Brent Edwards has made a notable impact in the world of motorsport, transitioning from a brief stint in Club Cars to competing at various levels in Australia. His journey reflects a passion for racing that has evolved over the years.
Early Career
Brent Edwards had a short career in Club Cars (now known as Improved Production) in the early 1990s before he transitioned to 2.0-litre Sports Sedans, racing his Datsun 1600 for a couple of seasons. Following this period, he took a sabbatical that lasted until 2010, during which time he focused on other priorities, including building a house.
Return to Racing
Brent was drawn back into motorsport through club sprints, and he eventually returned to full racing with a Production Car Ford FPV F6 in his home state of Victoria. It wasn’t until 2014 that he became involved in a national series, specifically in Saloon Cars. “I wanted to run in the Sportsman Class (for the older cars) in an EA Falcon, but it blew up on the dyno before the first race,” Brent recalled. Fortunately, he met Les Morrall, who was running the category and was able to provide him with an AU Falcon.
Competitive Achievements
Brent finished his first season in Saloon Cars in 14th place and improved to fourth in his second year. In the 2017 Victorian Saloon Car Championship, he achieved third overall, initially racing the AU before switching to a new BA Falcon, which even secured pole position at Winton. However, at the end of 2017, the BA was “written out of the rule book,” leaving Brent to compete in the Super 6/Group 4 category, which was short-lived. He also participated in Thunder Sports and continued his activity in Production Cars, driving a BMW 130i.
Recent Success
In 2023, Brent experienced success at the Bathurst 6 Hour, sharing a Holden Commodore SSV to secure a Class B2 victory, finishing ahead of all B1 entries and placing 16th overall. As Thunder Sports began to decline, he competed in NSW Super TT alongside a few others who had built BAs. Brent turbocharged his car to enhance competitiveness, although he faced some reliability issues initially. “Super TT really came on when Stephen Whyte proposed to run a national series,” Brent said.
Regulations and Opportunities
In Super TT, cars must be developed from road-registered vehicles with factory firewall, but they cannot be of tube chassis construction. Modifications are allowed, including changes to wheel wells and floor plans, along with the strengthening of jacking points. All panels can be replaced with fiberglass or carbon composite, and factory glass can be substituted for Lexan or polycarbonate. Rear wings with a maximum width of 1830mm (including endplates) are permitted, and they must not exceed the height of the roof. Front splitters are allowed but cannot extend 150mm beyond the furthest front part of the car, while diffusers may extend back to parallel with the front axle line. Front suspension is flexible but must retain the original configuration, and the rear suspension can be replaced with a live or dead beam axle. Wheels and tires are free, subject to certain restrictions, and engines up to 7.0-litres in swept volume are unrestricted for two-wheel-drive vehicles, while all-wheel drives must retain original cylinder blocks and heads.
“Super TT is the most affordable option for people to get involved; it provides a great step from sprints and time attack. There are many freedoms without breaking the bank. It’s a grassroots class that runs at the national level with excellent free-to-air television coverage,” Brent added.