Chariots of Thunder wingless sprints success in Darwin on Victorian's Alex Ross' mind

The Victorian-based racer is among a number of highly-rated competitors who have ventured to the Northern Territory to compete in the Chariots of Thunder wingless sprint series.

Ross, from Mailors Flat, said an opportunity too good to refuse presented itself.

"I was meant to come up here for a holiday but not to race," he said.

"The way COVID has worked out, one of the drivers was driving for a team in Melbourne and fortunately the car was able to come up but unfortunately the driver couldn't make it due to lockdown restrictions."

Now he's got a drive he's got high hopes for the competition which is offering decent prizemoney "with a quality field" despite border restrictions forcing some to withdraw.

"I am obviously here to win. I don't want to come last," Ross said.

"I had a really bad run here last time so I am hoping to turn things around.

"The people I am driving for I have raced for once before.

"We did well but mechanical failure cost us a win.

"Hopefully we have a good time and give it all we've got."

Ross, 24, spent a day-and-a-half in lockdown when he arrived but Darwin's restrictions have since eased.

It has meant a change to the racing schedule.

"We have gone to one weekend of racing instead of two but we're still racing for the same prizemoney," he said.

"We are racing three days straight next week - Thursday, Friday and Saturday."

Ross, the current Victorian title-holder, last raced in April.

"It will be good to get back in and since lockdown has eased (in Darwin) we have a practice on Saturday night for a couple of hours," he said.

"It will be good to get some hot laps and get the feel of it again."

Four south-west Victorian drivers - Warrnambool's Jamie Veal and Darren Mollenoyux, Terang's Jack Lee, Allansford's Jake Smith - have entered the Chariots of Thunder 410 sprintcar competition.