A PAIR of Hamilton speedway drivers are set to take on the country’s best when Dehne Sparrow and Colby Hammond take to the track in Western Australia this weekend.

The duo have driven across the country for the Speedway Sedans Australia Production Sedans National Title at Ellenbrook, with the pair set to work together to improve their chances on the track.

Sparrow is a seasoned veteran of the sport but has recently swapped his Holden Torana for a 1995 VS Commodore, while Hammond also be in a VS Commodore for his national title debut.

“I have not competed in the Aussie title before, but I am just excited to get amongst it and enjoy the trip,” Hammond said.

“Dehne is always full of advice, which has been great.”

Sparrow, who finished second in 2019 when Western Speedway hosted the national title, will be one of the state’s best hopes, but will also be looking to guide Hammond through the field at times.

With 88 nominations confirmed for the three-day event, it will be no easy feat for the locals.

“There is 80 odd nominated, we will have our backs against the wall, but we just want to finish the race and be consistent,” Sparrow said.

“Speedway is 30 per cent driver and car and 70 per cent luck.”

Both drivers are settling into their cars, with both only recently getting onto the track in the lead-up to the nationals.

“I bought the car late last year or early this year and have had two other meetings in it and just trying to get used to it,” Hammond said.

“We will try and look after each other, we are also representing our state as well, so we are all trying to work together, there is only five Victorians going over I think.”

For Sparrow, it is a reinvigoration building a new car and travelling across the country with Hammond, with the 2023 title offering motivation for Sparrow to continue on the track.

“It feels brilliant, I was nearly going to retire last year,” he said.

“The Torana was a brilliant car, Australia number two in 2019, and this is where the WA trip came from.

“We were meant to go to WA in 2020, we were a couple of weeks shy of going and COVID hit.

“We met some really ripper guys here back in 2019, there was six WA cars come and support our track, so this is my way of supporting them.

“I have experienced two national titles so far, so we fly the flag for Victoria.”

With no expectations of getting on the podium, Hammond is about enjoying the experience and learning from some of the country’s best drivers.

“I would like to finish every race and not have any DNFs, I am not going there expecting to win but I want to be consistent and whatever happens, happens,” he said.

“I just want to embrace it and get amongst it, it will be an unreal trip and no matter how the racing goes, it is still a great experience.”

Both drivers will also need to adapt their style with the racing set to be earlier in the day.

“The weather climate is different and it is a twilight meeting, so it just goes black and slick and just goes wider and wider, Colby and I will have to grow a pair, because they race against the fence and that is how they do it over there,” Sparrow said.

“If you can be in the top half of the field after qualifying, I think that is a massive achievement.”

Scrutineering and practice is on Friday, with a Calcutta dinner on Friday night, four heats on Saturday then one more heat and the finals on Sunday.