At Bowhill Engineering, we believe in supporting causes that matter to our team and community. That’s why we’re proud to have sponsored the Torque Steer Squad’s remarkable effort at the M24 endurance race at Mallala, helping fund raising efforts that generated over $20,000 for Rare Cancer.
Racing For A Cause – M24 Endurance Challenge
The M24 is a gruelling 24-hour endurance race that tests both drivers and machines to their limits. This year’s event at Mallala Motor Sport Park brought together 25 teams, all committed to completing the full 24-hour challenge whilst participating in one of Australia’s premier fundraising events to raise funds for Rare Cancer Australia and boost cancer awareness.
Our sponsored team, Torque Steer Squad, exemplified the spirit of endurance racing not just pushing for performance, but racing with purpose as a dedicated cancer fundraiser. We provided motorsport sponsorship in Australia alongside Brice, Ferrocut, Hully, and Infrabuild, the team was well-supported for their charitable mission.
The Torque Steer Squad
The five-member team brought together diverse experience and unwavering determination.
- Nigel – The team’s “Rain Specialist”, who consistently performed in challenging wet conditions
- Jeremy – A seasoned driver who delivered crucial fast laps when track conditions improved
- Lync – At just 16 years old, showing remarkable composure in only his second race
- David Holland – A competitive karting veteran making his debut in the team’s car
- Nayt – Racing on his probationary licence, proving skill runs in the family
Race Day – Arrival And Preparation
Saturday, July 5th, dawned with intermittent showers as the team arrived at Mallala Motor Sport Park at 8:30 AM for what would become one of the most successful fundraising events at Mallala racing. Despite the challenging weather conditions, spirits remained high as the crew prepared for the 1:00 PM Le Mans-style running start.
The scrutineering process went smoothly – a testament to the team’s thorough preparation. With only minor adjustments needed from their previous race, the team was ready to tackle the 24-hour challenge.
Session One – Building Momentum (Hours 1-7)
The classic Le Mans running start added excitement to the beginning of the race. The team’s strategy focused on endurance over outright pace, targeting consistent lap times around 1:55 to preserve both car and engine for the long haul.
Nigel’s Opening Stint: True to his reputation, Nigel faced immediate rain but handled the conditions expertly. His 38 laps in 1 hour 22 minutes placed the team 16th out of 25 competitors – a solid foundation for the race ahead.
Jeremy’s Breakthrough: As conditions improved, Jeremy seized the opportunity to push harder. His impressive 1:36.039 fastest lap moved the team up to 11th place, demonstrating the competitive potential of both driver and machine.
Lync’s Composure: The youngest team member showed maturity beyond his years, completing a steady 1.5-hour stint with a best lap of 1:49.443. His performance proved that age is no barrier to endurance racing success.
David’s Debut: Stepping in for the regular driver “Scooter,” David’s karting experience translated beautifully to the endurance format. His 1:38.210 fastest lap helped elevate the team from 14th to 10th place.
Nayt’s Consistency: Racing on his probationary licence, Nayt improved the team’s position to 9th with a fastest lap of 1:40.030, setting up a strong foundation for the night ahead.
After 7 hours and 19 minutes, two refuelling stops, and three driver changes, the team entered their second session well-positioned in the field.
Session Two – Night Racing Challenges (Hours 8-15)
Night racing at Mallala presented unique challenges, with changing temperatures and grip levels testing every driver’s ability to adapt.
Nigel’s Rain Mastery: Once again facing wet conditions, Nigel delivered his fastest lap of the race at 1:42.078. However, a faulty fuel gauge forced an early pit stop, a recurring issue that would challenge the team throughout the event.
Jeremy’s Cold Battle: Starting 14th in challenging conditions, Jeremy’s experience shone through as he moved the team up to 8th place with a best lap of 1:36.682 over 1.5 hours of night racing.
Lync’s Improvement: The young driver continued his learning curve, maintaining 11th place whilst improving his personal best to 1:45.056.
David’s Pace: David’s relentless driving moved the team from 14th to 6th place, setting a blistering lap time of 1:34.617 that would stand as one of the race’s fastest.
Nayt’s Determination: Despite ongoing fuel gauge issues, Nayt held steady in 11th place and improved his lap time to 1:38.968, showing the mental toughness required for endurance racing.
After nearly 15 hours of racing, the team sat in 11th place overall, well-positioned for the final push.
Session Three – The Final Challenge (Hours 16-24)
The final session brought dawn, changing track conditions, and the crucial decision-making that defines endurance racing success.
Nigel’s Wet Weather Expertise: Facing heavy rain once more, Nigel navigated treacherous conditions where rear-wheel-drive cars struggled for traction. His best lap of 1:46.784 maintained the team’s 11th position through the most challenging conditions.
Jeremy’s Dawn Drive: Taking over at daybreak, Jeremy’s experience paid dividends as he gained three positions with a 1:42.283 lap time despite cold and damp conditions.
Lync’s Recovery: After a scary off-track moment in session two, the young driver showed remarkable resilience, rebuilding his confidence with a final stint that included a 1:52.135 best lap. Importantly, he logged 4 hours and 25 minutes toward his 75-hour learner requirement.
David’s Record Performance: With the sun warming the track, David set the team’s fastest lap of 1:34.393. During his stint, the team discovered worn brake pads, leading to their only extended pit stop—40 minutes to cool the car, replace pads, and fit sticky semi-slick tyres.
Nayt’s Fresh Rubber: On new tyres, Nayt recorded his fastest lap of 1:37.825, proving the value of strategic tyre changes in endurance racing.
The Final Hour – Bringing It Home
With 58 minutes remaining, the team voted to have Jeremy complete the race. His fast and consistent final session included a 1:34.515 lap time, just 0.122 seconds slower than David’s race-best effort.
Despite finishing in 12th place, only three laps behind 11th, the team achieved their primary goal of completing the full 24 hours and raising significant funds for Rare Cancer Australia.
Final Results And Community Impact
Out of 25 teams, 19 completed the full 24-hour challenge. The Torque Steer Squad finished with 714 laps, but more importantly, they helped raise funds exceeding $20,000 for Rare Cancer Australia – a cause that affects thousands of Australian families and desperately needs increased awareness and support for cancer.This achievement reflects the values we hold dear at Bowhill Engineering – supporting our community, backing determined teams, and demonstrating our community involvement. We’re committed to contributing to causes that make a real difference in people’s lives.
Community, Causes, And Commitment
At Bowhill Engineering, we’re proud to support initiatives that combine excellence with community impact. The M24 endurance race perfectly embodies these values, requiring technical skill, teamwork, and determination whilst raising funds for vital cancer research.
Our sponsorship of the Torque Steer Squad reflects our commitment to supporting South Australian talent and causes that matter to our community. Just as we bring precision and reliability to structural steel engineering projects, we appreciate the same qualities in endurance racing.
What’s Next For The Team
The success of this year’s M24 fundraising effort demonstrates what’s possible when passionate individuals come together for a common cause. We congratulate the Torque Steer Squad on their impressive performance and look forward to supporting future initiatives that combine competitive excellence with community benefit.
The M24 is behind us, but our journey continues. Plans are already underway to build on this momentum at future endurance races, with eyes set on surpassing our fundraising total. Our shared goal remains clear – race hard, raise more, and amplify impact.
