RPW Exclusive: Peter Britten’s Showing He Has What It Takes, So Far, To Run Well At The Valley
Column By: DYLAN FRIEBEL / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – About a month before season was going to start on the high banks of Lebanon Valley, it was announced that the Australian driver Peter Britten would be calling the Valley of Speed home on Saturday Nights.
This was a shock to many, but after two weeks, that shock may be just a memory. Peter now has two top five finishes and is tied for the points lead with Andy Bachetti.
Not bad for a first-timer, huh?
“I am happy so far this year,” Britten said. “It’s only two races, but we’ve started off well. We have a really car under us and I wanted to make sure I had that at the start of this deal. We wanted to get comfortable with it and we’ve done it. We can keep working on it and get it even better.”
The choice for Peter to come the Valley was influenced by his Friday night home, which is no more than 45 minutes to an hour away…the Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
“I’ve enjoyed racing under what Lyle (Devore) is doing with Albany-Saratoga,” he said. “He’s doing great things over there and some of those racers come and run here as well. It was a good year to give it a go with me being out on my own. I am trying to do well down here and hopefully it will attract some support. I’m glad I did so far. I’m enjoying it and these first couple races have proven that the track is super racey.”
For the most part, the only times Peter seen the Valley has been during the annual Super DIRTcar Series stop, Mr. DIRT Track USA.
“Last year, we were quick at Mr. DIRT,” he said. “I put myself in a bad situation and was in the fence pretty early in the event. We didn’t get to show the speed the car had.”
When it comes to the Super DIRTcar Series, it seems that at some tracks, it’s tough for “invaders” to win. Since 2000, only two have graced victory lane for the marquee event, Stewart Friesen and Matt Sheppard.
“There’s always something here that happens for that event,” he said. “It’s a little bit of a learning curve…keeping the engine cool….keeping the breaks and everything cool for 100 laps. We’ve always struggled to get to the end of that race in a decent position. I’ve never finished good and think running here will help. Over the years I’ve learned a lot about my brakes using Wilwood products. Between here, Merrittville and a few others, the guys who race here weekly have the advantage when the series comes here.”
For the driver from Brisbane-Queensland Australia, the start to the 2019 season at Lebanon Valley could not have started any better. He’s on top of the heap with the titans of the track breathing down his neck.
He’s showing that he to belongs on the track. Only time will tell for Britten but he’s already turned some heads…actually more like a lot of heads in the first two weeks.
