Latest news with #AriseRacing
Perth Now
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Racing hot shot gives The West taste of life on track
Speed, power, precision, ritz and glamour. Only one sport in the world can combine the high rolling of the globe's elite with the gritty, oily hard work of mechanics and engineers. Motorsport, and its most popular category, Formula One. Droves of sports fans are falling in love with the high-stakes drama of 20 of the world's best drivers hurtling around on tarmac at speeds in excess of 300km/h. And as Melbourne-born McLaren ace Oscar Piastri continues to storm out ahead of the pack, the sports popularity looks set to grow further in Australia. So as motorsport and Formula One revel in a boom of success, I was invited out to Raceway in Wanneroo, formally known as Barbagallo Raceway, for five hot laps with one of WA's brightest racing hot shots to get a taste of life in the fast lane. Ruairidh Avern is a rising star at WA's Arise Racing, currently the leading rookie in Australia's Radical Cup, a category primarily for giving young drivers their first steps from karts to cars. But don't be fooled; they are still fast. The adrenaline begins to trickle into my veins as soon as the engine turns over, after I've been kitted out in a racing suit and buckled within an inch of claustrophobia, the purring a reminder of my grandfather who once raced rally cars and speedway. I have to admit; I was not as nervous as I thought I would be with the open top, at least until I was warned that if I felt I needed to hurl, I had to tell Ruairi to pull over. I do get seasick. But as soon as the Radical rolled out of the garage, I was glad I had a race helmet on to cover the ridiculously goofy grin on my mug. It was a cruisy little drive down to pit lane, looking over the track. Ruairidh with reporter Aaron Kirby as they go for a lap at Wanneroo Raceway. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian The cruisy part disappeared rapidly as, with a thumbs up, Ruairi took us out of the pitlane and opened up through turn one. It was a stark contrast to the 90 minutes I spent at 10km/h on the Kwinana Freeway to get to the office that morning. The rush and blasts of wind were exhilarating, and if I wasn't the rusted-on 27-year-old journalism veteran I tell myself I am, I would have whooped. At least, no one can say they heard any whoops as we powered around the Raceway. I warned myself about the breaking, but was still unprepared for being violently jerked forward as we went from 200km/h to double digits. By the fourth time over the hill on the back straight, I had promised myself neck strengthening would be added to my workout routine. However, it was all over far too soon, the Radical getting around the circuit in under a minute for each lap. Aaron Kirby with Ruairidh at Wanneroo Raceway. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian I was reliably informed we hit around 215km/h, but on a longer track, we could have gone faster. It's not hard to see why these drivers are addicted to pushing the limits on track; it's an incredible sense of freedom, and there's no doubt my drive out of Wanneroo was faster than the trip in.
West Australian
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Aaron Kirby: WA racer Ruairidh Avern gives The West Australian taste of life in fast lane
Speed, power, precision, ritz and glamour. Only one sport in the world can combine the high rolling of the globe's elite with the gritty, oily hard work of mechanics and engineers. Motorsport, and its most popular category, Formula One. Droves of sports fans are falling in love with the high-stakes drama of 20 of the world's best drivers hurtling around on tarmac at speeds in excess of 300km/h. And as Melbourne-born McLaren ace Oscar Piastri continues to storm out ahead of the pack, the sports popularity looks set to grow further in Australia. So as motorsport and Formula One revel in a boom of success, I was invited out to Raceway in Wanneroo, formally known as Barbagallo Raceway, for five hot laps with one of WA's brightest racing hot shots to get a taste of life in the fast lane. Ruairidh Avern is a rising star at WA's Arise Racing, currently the leading rookie in Australia's Radical Cup, a category primarily for giving young drivers their first steps from karts to cars. But don't be fooled; they are still fast. The adrenaline begins to trickle into my veins as soon as the engine turns over, after I've been kitted out in a racing suit and buckled within an inch of claustrophobia, the purring a reminder of my grandfather who once raced rally cars and speedway. I have to admit; I was not as nervous as I thought I would be with the open top, at least until I was warned that if I felt I needed to hurl, I had to tell Ruairi to pull over. I do get seasick. But as soon as the Radical rolled out of the garage, I was glad I had a race helmet on to cover the ridiculously goofy grin on my mug. It was a cruisy little drive down to pit lane, looking over the track. The cruisy part disappeared rapidly as, with a thumbs up, Ruairi took us out of the pitlane and opened up through turn one. It was a stark contrast to the 90 minutes I spent at 10km/h on the Kwinana Freeway to get to the office that morning. The rush and blasts of wind were exhilarating, and if I wasn't the rusted-on 27-year-old journalism veteran I tell myself I am, I would have whooped. At least, no one can say they heard any whoops as we powered around the Raceway. I warned myself about the breaking, but was still unprepared for being violently jerked forward as we went from 200km/h to double digits. By the fourth time over the hill on the back straight, I had promised myself neck strengthening would be added to my workout routine. However, it was all over far too soon, the Radical getting around the circuit in under a minute for each lap. I was reliably informed we hit around 215km/h, but on a longer track, we could have gone faster. It's not hard to see why these drivers are addicted to pushing the limits on track; it's an incredible sense of freedom, and there's no doubt my drive out of Wanneroo was faster than the trip in.
West Australian
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Western Australia's Arise Racing at forefront of producing country's best race car drivers
The West Australian exclusive Western Australia's Arise Racing at forefront of producing country's best race car drivers
West Australian
08-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Radical Cup Australia: Jordan Cutts, Ruairidh Avern continue strong start for Arise Racing
West Australia-based Arise Racing has continued their bright start to the Radical Cup Australia championships with a record-equalling weekend in Sydney. Four WA drivers sat in the championship - broadcast live on 7Plus - top five after Phillip Island's season opening weekend, and after a tense second round, all four consolidated their positions. Cooper Cutts narrowly missed the title in 2024 and has started 2025 with a point to prove, sitting atop the driver's standings eight races into the season with 354 points after a flawless performance at Sydney Motorsport Park. Arise pair Bryce Moore and Chris Reindler couldn't be separated, equal in third while Albany rookie Ruairidh Avern is just eight points behind them in fourth after claiming a podium position in just his second round of racing. Cutts' lead in the championship comes off the back of an untouchable round in Sydney, where the young gun topped every practice session, secured pole position in and won all four 25-minute sprint races. It was Cutts' fourth round win, equalling the most round wins in the category held by 2023 series winner, Alex Gardner. It was a far more intense weekend for the field's youngest driver, Avern, who overcame a rough first qualifying session with five first-lap overtakes to claim third in the first sprint. He gained four spots from 10th in Saturday's second race and, despite suffering a 15-second penalty, claimed sixth and fourth to round out the event on Sunday, putting himself on the podium in third overall for the weekend. The podium extends Avern's lead in the rookie standings over Mark Cirillo. Radical Cup Australia, which started in 2022, is back on track in four weeks' time at Queensland Raceway across May 30 to June 1. The five-round 2025 series supports Shannons SpeedSeries.
Perth Now
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Flawless Cutts dominates as WA rookie stuns Radical Cup
West Australia-based Arise Racing has continued their bright start to the Radical Cup Australia championships with a record-equalling weekend in Sydney. Four WA drivers sat in the championship - broadcast live on 7Plus - top five after Phillip Island's season opening weekend, and after a tense second round, all four consolidated their positions. Cooper Cutts narrowly missed the title in 2024 and has started 2025 with a point to prove, sitting atop the driver's standings eight races into the season with 354 points after a flawless performance at Sydney Motorsport Park. Arise pair Bryce Moore and Chris Reindler couldn't be separated, equal in third while Albany rookie Ruairidh Avern is just eight points behind them in fourth after claiming a podium position in just his second round of racing. Cutts' lead in the championship comes off the back of an untouchable round in Sydney, where the young gun topped every practice session, secured pole position in and won all four 25-minute sprint races. It was Cutts' fourth round win, equalling the most round wins in the category held by 2023 series winner, Alex Gardner. It was a far more intense weekend for the field's youngest driver, Avern, who overcame a rough first qualifying session with five first-lap overtakes to claim third in the first sprint. He gained four spots from 10th in Saturday's second race and, despite suffering a 15-second penalty, claimed sixth and fourth to round out the event on Sunday, putting himself on the podium in third overall for the weekend. Arise Racing in action. Credit: SpeedShots Photography The podium extends Avern's lead in the rookie standings over Mark Cirillo. Radical Cup Australia, which started in 2022, is back on track in four weeks' time at Queensland Raceway across May 30 to June 1. The five-round 2025 series supports Shannons SpeedSeries.
