Arise Racing Launches 2025 National Season with Strong Showing at Phillip Island Apr 22, 2025
Arise Racing has kicked off the 2025 national season in style, leaving a strong impression at the opening round held at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. With a mix of weather conditions, a competitive grid, and plenty of fresh talent, the team secured multiple podium finishes and valuable momentum for the season ahead.
Results Recap
- Cooper Cutts delivered a standout performance, qualifying on pole and finishing P2 in Race 1, P1 in Race 2, and P2 in Race 3, securing 2nd overall for the round.
- Chris Reindler & Bryce Moore shared duties in the Lee Collection entry. Reindler took solo honours in the sprint format of Race 1 (P3), Moore followed with P3 in Race 2, and the pair closed out the event with a P5 finish in the Race 3 Enduro, landing them 3rd overall for the round.
- Ruairi Avern, a rising rookie talent, showed consistent growth with a qualifying result of P6. He finished P4, P6, and scored a podium in Race 3 (P3)—now leading the Rookie category heading into Round 2.
- Brad Russell was a force in the AM class, qualifying P7, and delivering consistent finishes of P5, P5, and P7, earning 1st place in the Radical Challenge AM category.
- Mark Cirillo & Dave Allan, in their national debut, qualified P8. Cirillo brought the car home P6 in Race 1, Allan followed with P7 in Race 2, and together they secured P9 in the Race 3 Enduro, stepping onto the AM class podium in P3.
- Andrew Connor achieved a personal milestone weekend, qualifying P16, and going on to finish P14, P13, and P14, showing solid progression and confidence-building through the round.
From the Coaching Corner:
Coaches Andre Heimgartner and Macauley Jones were both trackside, offering crucial support and insight across the weekend, with a sharp eye on driver progression and team cohesion, sharing their honest reflections.
Macca's Take: “The performance across the team was strong, and the environment stayed calm, even when chaos hit at the start of Race 3 with the rain! I really appreciated the team’s adaptability. Ruairi was a bit of a silent achiever, I felt he did a great job adapting to the car after some big changes and bounced back from a lap one mistake. It was his first proper wet drive, and he handled it solidly. Race 3 was a real highlight, Mason kept calm on the radio, we had a clear strategy, and Ruairi pushed through the field brilliantly. There’s a lot we can build on with him moving forward. Our coaching focus was on keeping things simple and direct, avoiding information overload. The rookies responded really well to that. AC showed great progression, particularly given his limited track time at Phillip Island. He had a good aggressive approach to his own set personal goal time as the weekend went on.”
Andre's Insight: “Overall, I felt our performance was strong, but there’s still room to sharpen our execution. Cooper has taken a big step forward, especially with his race craft in the wet-he’s starting to polish the rough edges, and if we execute, the championship is well within reach. Brad also impressed me, I was a bit like a proud dad, he smashed his personal best by nearly a second, and you can see his confidence growing. PBs are falling, and he’s really starting to enjoy his racing. Mark and Dave started off understandably a bit stressed on debut, but once racing kicked off, they settled and began to enjoy it which really showed in their driving. They are great guys and I’m looking forward to working with them over the season to help them trust the process, and the race results will come.”
A Word from the Team Manager
Team Manager Michael Epple praised the full-team effort and culture that carried Arise Racing through a demanding race weekend.
“What stood out this weekend wasn’t just the podiums, it was the complete team effort. From rookies pushing personal bests to experienced drivers delivering results, the entire team bought in and executed under pressure. The vibe in the garage was exactly what we aim for: professional, positive, and united. The collaboration between drivers, coaches, and engineers was great, and that culture is what carries us when the pressure is on, especially during moments like the rain chaos in Race 3. We don’t just look at trophies, we look at growth. Seeing drivers step out of their comfort zones, trust the process, and walk away with confidence is just as rewarding. This round showed we’re heading into the season with good momentum.”
What’s Next
With Phillip Island complete, the team’s focus now shifts to Round 2 at Sydney Motorsport Park, May 2-4. The combination of race results, driver development, and team synergy has set Arise Racing up for what looks to be a thrilling 2025 season.