truck driver Paul Doeblien, who has been racing since 1989.
“Racing with Darren is really great, we have a good brotherly relationship from racing and it is a great family sport – my father Wayne used to race and he works on our cars, and my daughter Nicole recently started racing in Street events in the XY Falcon that I started out in.
“It is not too often that Darren and I actually line up against each other but when you do it is a bit different, I think you always put in a bigger effort against your brother because you want to outdo them.
“While Darren and I are tied on points there are still a number of racers mathematically in with a chance and with the eliminations format for the final round there is definitely some increased pressure, but I will try and not let it worry me.”
For younger brother Darren, it was crewing on his brother’s car that lead to the drag racing bug biting hard once he had the chance to take Paul’s car out on the strip for the first time.
“I haven’t won a championship in Super Sedan yet but I have won one in Super Street – I can’t win one in Super Sedan because Paul keeps winning them all, he has been very greedy, but hopefully things this year will change!” laughed the 44 year old Water Metre Technician.
“I lead the points early last year and was leading again this year before Paul caught up with me at the last event to see us on equal points heading to this weekend.
“I hope it comes down to Paul and I both making it to the final race and we can just put it all on the line to race for the title, that would just be a dream come true and a real fairy-tale ending for the season – but hopefully I can be the one taking the win!
“It has been a really good year and the racing has been very competitive, there are still plenty of people in contention for the title and one I think we both have our eyes on is Tony Whyatt, he is third in the points and a great racer – we were talking at the last meeting and he is hanging out as much as me to take a title off Paul!”
The Doeblien racing team is supported on-track by Hosken Site Steel, Lockyer Engine Reconditioners, Total Cover Painting, Ipswich and District Welding and Race Car Engineering.
The final round for the 2014 Queensland Drag Racing Championship (QDRC) will hit Willowbank Raceway on Saturday 15 November. Hosting the QDRC SuperComp, QDRC Comp Bike, Donnelly Blasting Services QDRC Outlaws, Knijff Earthmoving Modified, Powercruise Super Sedan, Prime Signs/Speed Elec Super Street, Modified Bike, Junior Dragster and Super Gas brackets, gates will open at 7.00am, with qualifying from 10.00am and racing from 4.00pm. For the latest information, please click here.
Willowbank Raceway is Queensland’s premier drag racing facility, located 45 minutes from Brisbane or just a short drive from Ipswich, offering a year-round program of events for the entire family. For more information including a full event calendar, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au