Fifty of Australia’s toughest door cars will hit Sydney for a new no-prep racing series, beginning in August.

Organised by Powercruise’s Michael ‘Gup’ Gilbert, Street Outlaws Australia will be run along the front straight of Sydney Motorsport Park as an eight- to 10-meet series, with a roster of 50 cars battling it out at each showing. Aside from all cars needing swinging doors and a steel roof, there are few rules on what is and isn’t allowed to race.

Steve Grima will be competing in his ProCharged big-block ’69 Camaro, LAUNCH. He describes the new series simply: “Rear-wheel drive, no prep and no rules! Run what you brung, and hope you brought enough.” A slippery surface means traction will be more important than raw horsepower, so the Street Outlaws crown could be taken by anybody.

While each event will see the ‘top 50’ vying for supremacy, other racers will be afforded a chance to mount a challenge, with a cash prize on offer. “At each event, there’s going to be grudge racing for absolutely anybody that wants to come,” says Steve, “and the winner can then challenge number 50 on the list.”

If the newcomer beats the gatekeeper, they’ll have the opportunity to buy in and take spot number 50, while the gatekeeper will be relegated to number 51. Should a racer miss an event, they’ll be demoted 10 spots.

Though Powercruise featured no-prep drags in Sydney over years gone by, Street Outlaws Australia will be the first serious racing of its type to hit New South Wales. “We’ve got guys coming from Queensland and South Australia, like Daniel McCubbin and Jamie Farmer,” Steve enthuses. “To travel across states for 10 events a year is a big deal!”

There’s a strong contingent of Street Machine Drag Challenge fighters on the list too, including Nathan Ghosn and his nine-second Capri.

Five-time DC contender Andrew Natoli will race his 385-cube, plastic-powered VK.

Steve Micallef has three Outlaw Aspirated titles to his name, between two full DCs and one Weekend – plus a runner-up spot last year. His 632ci big-block HQ Tonner is a proper eight-second car.

The first round of Street Outlaws Australia is scheduled for Saturday 7 August, kicking off at 6pm. Non-list racers can pay $100 for grudge racing, while spectator tickets are $20.