Jason Vyner’s cleverly disguised Nissan XFN ute has been a regular at Drag Challenge, but it’s liable to make even more noise this year with the introduction of the new Unrivaled Engineering Stick-Shift class. “I think it’s great. There’s lots of variety with all the manual cars, so to put them all together in their own class is grouse,” Jason says.

The ute runs an aspirated 363ci Windsor, chucking 400rwhp through the five-speed ’box to a nine-inch diff. “The gearbox is a T5 but with a G-Force case with an old Astro A5 gearset,” says Jason. “So, you still have to use the clutch to shift it, just like how it should be done!”

Jason’s current PB over the quarter sits in the low 12s, but he has hopes of breaking into the 11-second bracket at this year’s event. “I ran a 7.4 at Wilby at the Hardass 1000 event recently, so that should equal an 11.8, but I’ll be happy with an 11.99!” he says.

The nine-inch upgrade was much needed after the car snapped both axles at Drag Challenge ’23 when going full send with the old BorgWarner. “It’s got all the good bits now, so it should be stout enough,” Jason says. “I can give it a hard time off the line without having to worry.”

Jason will be bringing his 17-year-old daughter along to join in the fun this year, and he’s not expecting any hassles from the ute, since it’s his work truck that he drives every day. “I’m a boilermaker by trade, so I tow a 2.5-tonne trailer with it everywhere,” he says. “That’s partly why it’s manual, but as I also say to people: where’s the fun in going fast in an auto?”

2025 Drag Challenge class:

Unrivaled Engineering Stick-Shift