The 400 Thunder Championship dates have been announced for the 2021-2022 Sportsman series. The marathon COVID-delayed 2019-2021 series wrapped up last month with the Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway.

Dates for the various Pro classes – including Top Fuel and Pro Slammer – are yet to be announced.

Heathcote Park Raceway in country Victoria joins the series for the first time with two rounds. Mackay’s Palmyra Dragway is another new addition, making up a tally of five rounds for Queensland. The Paymyra meeting will be run over the 1000ft distance.

Sydney Dragway has been allocated just one round as a TBC – the Summer Thunder meet, 4-5 Feburary 2022.

The announcement by 400 Thunder states that “400 Thunder management also attempted, over the last several months to secure the two traditional 400 Thunder Championship dates (November and May) at Sydney Dragway…but the dates are suddenly unavailable and unfortunately only one suitable date has been made available by Sydney Dragway management for the entire 2021-2022 calendar. Please note: other totally impractical dates…were rejected by 400 Thunder.”

There is some speculation that the unavailability of Sydney Dragway may be at least partly due to the opening Sydney International Speedway, which is set to be operational by late September. The idea being that dust from the speedway will limit the available dates for the dragway.

In any case, two Sydney dates will be available for the 2022-2023 Championship series.

In order not to disadvantage NSW Sportsman racers, bonus points will be offered for the sole round at Sydney Dragway.

All Sportsman classes will run at each round, with the exception of the Palmyra round, which won’t feature Supercomp or Performance Bike at the request of the track.

400 Thunder Championship dates 2021-2022

* Round 1 21-22 AUG Thunder in the Tropics Springmount Raceway, Qld

* Round 2 29-30 OCT Palmyra Thunder 1000 Palmyra Dragway, Qld

* Round 3 26-27 NOV Spring Thunder Heathcote Park Raceway, Vic

* Round 4 07-08 JAN New Years Thunder Willowbank Raceway, Qld

* Round 5 04-05 FEB Summer Thunder TBC Sydney Dragway, NSW

* Round 6 04-05 MAR Goldfields Thunder Heathcote Park Raceway, Vic

* Round 7 08-09 APR Super Thunder Willowbank Raceway, Qld

* Round 8 09-12 JUN Winternationals Willowbank Raceway, Qld