After a break-out season in the Victoria Formula 500 Association, Melton’s Justin Bowen is ready to take his driving career to another level.
Despite competing at just six meets across last season, Bowen was named the Victoria Formula 500 Association most improved driver for the 2016-17.
Consistency was the key for Bowen.
“I’d been building for it after having a couple of good results in the previous season,” he said.
“We don’t have the budget to race week in and week out. We decided to cut back on racing every race and we were prepared really well for the ones we did race.
“I got a podium at the end of the season and had four heat wins, including one at the Australian titles against the best in Australia.”
He ended up qualifying 16th out of 70 cars at the Australian titles and set the fastest lap in the stampede event.
Bowen said the results were motivation for next season, which starts in October. He said getting a race win and getting and competing at the Australian titles again were his goals.
“I don’t think I’m far off a main race win,” he said.
Formula 500 is dirt-track racing that takes place on speedway circuits.
Bowen’s plans on undertaking a busier schedule in the upcoming season, which starts in October. His challenges include sharing the car with his older sister, Lauren.
Both admit sharing the car can be difficult at times, with both wanting to race the same races. Ultimately, the two would like to run a second car from their team which, is being renamed from Justin Bowen Racing to Team Bowen Racing.
“It can be quite expensive,” Lauren said. “Last season I only had a couple of races as juggling is quite tricky. We’d love to get some more sponsors on board and be able to have two cars. The ultimate aim is to have two cars and be able to race against each other.”
Her brother added: “It would be awesome to be able to race each other.
“A lot of people said she couldn’t race, but she’s proving them wrong.”
The other thing that may hold Justin back is the cost of travelling across the country to race. In the coming season, the Australian titles will be run in Darwin.
“We need to get some good sponsorship help to be able to get up to Darwin,” he said. “I can’t see why I can’t get a few wins this season.”
