After three days of racing against Australia's best Circuit Excel drivers, the 2026 Circuit Excel Nationals at The Bend Motorsport Park had reached its climax. With 72 competitors entered, simply earning a place in the 50-car final was an achievement in itself. Every practice session, qualifying lap and heat race had been building towards this moment, with the results determining where each driver would line up for the winner-takes-all final. For Quinn Racing, the weekend had already been an emotional rollercoaster, with mechanical failures, unpredictable weather and some of the most challenging racing conditions we'd ever experienced. Despite the setbacks, we'd managed to put ourselves in contention for a respectable result. But with one final race remaining, there was still plenty of work ahead, and as we were about to discover, the biggest challenges of the weekend were yet to come.
Before reaching the final, we still had two heat races to complete, and the weather continued to make life difficult. Our second heat took place on an incredibly greasy circuit, with damp patches and an emerging dry racing line creating unpredictable levels of grip. In some ways, the conditions were even more challenging than the torrential rain we'd experienced the previous day. After a cautious start and several near misses, we elected to prioritise survival over unnecessary risks, following experienced competitor Ben Gallea through the difficult conditions. Thankfully, we made it to the finish without further incident. By our third and final heat, the circuit had largely dried, and the racing intensity increased dramatically. We found ourselves in a series of aggressive battles with interstate competitors, including Alex Voltz from the Northern Territory and Dylan Cooper from Tasmania. Despite trying several different overtaking opportunities, Cooper's impressive defensive driving kept us behind, while rising front tyre pressures made the car increasingly reluctant to turn. It was a frustrating race, but we'd gained valuable experience and important information about the car's setup. After returning to the pits, we made some final adjustments, secured an ECU that had come loose during the race, and prepared for the biggest race of our season.
The atmosphere before the Nationals Final was unlike anything we'd experienced in grassroots motorsport. For the first time in our racing career, we had a proper grid walk, with spectators, photographers and team members filling the circuit before the start. The event was also being broadcast live on Kayo Sports, bringing an incredible level of exposure to Circuit Excel and Australian grassroots motorsport. We'd qualified 20th on the grid, positioned amongst some incredibly competitive drivers and just behind two of our Excel Garage teammates. With 50 cars lining up for the final, the grid was so large that the last few competitors couldn't even fit into the painted grid boxes on the main straight. Looking towards the starting lights from our position, they seemed a mile away. After grabbing one final team photograph, it was time to climb into the Excel, complete the formation lap and prepare for the start. The red lights came on, the revs climbed, and finally, the lights went out. Unfortunately, almost immediately, something was wrong.
As we accelerated through the gears, the engine RPM began climbing without the corresponding increase in speed. Our clutch was slipping, and we hadn't even reached Turn 1. Despite getting a reasonably good launch, the car simply couldn't transfer its power to the wheels, leaving us helpless against the cars accelerating past. By Turn 3, we'd already lost five positions. With a significant straight-line speed disadvantage, our only option was to defend as best we could and hope the clutch survived until the finish. Before we'd even completed the opening lap, the safety car was deployed following a massive accident involving Western Australian competitor Locky Cove, who launched over another car and rolled multiple times. Thankfully, Locky escaped the enormous accident without serious injury. After the restart, our problems continued, with competitors repeatedly driving past us on the straights despite our efforts to defend through the corners. Then the race erupted into chaos again. A huge multi-car accident unfolded at Turn 6, with cars spinning across the circuit. Somehow, we managed to thread our way through the wreckage without contact, gaining several positions in the process. Another safety car followed, and shortly after the next restart, yet another multi-car incident unfolded at the same corner. Once again, we managed to avoid the carnage, but the combination of a failing clutch, constant restarts and increasingly aggressive racing was making the final an incredibly stressful experience.
Despite gaining positions through the incidents, we were still struggling to defend against the faster cars behind. Every straight presented another opportunity for a competitor to pass, and the lack of acceleration meant we couldn't take advantage of the slipstream in the same way we normally would. To make matters worse, the gearbox began deteriorating as the race progressed. Fourth gear became increasingly difficult to select, and a burning, oily smell started filling the cockpit. With only minutes remaining, we were no longer concerned about gaining positions. We were simply trying to get the car to the finish. The closing laps were incredibly intense, with cars battling two and three wide as everyone fought for their final positions. On the last lap, we found ourselves squeezed between competitors through Turn 17, losing valuable ground before attempting one final run to the finish. Unfortunately, the clutch slipped again coming out of the final corner, leaving us powerless to defend. After everything, we crossed the line in 22nd position, having started 20th. While we were proud to finish in such a competitive field, it was frustrating knowing the car had the potential to achieve considerably more. Following the event, we discovered the cause of our problems: the gearbox input shaft seal had failed, allowing gear oil to contaminate the clutch friction plate. The resulting clutch slip had robbed us of acceleration, while the gearbox's declining oil level explained the increasingly difficult gear changes. The final verdict was an expensive one: a replacement clutch and gearbox before our next race meeting.
The 2026 Circuit Excel Nationals was undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges of our racing career so far. From the extreme wet-weather conditions during the opening heats to the mechanical problems and extraordinary incidents in the final, the weekend tested both the car and the driver in ways we hadn't anticipated.
Finishing 22nd out of a 50-car final wasn't quite the result we'd been hoping for, particularly after starting from 20th and feeling confident about our potential pace. However, considering the issues we experienced, simply reaching the chequered flag was an achievement.
While it's frustrating to think about what might have been possible with a healthy car, motorsport doesn't reward hypothetical results. It rewards what you can deliver on the day, and sometimes that means making the most of a difficult situation.
A massive thank you to the Excel Garage crew for their hard work throughout the weekend, to our family and supporters who came along, and to our incredible sponsors who make it possible for us to compete at events like this.
We'd also like to thank the organisers, officials and volunteer marshals who helped make the 2026 Circuit Excel Nationals such an incredible event. Bringing together 72 competitors from around Australia is no small achievement, and seeing grassroots motorsport showcased on a national broadcast was a fantastic milestone for the category.
Although the weekend ended with an unexpected repair bill, we came away with valuable experience, some incredible memories and a better understanding of what it takes to compete against Australia's best.
With Nationals behind us, our attention now turns back towards the South Australian championship, where we'll be looking to rebuild, regroup and come back stronger.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes just making it to the finish line is a victory in itself.
