Portland-based driver Brock Hallett to build on top season

The Portland-based sprintcar ace is now disappointed not to crack the top 10 on any given night.

Hallett, who scored an unlikely World Series Sprintcars triumph at Murray Bridge in December, is determined to cement his status as one of Australia's finest racers after a breakout season.

"It was a career-best season for me and my team. We just had that consistency. I think we made 33 of 35 A-mains," he told The Standard.

"I think that's a pretty good result. All of our races were against the toughest competition too, they weren't just shows with 10 or 15 cars.

"Going and finishing World Series with the J&S Drilling Motorsport team in Perth was cool as well."

Hallett said he planned to run his own car for part of next season but would embrace the opportunity to drive for a team.

"I definitely enjoy running for my team as well, but financially, it's not practical. I can't afford to go and do 40 races in my own car," he said.

"I need to do bits and pieces with someone else as well. Definitely being in the seat a lot helps as well."

Confidence is a buzzword for drivers but Hallett said his self-belief was growing.

"You're disappointed not to finish top 10 now. You expect to always be in the 10s somewhere," he said.

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"We know we have good speed and we know we're not just going to the track to make up numbers, so that's a good feeling too.

"You're actually racing against people you looked up to all those years ago. You feel like you're kind of one of them maybe.

"I'm just trying to stamp my name as one of the frontrunners in (Australian sprintcar racing)."

Hallett isn't one for motorsport's iRacing phenomenon but will still be thinking sprintcars through winter.

He said he was working on a newly-purchased block of land in Portland to keep busy in the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I'm not into (iRacing) or anything like that, but I'm definitely still keeping up with what's happening in America when they start," Hallett said.

"I'm trying to always improve my own setup - finding new parts, ordering new parts.

"It's hard because we don't know if we're going to start racing in October or start racing at all.

"There's a lot sort of unknown and there's not that motivation to get things ready when you (don't know)."

That said, planning for next season is already underway. Hallett is hoping to follow World Series Sprintcars again, race in the south-west and head north to Brisbane.

"We'd really like to do 30-odd races again next season," he said.

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