West Race Cars

Did You Know?

• The WX10's aero alone contributed to an 11 mph top speed gain over the WR1000.
• Scott Tucker's 2012 Runoffs lap of 1:56.4 is the fastest lap ever recorded in any car in any category in SCCA history.

History

West Race Cars operates under West Motorsport Australia Ltd. The company began in 2005 when a small group of enthusiasts, including Greg Steer, founded it in Portland, Oregon, with an initial focus on SCCA DSR competition. From 2005 to 2007, Steer introduced the brand to Australia under the CAMS Group 6 SR category and established a race series to promote the sports racer concept. Significant investment in engineering and aerodynamics led to the development of the WX10, which replaced the older WR1000.

In 2007, ownership shifted from the consortium to Eric Vassian, and the company relocated to Buford, Georgia. Vassian negotiated a deal for West to supply spec racing sports cars for the IMSA Lites L2 class, and after three years of design and engineering, he produced the WX10. The WR1000 was West’s first model, with 85 units built. The first WX10 debuted on track in 2009; its aerodynamic design boosted top speed by 11 mph over the WR1000 and improved grip significantly.

That first season saw eleven drivers, including Michael Mallinen, Carl Skerlong, and Scott Tucker. Australian driver Tom Drewer, after winning the AMRS Thunder Sports Championship in a factory West WR1000, competed in the 2008 IMSA Lites season. The factory team dominated that year: Drewer won 10 of 12 races and the championship, Vassian placed second with one win, and Jim Garrett finished third. In 2010, West Australia released an aero upgrade for the WR1000 that kept it competitive, setting lap records at every major Australian track.

For the next three years, Steer dominated the Australian category, racing a WR1000 Aero, then the WX10-1000, and later a 1340 Hayabusa version.