Thomas Randle will have a new car with a new look – and a steely resolve to make amends, when he returns to the track for the Supercars’ Sandown SuperSprint this weekend in Melbourne.
It will be the first time Randle is back at the track since his horrifying crash in the last event at South Australia’s Tailem Bend.
And he has extra incentive for a strong result – with his Castrol backed Ford Mustang sporting a new look, supporting a cause close to his heart.
“This weekend we are supporting the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation”
“Most people know of my cancer battle – and the people at Peter Mac couldn’t have been more brilliant with me – so if we can help raise money and awareness for them, then that is a great result all round.”
Randle is supporting a fundraising initiative for ONTrac at Peter Mac’s Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service that provides care for adolescents and young adults affected by cancer.
Randle was a patient at the centre as he dealt with his own testicular cancer battle in 2020, and now serves as a member for the Victorian Youth Cancer Action Board – which works to support young cancer patients and their families.
Thankfully Randle is 18 months cancer free and in the middle of his first full-time season in Supercars.
“The support provided by ONTrac is so important for any young person like myself who have had to go through a cancer battle,” Randle explained.
“They think of everything when you are at the lowest point in your life – from exercise and nutrition to mental health, education, as well as looking after your family – they are a brilliant bunch of people and the most worthwhile cause.”
Randle and his family, and his Tickford Racing team have combined with the sport of Supercars to help in a number of ways to raise awareness.
One hundred passes have been distributed to Peter Mac patients to attend the Sandown Supercars’ event.
And the team will run a host of fundraising causes – including auctioning the bonnet of Randle’s #55 Castrol Mustang via Lloyds Auctions, and donating a portion of all merchandise sold across the event.
On the track, it’s an important weekend for the 26-year-old after he ended the Tailem Bend weekend in Adelaide Hospital, following his car crunching start line incident.
He will race the team’s backup car this weekend – which was campaigned at the Bend by Wildcard driver Zak Best.
Thankfully he is fully recovered after his body copped a pounding in the frightening accident.
“Obviously the Bend didn’t end the way we wanted, especially after we qualified on the front row of the grid,” Randle said.
“I can’t wait to get back in the car and back out there to continue the momentum we had at the Bend.
“It’s been a slow but gradual climb for this team – you could track our results improving from Townsville through to the Bend, and we hope that can continue this weekend.
“It wasn’t meant to be easy stepping up to the main game – and it’s absolutely tested us – but I’m positive you’ll see better results the longer the season goes.
“I ’d just like to thank Castrol and BP, plus Herzog Steel, ACT Fence Hire, Infinium Advisory, Gerald Slaven Ford and DeVilbiss for all of their continuing support – I hope we can grab some great results for them in Melbourne.”
Opening practice begins Friday morning for the Sandown SuperSprint, with Races 24, 25 and 26 of the season across the weekend.
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