Geraldton speedway driver Callum Williamson heading for repeat in WA sprintcar series

Geraldton speedway racer Callum Williamson is racing down the straight towards the chequered flag, with another sprintcar crown in sight.

He is the defending champion in the Maddington Toyota Sprintcar series and sits second overall, only 30 points off first with eight races to go.

He knows positions can change as quickly as a 900-horsepower V8 taking a high line or shredding a tyre.

“It only takes one meeting,” Williamson said.

“We had a very bad start with our engines at the start of the year and we were down 200 points at the start of the season. We’ve clawed our way back to 20 points, so I would say we can do it.

“I think last year we were down by 60 points with three meetings to go and won by 20.”

Williamson — who grew up racing bitumen go-karts in Geraldton and still lives locally — said the key to the driver’s speed was the crew.

Williamson’s team comprises his dad Carl, locals Nathan Farle and crew chief Jay Prow, and Perth-based Nick Turner.

Carl “does the engine stuff”, tuning the six-plus litre V8s built by Queensland-based V8 Supercar legend Ken McNamara, or “Kenny Mac”.

“He’s (Carl) self-taught,” Callum said.

“He tunes the engines to be some of the quickest out there.

“We’ve been a team now about eight or nine years.

“(The secret to speed) is just the years of experience we’ve had together.

“It’s the team as a whole, from what the boys do to the car to the driver as well.”

With the 650kg car channeling 920 fuel-injected horsepower (677 kilowatts) into the clay, there is an element of power to weight.

But Williamson said the long miles involved — including as many as five 1200km round trips to Bunbury in a season, and the rest to the Perth Motorplex — mean getting along well on the road is key.

Due to the distance and effort, he said few country people could find the time and energy to enter what is a “very hard” sport to break into.

Round 12 of the Sprintcar Series runs this Saturday night at Perth Motorplex.

For more information, visit the Williamson Motorsport Facebook page.