Pole and a Sunday race win were the perfect tonic for Thomas Randle on an emotion charged weekend for he and his family on the streets of Adelaide to start the Dunlop Super 2 series.
The 23 year old rising star was only able to gain clearance from his doctor in the week before the Adelaide event after the shock revelation he has been battling testicular cancer.
After a harrowing month, pole on Friday, and Sunday’s race win in his debut in the Skye Sands Nissan Altima left he and his parents in tears in pit lane.
“It’s been a bloody tough time this year away from the racetrack, and just being able to compete in this event was a dream,” Randle said.
“To then be super competitive, and get a pole, and a couple of seconds, and then to win on Sunday is just a fairytale really after what’s happened.”
Randle is still in a battle with his cancer, with important blood tests now to determine the next course of treatment, which could include chemotherapy.
He was full of praise for the medical staff who have been a constant by his side the past month, and also his new team owner Matthew White who had been in limbo leading up to the Adelaide event.
“I can’t thank Matthew and his MW Motorsport race team more for the support they’ve given me,” Randle said.
“Can you imagine how difficult it’s been for him leading into the new season, when his new driver couldn’t even commit to the season with a health battle – he’s been absolutely awesome!”
“I’d also like to thank all of the race fans who were so kind to me this past month, especially across the weekend in Adelaide – so many people have been touched by cancer, this is real and scary – but it’s comforting hearing so many people sharing their stories with me.”
Randle sits second in the championship, just two points behind Brodie Kostecki who won the Friday and Saturday Super 2 races. Randle’s health battle will now determine when he next hits the race track.
“We’re not out of the woods yet, this is still an ongoing battle,” Randle said.
“It was great therapy – sort of the perfect tonic to be at the race track in a race suit playing with my new race car – I loved every bit of being back racing, and I hope we can be back in a couple of weeks!”
The second round of the Super 2 series takes place at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains in early April.
