Motorsport News

Meet Burson Autoparts’ New Racing Ambassador, Shane Olive

Shane Olive joins Burson Auto Parts’ Top Fuel Dragster team.

Shane Olive is the driver of the fire breathing, 11,000 horsepower Burson Auto Parts Top Fuel Dragster that made its 2022 season debut at Sydney Dragway in January.

It has been a long way to the top of his craft for Shane, who continues a family tradition following in the well-worn skid tracks of his father, Phil Olive, who enjoyed great drag racing success during the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Since gaining his road driving licence, Shane has successfully competed in just about every junior and professional drag racing category along his 30-year journey to the world’s ultimate drag racing class, Top Fuel. Being attracted to a Championship winning team in Lamattina Racing and piloting the first ever Burson Auto Parts sponsored Top Fuel Dragster has made a lifelong dream a reality for the highly talented 47-year-old racer.

Shane doesn’t just drive the fastest Burson Auto Parts racing machine of them all, he also handles all of the engine maintenance and dragster preparation work between each race event, ensuring that the Lamattina Racing Dragsters are in their best possible shape.

While he is an all-round motorsports fan, Shane has only ever competed in drag racing, his first and only motor racing passion, having grown up in it across his entire life.

“Being able to do what I love and to have a major Australian company wanting to have their name on the car as I compete at the highest level is just incredible,” Shane said.

“I can’t begin to tell you what a privilege it is to race with the support of the Burson Auto Parts national store network. The feedback that we have received from fans about the car has been phenomenal – and the season has only just begun,” he added.

The opening round of the 2022 Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship at Sydney Dragway on January 21 and 22 saw Shane achieve his dream of competing at the sport’s premier level and it proved to be a baptism of fire. His first ever Top Fuel race saw him lined up against double American Top Fuel Champion Larry Dixon – and despite his debut race nerves, Shane won the drag race.

Having christened the Burson Auto Parts Top Fuel Dragster with its first win and having qualified strongly in the six car Top Fuel field, the dream run unravelled in the final with a blower failure.

“While the weekend didn’t end the way we wanted it to, it was a strong debut and a great Top Fuel start for me and Burson Auto Parts. We have a strong car and a great team – I’m looking forward to the rest of the season,” Shane said.

Shane is based in Sydney and is married with three daughters, one of them works on the Lamattina Racing Team crew, one of them at a motor racing venue and the third works outside of the sport.

To keep tabs on the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship, visit the series’ Facebook page or the Lamattina Racing Team website – www.thecarrotkings.com.au

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