News

Jun 5, 2012

AN ALREADY BLOCKBUSTER-SIZED round six of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils scheduled for Queensland Raceway this August has become even bigger.

As well as featuring eight national-level categories, the August 10-12 event will now also see racing into the dark by way of a pair of 200km endurance races for the Australian Manufacturers Championship (AMC), for Production Cars.

The 3.12km Queensland Raceway, near Ipswich, will be lit with portable lighting for the occasion with the first 200km race commencing at 5:45pm Saturday night and expected to run for at least 90 minutes into the night.

A post-race fireworks display is planned to cap off an exciting evening of on-track action.

A second race of the same distance will run into the twilight on Sunday to complete a massive weekend of racing on the Shannons Nationals return to ‘QR’ for the first time since 2007.

The round will also feature a 40-lap endurance race for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, a 50-minute mini-enduro for the growing Radical Australia Cup sports cars; plus round four of the ever-expanding Kumho V8 Touring Cars Series.

The Kerrick Sports Sedans, Hi-Tec Oils Swift Racing Series, Radical Australia Cup, Saloon Cars and Australian Superkarts complete a massive program that starts Friday (August 9), with 25 races split across Saturday and Sunday.

“The Shannons Nationals has been working closely with AMC organisers for a long time to facilitate the resurgence of Production Car Racing in Australia, and this is an ideal way to showcase the series at its best,” Shannons Nationals series director Rob Curkpatrick said.

“The Shannons Nationals is building events that cater to the demand from categories, and the interest in returning to Queensland Raceway has been significant. Fortunately the circuit, promoters and categories involved have been very enthusiastic in embracing the expanded program for round six.

“Our return to Queensland Raceway for the first time since 2007 will be spectacular with eight categories and some of the fastest, most impressive cars around. We can’t wait.”

The twin-200km races are expected to attract the best of the best from this years’ Australian Manufacturers grid, including defending champions TMR Australia led by Stuart Kostera and Inky Tulloch. Meanwhile, two-time series champion Garry Holt won the most recent round at Phillip Island in his new Mitsubishi and will likely be a frontrunner.

Gold Coast-based Wilson Brothers Racing owner Cam Wilson has all-but committed his four-wheel drive Subaru WRX STi entry to the weekend, suggesting the new event would be a boost to the growing series.

“Production Car racing is slowly gaining strength with new cars and new faces and it’s races like this that are going to bring the cars out of the garages and on to the track,” Wilson said.

“QR is going to look great under lights on what should be a great evening. Wilson Brothers Racing will be there with our Subaru’s and try to beat those pesky Mitsubishi’s on our home turf.

“It’s a great concept from the AMC series organisers and the Shannons Nationals.”

Fellow Queensland-based team, Grand Prix Motorsport, from Brisbane, will likely also be competitive in their front-wheel drive class Mazda 3 MPS.

Round 6 of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils will be contested at Ipswich’s Queensland Raceway on August 10-12.

The next round of the Shannons Nationals will be held at Winton Raceway, on June 22-24.

For more information head to www.thenationals.com.au