TWO, ONE-HOUR endurance races for the Australian GT Championship presented by Pirelli will add to the endurance flavour at this weekend’s third round of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals.

The third round of Australian GT will feature alongside the inaugural running of the Great Southern Four Hour for the Australian Manufacturers Championship, plus rounds for the Radical Australia Cup, Swift Racing Series and PRB Clubmans.

This weekend marks the first of three GT rounds to form part of the Shannons Nationals program this year – the exotic supercars also featuring at July’s Sydney Motorsport Park event and at Queensland Raceway, in August.

Local Victorian based team, Pedders Racing, recently completed testing at Winton Motor Raceway in preparation for the opening round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship at Phillip Island next weekend.

The test, held in chilly conditions, much like those often experienced at the Island circuit, was held at the tight Winton track as has proven to be to be an ideal testing environment due the variations in corner types and surface conditions, as well as allowing for the team to put their drivers to the real test in speed and race craft as explained by Team Principle and lead driver, Grant Phillips who explained,

Luke Fraser Racing is thrilled to announce that driver Luke Fraser will represent CLS Finance for the Phillip Island Enduro Round of the Australian Swift Racing Series across May 24 to 26.

The announcement comes after the 22 year old St Morris (Adelaide) resident took victory in the first round of the series, held at Mallala Motorsport Park in April, with an impressive ‘clean sweep’.

THE OUTRIGHT FIGHT for the inaugural Great Southern Four Hour endurance race at Phillip Island next week looks likely to be between Mitsubishi and BMW.

The opening round of the new-look 2013 Australian Manufacturers Championship on May 24-26 will see a four-car fleet of Mitsubishi’s dominant EVO X RS arrive at the high-speed 4.46km circuit as outright favourites, armed with strong drivers and experienced teams pushing them forward.

THE OUTRIGHT FIGHT for the inaugural Great Southern Four Hour endurance race at Phillip Island next week looks likely to be between Mitsubishi and BMW.

The opening round of the new-look 2013 Australian Manufacturers Championship on May 24-26 will see a four-car fleet of Mitsubishi’s dominant EVO X RS arrive at the high-speed 4.46km circuit as outright favourites, armed with strong drivers and experienced teams pushing them forward.

Cars from the Japanese brand will go into battle against the strongest BMW fleet ever assembled for an AMChamps race, plus entries representing Ford, Mazda, Honda, MINI, Toyota and Renault - but the Lancer’s are expected to again enter as favourites.

Adelaide-based squad to run pair of Jack Daniel’s Commodores in 2014

ADELAIDE-based Kumho V8 Touring Car Series team THR Developments will expand their operations to include the Dunlop Series in 2014.

The team has confirmed the purchase of two ex-Jack Daniel’s Racing Commodore VE II V8 Supercars from Kelly Racing in Melbourne.

The cars were the last two built under the previous V8 Supercar regulations prior to the introduction of ‘Car of the Future’ specification machinery this year and were collected from the Kelly team’s Braeside workshops this week.

THE SHANNONS Australian Motor Racing Nationals was saddened this morning to hear about the passing of Winton Motor Raceway CEO, Mick Ronke.

Mick was a true supporter of the Nationals concept of opening up national-level motorsport to as wide an audience as possible, and was pro-active in supporting and growing the series’ annual Winton round, held each year in late June.

Though Winton only joined the calendar in recent years, the round has quickly grown and firmly established itself as a key date on the calendar for our competitors.

Series newcomer Luke Fraser dominated the opening round of the Hi-Tec Oils Australian Swift Racing Series, backing up from his race 1 win on Saturday night to take both heats today and seal the overall round result.

The Adelaide driver used his local experience to the max today, overcoming difficult conditions in each race to win against the Swift series strongest-ever field.

There was a countback for second overall in the round, Allan Jarvis edging out Mike Gore for the remaining spots on the podium by virtue of finishing higher in the deciding final race of the weekend.

Local Porsche ace Michael Almond has claimed his first round win in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Pirelli series at Mallala Motor Sport Park, with impressive debutant Richard Muscat and young gun Phil Woodbury also having reasons to celebrate.

After placing second to Muscat in Saturday’s endurance night race, Almond got the jump at the start of Sunday’s Race 2 in wet conditions and led the Porsche field into the first corner from Muscat, Woodbury, Fraser Ross and John Goodacre.

Almond’s time at the front was made easier when Muscat left the circuit on Lap 7 of the 14-lap event, allowing Almond to pull a sizeable gap on the field, while Muscat dropped back to 10th.

Competition strong as three different drivers claim race wins across weekend

FORMER Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series champion Terry Wyhoon has claimed victory in round two of the series for ex-V8 Supercars at Mallala Motorsport Park in South Australia.

The Lubrimaxx Falcon driver won a wet Race 2 today and finished second to young gun Shae Davies in the 20-lap Race 3 to seal overall victory.

The win was the sixth of Wyhoon’s Kumho Series career, equalling Chris Smerdon’s record of most round wins in series history.

Wyhoon now moves within striking distance of Davies in the points battle, moving to within just one point of the young Gold Coaster with two rounds of six completed for the season.

IN A REMARKABLE turn of events, the race named in honour of Mallala’s circuit owner has been won by his good friend.

Kerrick Sports Sedan series stalwart Jeff Barnes won today’s feature race – named after his good mate Clem Smith, the Mallala promoter and a long time fan and competitor in Sports Sedan racing – after a series of events ruled out the three major contenders for the series' biggest race of the year.

Barnes also won the round and dedicated his victory to another mate of his – Sports Sedan champion Des Wall – who passed away late last year. Barnes is running Wall’s racing number (#38) this season as a tribute to his mate.

IN A REMARKABLE turn of events, the race named in honour of Mallala’s circuit owner has been won by his good friend.

Kerrick Sports Sedan series stalwart Jeff Barnes won today’s feature race – named after his good mate Clem Smith, the Mallala promoter and a long time fan and competitor in Sports Sedan racing – after a series of events ruled out the three major contenders for the series' biggest race of the year.

The race was the highlight of round two of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals, held in windy and often torrentially-wet conditions at the South Australian circuit, North of Adelaide.

KERRICK AUSTRALIAN SPORTS SEDAN SERIES leader Tony Ricciardello continued his unbeaten streak in season 2013 by qualifying on pole position for round two at Mallala Motorsport Park today with a best lap time of 1 minute 6.6722 seconds.

At the helm of the B & M Ricciardello Motors Alfa Romeo/Chev, the West Australian proved to be too fast on his new tyres in both sessions to head arch-rival Victorian Darren Hossack by seven tenths of a second. He was fastest in the first where his times were impeded by coolant and sand on the track, and cemented pole by going faster in the second.

 

Western Australian heads the pack in Mallala Kumho Series opener

WESTERN Australian Matt Hansen has claimed a breakthrough victory in the opening race of this weekend’s second round of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series at Mallala Motorsport Park in South Australia.

Hansen, driving the same Holden Racing Team Commodore that Mark Skaife put on pole position for the 2006 Bathurst 1000, claimed his first race win in four years of competing in the series for ex-V8 Supercars.

The Commodore driver was fastest in yesterday’s private practice sessions and qualified on the front row of the grid for today’s race.

He led home Tony Evangelou’s ex-Ford Performance Racing Falcon in the twilight 15-lap race; the first of three to be run over the weekend.

THE LIGHTS were turned on at Mallala Motorsport Park this evening, the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals doing it in the dark with a 40-lap feature race for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia the star attraction.

The Kumho V8 Touring Cars and Hi-Tec Oils Australian Swift Racing Series also raced under Mallala’s lights in a cool yet otherwise fine evening, but it was a pressure-cooker Porsche enduro that was the highlight.

Click though to read a full report from all of today's racing at Mallala!

A STRONG performance in practice by Holden driver Matt Hansen has Holden fans hoping that a good result may be coming their way in the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series this weekend at Mallala.

The V8’s are one of five national-level categories racing in round two of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals this weekend at the 2.6km circuit 50km north of Adelaide.

Click through to find out who was quickest in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Australian Saloon Car, Australian Swift Racing and Sports Sedan practice sessions today..

HE IS the son of a two-time Bathurst champion and an all-round Aussie motorsport hero, but Ben Grice is ready to begin carving his own name for himself at this weekend’s Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals round at Mallala, near Adelaide.

22-year-old Grice, son of Allan, will make his national-level racing debut in the Hi-Tec Oils Australian Suzuki Swift Racing Series this weekend, driving a car sponsored by Gold Coast company, Finance EZI.

THE KERRICK AUSTRALIAN SPORTS SEDAN SERIES moves to Mallala Motorsport Park on April 20-21, focused not only on the second round of the 2013 title chase, but also on the prestigious Clem Smith Cup which is part of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals this weekend.

This round is the hallmark event for Australia’s fastest tin top racing cars and the Cup is eagerly sort after. Clem Smith is the owner of the South Australian motor racing complex and a former Sports Sedan competitor – he uses his former racing car, a Valiant Charger-based Sports Sedan, as the pace car for the 15-lap race.

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Pirelli will this weekend welcome the first ever paraplegic racer to enter Porsche one-make competition worldwide at its opening 2013 round at Mallala Motor Sport Park.

Coinciding with the start of the series’ sixth season, Matt Speakman will make his first appearance in national level motorsport competition at the South Australian circuit, using a meticulously developed hand control system in his Porsche 911 race car, developed by McElrea Racing.

A REVITALISED and exciting 2013 Australian Manufacturers Championship is in store for fans of production-based racing as the series closes on the final month before the season opener.

The Great Southern Four-hour race at Phillip Island will start the 2013 AMChamps year with a bang – and a bumper field could take the starter, too.

AMChamps organisers have received more than twenty entry forms ahead of the May 24-26 event at the iconic Victorian circuit – all committed to the full five-round endurance based schedule.

As well as the Great Southern Four Hour, the 2013 calendar includes three-hour races at Sydney Motorsport Park and Sandown, respectively, plus two, 200-km races at the Queensland Raceway and Wakefield Park rounds.

All five rounds will be held in conjunction with the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals.

Reigning South Australian Formula Ford Duratec Champion Luke Fraser will be competing in the first round of the Australian Swift Racing Series this coming weekend at Mallala Motorsport Park.

Fraser narrowly missed out on winning the sponsored drive in the pre-season driver challenge. He is looking forward to competing in the largest field that has ever been assembled for the Swift Series.

This is a change from the open-wheelers Fraser is used to driving, but his on-track performance during the challenge bodes well for a good result in the event.

Rookies ready for second round of Kumho Series in South Australia

WHILE South Australian Chris Smerdon may be the defending round winner at his home circuit at Mallala Motorsport Park, there is a range of local young guns keen to follow in his wheel tracks this weekend in the second round of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series.

Adelaide teenagers Dan Day and Josh Kean are only just starting their respective V8 careers but both have experience on the 2.6-kilometre circuit that should hold them in good stead this weekend.

18-year-old Day comes from a rallying background, while Kean has made the step up from six-cylinder Saloon Cars in just his second ever year of car racing.

YOUNG SOUTH AUSTRALIAN talent will aim to be at the front of some of Australia’s most competitive national racing categories at Mallala Raceway next weekend.

Round two of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Championships arrives at the 2.6km circuit north of Adelaide next week with local drivers racing at the forefront of almost every category on the program – including the ever-expanding Kumho V8 Touring Car Series and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Pirelli.

The V8’s and one-make Porsche series will join the fire-breathing Kerrick Sports Sedans, the Holden-v-Ford Saloon Cars and Suzuki Swift one-make series in a big program of racing across next Saturday and Sunday.

Crafers teenager Mitchell Lukasz will make his Australian Swift Racing Series debut on home soil next week as the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals bring their second round to Mallala Motorsport Park. 

Lukasz formed part of the inaugural Swift Series Drivers’ Challenge in Queensland where the winner received a fully funded drive in the series for 2013, Mitchell was a runner up to the win, however it has instilled him with a wealth of confidence leading into his home event.

SALOON CAR CHAMPION Simon Tabinor was one of several big winners today as Round 1 of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals concluded at Sydney Motorsport Park, in New South Wales.

Tony Ricciardello opened his Kerrick Sports Sedan series title attack in style with a round win and victory in the Des Wall Trophy Race, whilst there were wild scenes in the final Kumho V8 Touring Car series race of the weekend – Shae Davis carving his way through the pack to bounce back from a drive-through penalty yesterday to take the win.

Neale Muston won the Radical Australia Cup round to continue his clean sweep of race wins – dating back to the start of 2012 – at his home circuit.

THE Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals and Kerrick Sports Sedan Series will honour series great Des Wall with a tribute during today’s opening round of the season - and for years to come.

Competitors in the Kerrick Sports Sedan series will contest the Des Wall Trophy Race this afternoon – the third race of the opening round each year to be maintained as a tribute to Des’ involvement and passion for Sports Sedan racing in perpetuity.

Click through to read more..

ONCE AGAIN it has been hard to separate long-time rivals Tony Ricciardello and Darren Hossack in qualifying for the opening round of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series today at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Ahead of three races tomorrow, the pair were split by just 0.08s in qualifying as round one of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Championships kicked off in warm and blustery conditions at the 3.9km circuit in Sydney’s West.

Six categories were in action today ahead of a full on-track program tomorrow, to be broadcast live via thenationals.com.au NATIONALS TV free live streaming service.

THE KERRICK AUSTRALIAN SPORTS SEDAN SERIES is set for a thundering 2013 season opening round this weekend as part of the Shannons Nationals at Sydney Motorsport Park with 17 high powered monsters set to do battle.

At the wheel of his Chev-powered Aston Martin, Queensland-based Tasmanian Kerry Baily will be defending the title he won last year and is expecting it to be a lot tougher tussle than and that arch rivals West Australia’s Tony Ricciardello (Alfa/Chev) and Victorian Darren Hossack (Audi/Chev) will kick off their seasons with a lot more luck than they had last year.

Formula Ford graduate Shae Davies has made a quick switch from Porsche Power to V8 Touring Car grunt today as the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals kicked off at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The Queensland youngster stepped into Carrera Cup for the first time this season and impressed in the first two rounds of the year – but will dovetail his Porsche commitments with a season driving with Fernandez Racing in the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Cars this year.

The growing V8 series is one of the drawcards of the Shannons Nationals, and helps kick off the 2013 season this weekend in a big program at the Western Sydney circuit.

THE 2013 Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals will blast into a new season at Sydney Motorsport Park in New South Wales this weekend.

Headed by a record-setting Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series field and the fire-breathing Kerrick Sports Sedan Series, the six-category program features plenty of horsepower and big fields to kick off an exciting nine-round Shannons Nationals series.

Sunday’s action will be broadcast live on the internet via The Nationals TV, available via the Shannons Nationals website. Click through to read our full preview of a big weekend!

22 entries for expanding series for ex-V8 Supercars

A RECORD field of 22 cars is set to take to Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend for the opening round of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series for ex-V8 Supercars.

After debuting with just four cars at Mallala back in 2008, the Kumho Series looks set to comfortably surpass its record field of 20 cars this weekend as the headline act of the first Shannons Nationals round of the season.

The 2013 Radical Australia Cup kicked off at last weekends Top Gear Festival Sydney, with a new multi-class format taking to Sydney Motorsport Parks new extended 4.5km circuit.

The one-make Sportscar category had a bumper grid of 29 cars – it’s largest yet in Australia - incorporating the 2.7L V8 powered SR8 RX models joining the more familiar 4 cylinder SR3 RS, which makes up the bulk of the grid. The category also now features rolling starts which added to the spectacle of a large grid amongst a 30,000 strong crowd  - all enjoying Radical’s involvement in the high publicity motor magazine festival.

THE Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals will continue to offer competitors, fans, supporters and sponsors unparalleled ways to become involved with the series this year.

An expanded television package across two networks, a brand-new printed publication and an expanded and revamped online TV presence will be hallmarks of an expanded media package for this year’s nine-round Shannons Nationals.

Click through to find out how you can interact with the Shannons Nationals in 2013 - and to see the inugural cover for our new publication!

BY ANDREW PRICE

There aren't too many opportunities where you are provided with the chance to compete for a fully backed drive in a National Level Motorsport Series. The team at the Shannons Nationals , the Australian Swift Racing Series and TransTasman Motorsport have come together to provide one lucky driver with just that chance.

13 of Australia's top up and coming drivers were given the opportunity to contest for the drive. Bringing together drivers from across Australia, I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to compete for this fantastic prize.

The contest was broken up into three days. Friday and Saturday saw us coming to grips with the cars at Lakeside Raceway with the drivers being provided tuition from Allan Grice the Bathurst Winning Legend and Allan Jarvis who has won the Australian Swift Racing Series for the last two years running, Jarvis will be giving it a crack for a third year in his Achilles Tyres backed Swift.

They are fast, rough riding, exhilarating and frightening all at the same time. That is the world of Superkarts. It is high performance, affordable motorsport – cheap racing that is second to none when compared to any other form of motor racing.

These “go-karts on steroids” feature engines up to 250cc in capacity, six-speed gearboxes, bodywork, four-wheel disc brakes and wings, and are fast, have no suspension and can lap fast circuits like Sydney Motorsport Park and Phillip Island only a couple of seconds slower than the country’s best Sports Sedans – all that and just five centremetres off the ground.

Superkarts have been around as a national category since 1989 and features classes for 250cc (two cylinder) International, 250cc (single cylinder) National and 125cc engines which mainly come from specialist karting engine Rotax but can be motorcycle-sourced such as Husqvarna, Kawasaki and Yamaha.

Saloon Car racing enters its 14^th season this year as a national status category and the 2013 Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series competition is as strong as ever.

The series is about Ford verse Holden, Falcon verse Commodore, and was originally for their respective six cylinder EA and VN models before updating to AU and VT. The model transition was in 2006, a significant year in Saloon Car history for it also became one of five core category for the then new CAMS Nation Racing Championship, or as it is known now, the Shannons Nationals.

Both makes record similar lap times and are strong and weak in different areas. They race on a control Bridgestone Tyre and Pedders suspension components.

THE SHANNONS Australian Motor Racing Nationals is pleased to announce Callan Sayers as the winner of the inaugural Swift Drivers Challenge.

The 19-year-old Queensland-based Sayers will receive a fully-funded drive in the 2013 Australian Suzuki Swift Racing Series in a Shannons Nationals-backed entry, valued at $50,000.

Sayers edged out an impressively close competition across three days of driving at Lakeside Raceway and the Norwell Driver Training facility near the Gold Coast, winning the competition by just a handful of points.

THE SHANNONS Australian Motor Racing Nationals is pleased to announce Callan Sayers as the winner of the inaugural Swift Drivers Challenge.

The 19-year-old Queensland-based Sayers will receive a fully-funded drive in the 2013 Australian Suzuki Swift Racing Series in a Shannons Nationals-backed entry, valued at $50,000.

Sayers edged out an impressively close competition across three days of driving at Lakeside Raceway and the Norwell Driver Training facility near the Gold Coast, winning the competition by just a handful of points.

HANKOOK AUSTRALIA will become the sole tyre supplier and a major sponsor of the Australian Manufacturers Championship (AMChamps) for the next three years.

It is the first time that the AMChamps have had a control tyre supplier, with the move designed to lower competing costs and inject valuable funding back into the sport to grow the series.

A major part of their brand, Hankook have been involved in motorsport since 1992 and has since competed in many of the world’s premier racing series or events, including the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, Germany’s VLN endurance series and the LeMans series.

A SUPER HEALTHY Radical Australia Cup is set for 2013, with grid numbers closing in on 30 cars three weeks out from the opening round.

28 entries have currently been received for the opening round of 2013 at Top Gear Festival Sydney, to be held at Sydney Motorsport Park between March 8-10.

Eight of the brand-new V8-powered SR8 models have been entered with a further 20 SR3s nominated for their own ‘Race within a race’ battle that is set to be just as exciting as the very competitive 2012 title fight.

A FULL GRID of young racing hopefuls will line up for the inaugural Suzuki Swift Drivers Challenge in Queensland this weekend.

Drivers from all walks of life will compete across three days of on and off-track activities this weekend for the chance to win a fully-funded season of racing in the Suzuki Swift Racing Series this year – valued at $50,000.

The competition is being jointly organized by the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals and Swift Series officials, whilst the winner will compete this year in a Shannon’s Nationals-liveried car.

CONTINUED growth is expected to be a hallmark of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series in 2013.

A radical change to the commercial arrangements in 2012 brought stability and viability, and a new sense of optimism for one of Australia’s enduring and exciting motor racing categories.

The prediction of a steady growth has come true with a net growth of 4 cars adding to the solid 2012 core group of 14 cars.

ADELAIDE Saloon Car young gun Josh Kean is the latest driver to seal a deal to compete in this year’s Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series.

Kean, who finished runner-up in last year’s Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series, will make the step up and drive an ex-Jason Richards/Team Dynamik Commodore for Adelaide-based THR Developments in this year’s six round national series.

The Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals has released the breakdown of each of its nine rounds scheduled for a busy 2013 racing season.

The series will continue to innovate with race formats, distances, times and class structures to continue to provide the most diverse and wide-reaching motorsport platform for competitors and fans to enjoy throughout the year – with the series to again race in four states and at seven circuits throughout the year.

2011 Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series champion Terry Wyhoon will return to driving in the series for ex-V8 Supercars this season.

The Image Racing boss, who ran as many as four cars in last year’s series for ex-V8 Supercars, will be back on the grid for the opening round at Sydney Motorsport Park in March with the backing of long-time sponsor Lubrimaxx.

THE Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals and Australian Suzuki Swift Racing Series will offer one of the most valuable prizes within Australian Motorsport in 2013.

The Swift Drivers Challenge will pit drivers against the clock and each other to compete for a sponsored full-season drive in the 2013 Australian Swift Racing Series valued at approximately $50,000.

The Swift Drivers Challenge will be held across three days across the February 22-24 weekend in Queensland, commencing with a series of practice and orientation sessions at the famous Lakeside Raceway on Friday, February 22.

The Radical Australia Cup will host a special marquee event at Sydney Motorsport Park next year.

The Radical 250 will be an approximately 250km race to be split into two halves, on the Saturday of the July 13-14 weekend next year, supporting the Australian Six-Hour race weekend.

A 50-minute first half will be followed by a 20 minute ‘compulsory pit stop’ for all competitors before being followed by a resumption under Safety Car conditions, for another 50 minutes of racing to the final flag – with no compulsory pit stops required during each 50-minute ‘half’.

The grid will be determined by a 20 minute qualifying session followed by a Top 10 one-lap shootout – believed to be a first for Radical racing worldwide.

NATHAN Assaillit has received a late Christmas present – a new Falcon to use in the 2013 Kumho Tyre Australian V8 Touring Car Series.

The University of Southern Queensland engineering student will also have the backing of USQ Engineering and Toowoomba Engineering on his BF Falcon.

A recent knee reconstruction has left Assaillit sidelined for the moment, leaving brother Damien – a former V8 Supercar Development Series driver – to shake down the car at Queensland Raceway on Friday (December 21^st).

Assaillit and his family team have secured the use of the Falcon that was formally raced in the V8 Supercar Development Series by Luke Youlden, Ryan Hansford, Brett Hobson and David Besnard.

CAMS, in association with the CAMS National Racing Championships (CNRC) Pty. Ltd. – promoters of the Shannons Australian National Motor Racing Championships Series – have moved to secure the long-term future of the Australian Manufacturers Championship for Production Cars.

Following the withdrawal of the previous promoter, CAMS and the CNRC have moved quickly to secure the long-term future stability of the championship, including announcing a comprehensive race program with the Shannons Nationals and new management that injects stability and long-term planning into the series.

CAMS, in association with the CAMS National Racing Championships (CNRC) Pty. Ltd. – promoters of the Shannons Australian National Motor Racing Championships Series – have moved to secure the long-term future of the Australian Manufacturers Championship for Production Cars.

Following the withdrawal of the previous promoter, CAMS and the CNRC have moved quickly to secure the long-term future stability of the championship, including announcing a comprehensive race program with the Shannons Nationals and new management that injects stability and long-term planning into the series.

A new management entity is presently being established to manage the category with Operations, Technical and Media roles to be filled heading into the 2013 season.

BF Falcons and sequential gearboxes permitted for first time next season

KUMHO Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series officials have today confirmed a new two-class structure for next year’s series for ex-V8 Supercars.

The introduction of sequential gearboxes into the category in 2013 has prompted the series to create ‘Class H’ for cars fitted with H-pattern gearboxes and ‘Class S’ for more modern cars running with a sequential gearbox.

Only Holden Commodore VZs and Ford Falcon BA and BF model cars may run in ‘Class S’ with the use of the Holinger sequential gearbox - those cars must also run with an M800 MoTeC ECU and a control engine camshaft.

The Ford Falcon BF is eligible for the Kumho Series for the first time in 2013 given it has now beenphased out of the V8 Supercar Development Series.

THE 2013 Radical Australia Cup will feature a six-round calendar and more events with the Shannons Nationals, Radical Australia confirmed today.

Commencing at the Top Gear Festival Sydney in March, the series will then contest its next five rounds with the Shannons Nationals, including two visits to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, a new, one off feature event with three hours race time at Sydney Motorsport Park and a return to Wakefield Park, near Goulburn.

Lining up for the final laps of a season that has so far seen eight rounds, five states, 24 races, 220 laps and 817 kilometres of awesome racing, the remaining 19 Masters took to the grid for the very last time to close the sixth year of a growing and ever popular showcase of muscle. At last it would be a race without carnage, but there was certainly action as Miedecke charged from rear of grid to take the win in the final moments, while for O’Brien and Bowe it would be the final class round wins, with Stillwell strong again to take his maiden Masters title in Pro-Sportsman (Class B), with Bowe sealing back-to-back Outright (Class A) titles.

The Masters have put in another wild and interrupted nine laps, seeing Tilley take his second win of the season, while Collins has repeated unwanted series history becoming the second vehicle in in the series’ six years to roll on a race weekend, and both have happened in today’s races.

The final round, three races remain and it was on for all in today’s opening race of the Masters, with reigning title holder and champion elect, Bowe, to start from pole, Miedecke, Richards, Tilley and Bressington set to fire from the top five. It would be an early roll over that would see a full restart and the green light action was epic from front to rear of the field on both launches.

THE Shannons Nationals was saddened to hear of the passing of Kerrick Sports Sedan competitor Des Wall today, after a brief battle with Cancer.

Des was a strong supporter of the resurgence of Sports Sedan Racing in Australia and won the 2009 series in his Chevrolet Corvette after a long Sports Sedan career that included a NSW title and a rise to prominence in the 1980s and early 90s in his now-iconic V8 Supra.

THE Shannons Nationals was saddened to hear of the passing of Kerrick Sports Sedan competitor Des Wall today, after a brief battle with Cancer.

Des was a strong supporter of the resurgence of Sports Sedan Racing in Australia and won the 2009 series in his Chevrolet Corvette after a long Sports Sedan career that included a NSW title and a rise to prominence in the 1980s and early 90s in his now-iconic V8 Supra.

The Pedders Racing Team have wrapped up the Class E Championship in the 2012 AMC and close the book on their mighty Proton Satria’s racing history.

This final round for the 2012 Championship and Shannons Nationals series saw the team come together in a last ditched effort to put on a great show for the public and their special guests for the weekend.

The team were able to welcome several special guests at this event to see the Proton off in its last race including Heidi Yi from Heidi Yi Cosmetics who did a fantastic job looking after our promotional models and ARC competitor Mark Pedder of Pedders Suspension who has been an avid supporter of the team’s efforts over the last two years.

The Hi-Tec Oils Australian Swift racing series has never ceased to provide the most exciting close racing seen in the Shannons Nationals and the fight for the series this weekend at Sandown Park put the icing on the cake.

With three races over the day the crew from Trans Tasman Motorsport was always going to have their work cut out for them and with the series on the line it was imperative that all competitors were on the ball with tyre choice and set up options as the day grew warmer and the track became sticker with the rubber from the V8 touring cars and the GT Masters cars being laid down.

UNPREDICTABLE results, close championship showdowns and plenty of drama were the order of the day in the final round of the 2012 Shannons Nationals, the season concluding in style today at Melbourne’s Sandown Raceway.

An incident-filled day saw driver walk away from three separate rollover incidents – showing off the safety in the sport - whilst plenty of hard and close racing showcased all that was good about this years’ series that has featured highly competitive racing since round one, in March.

BY WINNING THE first of three races at the seventh and final round at Sandown Park yesterday, Simon Tabinor has won the 2012 Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series.

The British born Victorian driver of the Eurostar Diesels Holden Commodore VT needed a 24^th or better to secure the title but instead he qualified on the front row, went straight to the lead and withstood the challenge of polesitter Gavin Ross for the duration of the ten lap event.

TEENAGER Josh Hunter has claimed victory in the opening race of the final round of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series at Sandown Motor Raceway in Melbourne.

The Finance-Ezi Falcon driver started from pole position - his second of the 2012 season - and hunted down a fast-starting Tony Evangelou (ex-Jason Bright/CAT FPR Falcon) to take the lead on lap five of 10, going on to claim his eighth race win of the year.

IN A SENSATIONAL conclusion to the first 40-lap leg of the final round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship at Sandown Raceway today, Dylan Thomas has pulled off a remarkable victory over series leader Stuart Kostera.

Sandown provided thrills and spills for the Hi-Tec Oils Australian Swift racing series with many of the drivers finding the high speed layout a different beast from the more technical layouts of Winton and Wakefield. Unfortunately Jamie MacMaster (Macline #9) felt the bite of turn 5 in Friday practice and rolled 4 times.

He was back in the saddle this morning thanks to the generosity of fellow competitors Scott and Mike Gore (Future Assist Finance #99) who made available to MacMaster their spare car.

DYLAN Thomas’ co-driver and father David was a last minute withdrawal from today’s 40-lap Australian Manufacturers Championship enduro at Sandown Raceway; so the son just looked after the family business on his own instead.

Yet another down to the wire finish in the Production Car series saw Thomas’ CXC Global Mitsubishi hunt down and pass the identical works-supported TMR Australia entry driven by Stuart Kostera and Inky Tulloch for the lead with two laps to go.

It capped off a scorching day at Sandown as the Shannons Nationals kicked off their ninth and final round of the 2012 season in 35-degree temperatures.

Quadriplegic Tanya Clarke experienced the hot lap of a lifetime today at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne, as round 9 of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils commenced in perfect conditions.

Her ride was part of a big day of practice at the picturesque suburban Melbourne venue that was not without its share of dramas, with two cars badly damaged in on-track incidents.

SIMON TABINOR WANTED to wrap up this year’s title at the last round but it did not quite work out that way. But now he virtually only has to finish one of the three races at the final round of the Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series at Sandown Park this weekend to do so.

The British born Victorian driver of the Eurostar Diesels Holden Commodore VT has pretty much dominated the seven round series since Matt Lovell and his 2011 series winning Batteries Direct Ford Falcon AU stopped competing after the third round due to business pressures.

WELCOME to part two of our top 8 races of the 2012 Shannons Nationals season! As outlined in the first part, we put the collective heads of some of the travelling series media contingent and sorted out what we thought were the pick of the bunch from the season so far.

Part one contained some cracking races - and we think you'll agree that this installment does as well!

THERE has been some sensational racing across the eight rounds of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils this year, but we wanted to find out which ones stood out as the very best of the bunch before this weekend’s grand finale offers up any chance to add to the list.

So, we put our collective heads together, came up with a shortlist and then collated the nominations into the list you see here – a list of eight pretty sensational races that aren’t just good for a Shannons Nationals round;  they’d stand up at any race meeting in the world as great races.

Here are our first four – with the remainder to come tomorrow!

KUMHO Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series officials have today confirmed the calendar for the 2013 season, which will again form a major part of the successful Shannons Nationals.

The series for ex-V8 Supercars will again be contested over six rounds with the same venues and similar dates as this year’s series.

SIX national champions will walk away from Melbourne’s Sandown Raceway this weekend when the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils concludes the 2012 season in style.

Nearly 120 cars across six categories will compete at the fast and challenging 3.1km layout in Melbourne’s South Eastern suburbs and all bar one - Commodore Cup was decided at the previous round - has a title on the line going into their respective final rounds.

MELBOURNE’S Sandown Raceway – the Home of Horsepower, CAMS and the Shannons Nationals will extend the arm of international motorsport cooperation next week.

The final round of the 2012 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils (November 23-25) will see a delegation of several Korean officials visit the circuit to gain hands-on experience working in selected trackside and operational posts, furthering the international cooperation between Australia and Korea fostered in recent years.

Season 2013 has proven to be an epic year for the Touring Car Masters with loads of classic racing action, new cars and stars, circuit debut challenges, and both Class A and B now come down to the Sandown Raceway finale with the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships, just two weeks away.

Let’s take a look at the statistics from the sixth year of Australia’s favourite muscle cars…

• 7 rounds, 5 states
• 21 races
• 203 laps
• 764 kilometres of racing
• 6 Class A, 7 Class B race winners
• 4 Class A, 5 Class B round winners
• 6 lap records (Bathurst lap record not broken, remaining held by Jason Richards, 2:22.6622, 2011)
• 3 Class A (Bowe), 2 Class B (Stillwell, Benson) race win clean sweeps
• 133 points separates 1^st (Bowe) and 2^nd (Richards) in Class A, 159 points separates 1^st (Stillwell) and 2^nd (Benson) in Class B

Porsche motor racing in Australia is set for an exciting 2013 season with the announcement of next year’s impressive race calendar for its two one-make categories - Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Pirelli.

Australia’s signature one-make sports car championship, Carrera Cup Australia, will again visit Australia’s greatest motor racing events – Clipsal 500 Adelaide (TBC), Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix, Sucrogen Townsville 400, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and Armor All Gold Coast 600 – for the 2013 season.

THE Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils has announced a nine-round calendar for 2013 that builds on the growth experienced throughout 2012.

The 2013 season will commence at Sydney Motorsport Park, in New South Wales, in late March before visiting Victoria, Queensland and South Australia and concluding in mid-November.

Click the link to find out the dates, tracks and new plans for the 2013 Shannons Nationals!

Adam Beechey has continued his perfect record of round victories in 2012, winning the fourth round of the Commodore Cup national series at Wakefield Park on the weekend in his Donut King / Achilles Tyres VS Commodore.

Beechey qualified on pole position by 1.3 seconds and then claimed a commanding victory in Race 1, which he won by some 26 seconds.

Wakefield Park raceway at Goulburn turned on another great day for the Hi-Tec Oils Australian Swift racing series ensuring great racing on a warming track. Sunday’s first race the ever popular reverse grid did not disappoint the spectators as the main players in the series found themselves mid field on the grid with Rob Jarvis (BVC racing #17) on pole and Mike Gore (Future Assist Accounting #47) in P2.

Damian Ward (Hi-Tec Oils #11) had the advantage out of P3 and by dint of a good start managed a breakaway leaving Allan Jarvis (Achilles radials #1) and Reece Murphy (Gen-Tech Performance #62) to fight their way into second and third positions. What followed was the dog fight of the season with the two points leaders not giving an inch highlighted by a run down the front straight where Murphy seemed glued to Jarvis’s rear bumper. As drivers fought and swapped each position Ward managed to increase his lead and Jarvis finally got the better of Murphy as the race wound down.

A totally different vista greeted the Hi-Tec Oils Australian Swift racing series competitors as they prepared for the competitive aspect of the weekend at Wakefield Park raceway, the sun was shining and the clouds stayed away for great day of racing.

Morning practice saw Damian Ward (Hi-Tec Oils #11) continue his dominance but Allan Jarvis (Achilles Radial #1) taking to the track for the first time easily fitted into second on the time sheet. With the charging Reece Murphy (Gen-Tech Performance #62) leading the rest.

DEFENDING CHAMPION Tony Ricciardello won the battle however it was Kerry Baily who won the Kerrick Sports Sedan series war at Wakefield Park Raceway in Goulburn, at Round 8 of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils.

The Tasmanian-born Queenslander sealed a stunning sixth Sports Sedan title today with a consistent three-race performance that did everything he needed and nothing more to ensure another title.

Ricciardello was in crushing form today: winning all three races and beating Baily’s existing lap record at the circuit in race two; but it wasn’t enough to overhaul the Aston Martin DBR9 that has led the title since the opening round at Mallala back in April.

Simon Tabinor moved one step closer to secure his first Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series with a lights-to-flag victory in race one of round six at Wakefield Park today.

Driving his Eurostar Diesels Holden Commodore VT, Tabinor continued on from qualifying to start from pole position and lead the 14-car field throughout the 14-lap event. “We made quite a few setup changes between the two qualifying sessions and that made it a better car for the race,” he said. “There is still two races to go . . . and another round if we need it to win the title, but I would like to do it here this weekend.”

A KERRICK SPORTS SEDAN title fight years in the making is in store for Goulburn’s Wakefield Park Raceway tomorrow.

Seven-time champion Tony Ricciardello scored pole position today as action began at Round 8 of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils; the West Australian topping an intensely competitive day of qualifying with a sub-record time of 58.03s.

His long time arch-rival Darren Hossack was second and series leader Kerry Baily third in a day that saw the top three split by just three-tenths of a second after 50 minutes of running across two sessions.

IN A CASE of ‘if you build it, they will come’, Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils organisers hope this weekend’s inaugural V8 Touring Car heritage round at Wakefield Park quite literally becomes a ‘field of dreams’ in the future.

A modest field of seven cars has nominated for the inaugural event that gathers pre-2000-specification V8’s to celebrate the history of Australia’s top Touring Car category.

The V8 Touring Car heritage round follows on from the success of the Kumho V8 Touring Car series, which now regularly features grids of 16-20 cars after starting with just four in 2008.

British born Victorian Simon Tabinor can win the 2012 New Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series with a round to go at this weekend’s Wakefield Park Shannons Nationals.

The Holden Commodore VT driver needs to have a 121-point advantage at the end of round six and the title is his - and the good news is that he plans to defend the series victory in 2013.

“The last four national series winners have not seriously tried to go back-to-back – well I intend to,” he vowed recently.

THREE DRIVERS sharing an astonishing 14 national titles will battle for the 2012 Kerrick Sports Sedan series, when the Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils returns to Goulburn’s Wakefield Park Raceway this weekend.

Australia’s fastest tin-tops have produced a staggering season that will go into a title decider at the tight, tricky 2.2km circuit just down the highway from the nation’s capital.

The three drivers – Kerry Baily, Darren Hossack and Tony Ricciardello - rate amongst the best in the storied 36-year history of Australian Sports Sedan Racing. All have had seasons of contrasting fortunes in their pursuit of an additional title.

German ace Maro Engel led an impressive Erebus Racing one two finish in race 2 of the Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security at Phillip Island today.

With the pole position in qualifying and a close 2nd place to Craig Lowndes in race 1 on Saturday, Engel led home team mate Peter Hackett, a hard charging Lowndes and a determined Klark Quinn to take the overall round win to top off a very successful weekend for the likeable German.

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia has officially crowned its 2012 champion, Kane Rose, after the Victorian's fourth round win of the season at Phillip Island, sharing race victories with Jeff Bobik at the final round.

Rose started Sunday with victory in Race 2 in wet conditions, quickly gapping the field early and maintaining his position at the front until the chequered flag.

MUCH like a team chasing a premiership in any football code, wins away from home are absolutely critical – and that’s why Radical Australia Cup points leader Neale Muston can feel a little more secure about his title hopes this year.

The New South Wales driver had won three times at Sydney Motorsport Park this season but at the weekend broke through for his first ‘away’ win of the year – taking out Round 6 of the series at Victoria’s Phillip Island.

A SEASON of records has ended with James Winslow winning the final round of the 2012 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship, today at Phillip Island in Victoria.

Winslow won the feature race this afternoon in a day that rapidly changed from torrentially wet to bright and sunny; 17-year-old rookie Hayden Cooper winning the morning’s second sprint race in stunning fashion with a masterful wet weather performance.

TORRENTIAL rain turned to blue skies and sunshine as Round 7 of the Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils experienced all four seasons at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, in Victoria, today.

Six national-level categories produced typically competitive racing, another thrilling one-hour Australian GT Championship enduro again a highlight of the day producing a race that went right down to the closing stages.

CHRIS Gilmour might be farewelling the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship this weekend – but remains determined to end the year on a high.

Gilmour won the first of three races to be held this weekend at Phillip Island after a controversial penalty for then-leader James Winslow saw him penalised and sent to the back of the field post-race.

Victorian racer Kane Rose has secured the 2012 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia title with victory in the opening race at Phillip Island.

Rose’s preparation for the Phillip Island round was hampered when his Porsche suffered substantial damage at the series' penultimate round at Queensland Raceway. Fellow Porsche driver Stephen Grove came to his assistance, lending Rose his spare Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car for the season finale.

Semi regular national series runner Gavin Ross will start from pole position for the first of three races in round five of the Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series tomorrow after qualifying fastest today. The Black Race Engines Commodore VT pilot headed the way in a whitewash for Holden – the “red” machines taking the top three places.

A controversial start to race one of the Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security saw Allan Simonsen jump clear of Maro Engel in a rolling start duel to lead by over a car length as they crossed the start line, incurring an immediate black flag drive through penalty from race officials for the offence.

CRAIG LOWNDES is a winner again, taking out the opening race in the Australian GT Championship’s round at this weekend’s Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils event at Phillip Island.

Just a week after winning the Sandown 500, Lowndes held out international GT ace Maro Engel in a thrilling finish to today’s one-hour Australian GT race, taking his Audi R8LMS to victory – his first in a GT car.

A SPEEDY international and the recent Sandown 500 winner featured at the front of an already feisty Australian GT Championship grid, as practice for round 7 of the Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils began at Phillip Island today.

The Kumho V8's were also in action, with title contender Josh Hunter and Queensland winner Morgan Haber, pictured, right at the pointy end of the field.

Check out all the action from Friday's practice day at Phillip Island here...

A FORMER Dick Johnson-driven Bathurst 1000 Falcon will make its return in this weekend’s fifth and penultimate round of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series at Phillip Island.

Repaired from an accident while competing in the Sports Sedans category at the last Shannons Nationals round at Phillip Island in May, Leigh Moran’s ex-DJR EL Falcon is one of 14 entries for this weekend’s Kumho Series round for ex-V8 Supercars.

The 2012 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia title will be decided at Phillip Island Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils round this weekend, with friendly rivalry coming to the aid of the 2012 series favourite.

Points leader Kane Rose’s campaign for the 2012 title suffered a blow when his Porsche departed the last round at Queensland Raceway with substantial damage after a Race 2 accident. Rose, therefore, was left without a race car for the Phillip Island finale.

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Points leader Kane Rose’s campaign for the 2012 title suffered a blow when his Porsche departed the last round at Queensland Raceway with substantial damage after a Race 2 accident. Rose, therefore, was left without a race car for the Phillip Island finale.

New Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series points leader Simon Tabinor has a good chance to consolidate his bid for the 2012 title with a solid performance at the Phillip Island Shannons Nationals race meeting, round five of the series this weekend.

“I am hoping to win this round and then wrap up the series at the (next) round at Wakefield Park,” says the British-born Victorian driver of the Eurostar Diesels Holden Commodore VT. He took over the series lead at the last round in Queensland where reigning champion Matt Lovell was not able to compete – but it did not all go well. Lovell has continuing business commitments that have put his racing activities on hold for the time being.

RISING Sprint car star Jon McCorkindale will switch the dirt banks of Sydney Speedway for the flowing curves of Australia’s fastest track this weekend when he makes his circuit racing debut at Round 7 of the Shannons Nationals, presented by HI-Tec Oils.

The 21-year-old from New South Wales’ Riverina district will drive a Dial Before You Dig-sponsored AU Ford Falcon in this weekend’s round of the Australian Saloon Car series, for six-cylinder Ford and Holden racers.

Nathan Morcom will return to openwheel racing in the final round of the Australian Drivers’ Championship at Phillip Island on September 21-23.

The 20 year-old Sydneysider has switched to the local F3 series after his American F2000 Championship Series campaign was beset by car problems in the first two rounds.

Morcom will drive Astuti Motorsport’s Dallara F307-Renault, sponsored by Direct Plasterboard Outlet and Rondo, at the 4.445km Victorian circuit.

Having run fifth in Saturday’s race 1 due to a deflating rear tyre Allan Jarvis #1 found himself sharing the front row with Brooke Leech #84 for today’s reverse grid race 2. In his Achilles Radial backed Swift Sport Jarvis was able to use the position to get a clear lead and left Reece Murphy #62 and Damian Ward #11 to battle together for the minor pacing’s with the Hi-Tec Oils supported Ward taking second from Murphy’s CMI/Viridian car.

Jarvis’s clear run allowed him to settle into a groove around the fast Queensland Raceway circuit set a race lap record of 1:32.115. the best of the rest was Brooke Leech (Haber Excavations) with Dale Corbett (#3 Bartercard) fighting it out with debutant Callan Sayers in the Kitten Car Care #5. Rob Jarvis (#17 BVC racing), Ben Foessel (#37 Motor School) and new comer Jamie MacMaster (#10 MacLine) all improved their lap times considerably to set up an interesting race 3.

FINALS FEVER has hit the Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils, with a big September round at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit to decide the first big winners of the racing year.

Round seven of the Shannons Nationals will be contested at the high-speed 4.46km circuit in Victoria on September 21-23, two major national titles to be finalised on the same weekend Australia’s major footy codes decide their grand finalists.

AN INTERNATIONAL ace will join the Australian GT field at Round 7 of the Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils, at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit this September 22-24.

The blockbuster return to the Island - for the second time this year - will include the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship, Kumho V8 Touring Car Series, Radical Australia Cup and the Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Cars. 

Click through to find out who will join the already massive round!

SIMON HAGGARTY won an unbelievable fifth round of the Radical Australia Cup at Queensland Raceway at the weekend.

The Haggarty Racing Team Radical SR3 Cup Car driver didn’t actually take the chequered flag first in any of the three races contested; however the unpredictable results and Haggarty’s consistency saw him score enough points to take an incredible round win.

Queenslander Jason Smith, Victorian Brendan Luneman and New South Welshman Jeff Reed were the series winners at the end of racing on Sunday, each of the three with different tales of how it came to pass as the sixth round of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships presented by Hi-Tec Oils concluded at Queensland Raceway.

Smith and the Fuji Xerox/Zahl 1 Karting team broke a 20-year drought for Queenslanders in 250 International to claim the championship. A consistent run at Phillip Island set it up and his pole position, particularly the margin, at Queensland Raceway surprised many. Of the top three drivers he was the only one to finish all eight races and seven top three finishes was also unmatched. He also set the fastest ever lap at Queensland Raceway for a Superkart with his pole position lap.

IF their first race victory was a heart in the mouth thriller, Garry Holt and Ryan McLeod’s win in the second Hydraulink 400 race was a relative walk in the park in comparison.

If you can call a walk in the park a 240km/hr 90 minute battle under lights at Queensland Raceway, that is.

The Team Eastern Creek Karts outfit dominated the second of two ‘Fight in the night’ races at the 3.1km Ipswich circuit, taking the second race of two by 49.5 seconds in their ex-TMR Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.

ROUND SIX of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils brought eight categories to Ipswich’s Queensland Raceway.

It left having put on a big show with several key results making the championship picture increasingly competitive in several categories as the series heads deep into the second half of the season.

Check out our wrap of each category in action this weekend by clicking the link below!

Hard charger Brent Odgers has secured his maiden Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia round win at Queensland Raceway this weekend in a round that capped three new race victors.

Following Michael Almond’s maiden race win on Saturday, Odgers claimed his first victory in the Porsche category in Sunday’s opening race, taking the lead from the start.

The race was soon stopped after a three-car crash at Turn 3, which saw the car of Andrew Menzies make contact with Almond and series leader Kane Rose; ending the trio’s weekend.

QUEENSLAND young gun Morgan Haber has claimed a breakthrough victory in Round 4 of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series at Queensland Raceway today.

The MW Motorsport driver won today’s opening race (Race 2 of the weekend) and finished third in the final 18-lapper to take a comfortable round victory clear of series leader Jim Pollicina and Western Australian Matt Hansen, who claimed his second career Kumho Series podium finish.

Haber had looked on target to take a clean sweep of the weekend in Race 3, though outbraked himself at Turn 4 while passing leader Pollicina.

QUEENSLAND young gun Morgan Haber has claimed a breakthrough victory in Round 4 of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series at Queensland Raceway today.

The MW Motorsport driver won today’s opening race (Race 2 of the weekend) and finished third in the final 18-lapper to take a comfortable round victory clear of series leader Jim Pollicina and Western Australian Matt Hansen, who claimed his second career Kumho Series podium finish.

Haber had looked on target to take a clean sweep of the weekend in Race 3, though outbraked himself at Turn 4 while passing leader Pollicina.

GARRY HOLT and Ryan McLeod have combined to win a gripping opening leg of the Hydraulink 400 at Queensland raceway this evening, in what turned out to be a race of fuel strategy that resulted in a tense finish.

The Eastern Creek Karts crew gambled on a safety car to meet their fuel numbers, only electing to make one stop for the driver change before driving economically – yet quickly – to make it to the finish without requiring fuel.

The gamble paid off, holding off a fast-finishing Dylan Thomas in the CXC Global EVO in a tense race to the flag in the 200km race.

Quick South Australian Michael Almond has taken victory in the opening race of the penultimate Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia round at Queensland Raceway, while series leader Kane Rose secured the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy after a nail-biting 40-lap twilight event.

Rose’s nearest endurance points rival, John Modystach, who started in second position, took the lead of the race early from pole-sitter Philip Woodbury and Brent Odgers.

DARREN Hossack stormed to the front and then pulled away from the Kerrick Sports Sedan series field to take race one this afternoon, as Round 6 of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils turned up the heat at Queensland Raceway.

The Audi A4 driver started third and was gifted second when polesitter Kerry Baily pitted with mechanical dramas at the end of the formation lap. He then passed Tony Ricciardello mid way through lap two to take a lead he’d never lose.

Check out our full Saturdat race report including news from Radicals, Swifts, Saloon Car and Superkarts by clicking the link below.

EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Queenslander Morgan Haber has collected a breakthrough win in Race 1 of the fourth round of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series at Queensland Raceway in Ipswich.

Fresh from competing at the same circuit last weekend in the V8 Supercar Development Series for the first time, the MW Motorsport pilot took his second straight Kumho Series pole and overcame a five-second jump-start penalty to claim victory in Race 1.

Former Confederation Of Australian Motorsport President and ardent Production Car racer Colin Osborne will have his four hundredth race state at national level at Queensland Raceway this weekend.

He will achieve the milestone when lining up on the grid for the first of two Hydralink “THE FIGHT IN THE NIGHT” races for the fourth round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship, part of round six of the Shannons Nationals.

GARRY HOLT and Ryan McLeod have fired a warning shot to rival Mitsubishi team TMR Australia following official practice for the Hydraulink 400 ‘Fight in the Night’ Production Car enduro, at Queensland Raceway this weekend.

The Eastern Creek Karting Raceway Evo X has been completely rebuilt prior to the weekends’ twin 200-km races, the efforts rewarded by the Sydneysider topping the official practice session in fine Queensland conditions this afternoon.

Car #21’s 1m20.79s lap was 0.58s faster than the TMR Evo, driven this afternoon by Inky Tulloch, who will share with regular driver Stuart Kostera this weekend.

SEVERAL stunning brand-new racing cars will make their debut at this weekend’s sixth round of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils, at Queensland Raceway.

The headlining Hydraulink 400 ‘Fight in the Night’ for Production cars will feature what is thought to be the global racing debut for BMW’s 1 Series M coupe.

Phil Crompton's new Ford Mustang Kerrick Sports Sedan and a stunning new look for Radical champion Ed Singleton also highlight some of the new looks on offer this weekend.

CURRENT Radical Australia Cup Champion Ed Singleton heads to this weekend’s fifth round of the 2012 Radical Australia Cup with a new sponsor.

The 2011 RAC champion has joined forces with Queensland-based Finance EZI Racing for the remainder of the season, with his #1 Radical SR3 to run the distinctive bright branding of the company for the remainder of the year.

Singleton’s partnership with Finance EZI was announced on the Gold Coast this Monday, with the first full outing as part of the organisation to be at this weekends Shannons Nationals round at Queensland Raceway.

The fourth round of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series at the Shannons Nationals this weekend will see a category stalwart unable to compete as another returns with new equipment, while the defending champion simply wants to keep winning at Queensland Raceway this weekend, in order to be in with a chance.

Currently third in this year’s title hunt with his Trans Am spec Chev Corvette, 2009 series victor Des Wall has been forced to miss this round after recent surgery while Phil Crompton is set to debut his exquisite Australian-built Ford Mustang Trans Am.

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia will this weekend make its debut appearance at Queensland Raceway, where the 2012 Endurance Championship will be decided.

Having never raced on the 3.12 km Ipswich circuit, the all-Porsche series will hold its third endurance race of the season this Saturday at twilight to decide the 2012 victor of the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy.

ROUND SIX of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils marks a return to Ipswich and Queensland Raceway for the first time in five years.

It also marks a blockbuster event that has everything for racing fans – from endurance events to sprints, night racing and a full eight action-packed race categories across three days.

Whilst the AMC Hydraulink 400 is the undoubted feature of the weekend, seven other categories will take to the track across an action-packed program. Check out thenationals.com.au massive preview of each category on track this weekend.

With current series leader Matt Lovell forced to miss the fourth round of the Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series at Queensland Raceway this coming weekend, Simon Tabinor is in the box seat to take over the lead in the seven round series.

But the British-born Victorian won’t be expecting an easy run with his Eurostar Diesels Holden Commodore as hot competition will come from recent race winner South Australian Josh Kean (Australian Crash Commodore), and a trio of Queensland based Fords driven by Coleby Cowhan, Lindsey Kearns and Matt Shanks.

KUMHO Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series leader Josh Hunter will become part of the Finance Ezi Racing team for this weekend’s fourth round of the series at Queensland Raceway and for the remainder of the season.

The Queensland-based team has put its support behind the teenage star, whose ex-Ford Performance Racing Falcon will still be run by Sydney-based Fernandez Motorsport, but liveried in the same distinctive yellow and black colours as Maurie Pickering’s existing Finance Ezi Falcon.

The deal was announced today at a launch at the Oricle Boulevard Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.

The Hydraulink 400 ‘Fight in the Night’ Production Car Enduro at Queensland Raceway’s Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils round is shaping up as a thriller, with a highly competitive 21-car field entered for the two, 200km races this weekend.

Six of the outright-contending four-wheel-drive turbo cars and several powerful rear-wheel drive entrants make it one of the most open grids of the season – between eight to ten cars shaping as potential outright contenders.

Round six of the 2012 Shannons Nationals features eight categories and a full program, however it is the twin AMC races that are set to be the highlight of the weekend.

WITH the rapidly approaching Hydraulink 400 at Queensland Raceway’s Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils round next week, thenationals.com.au continues our look behind the scenes of the drivers and teams of the Shannons Nationals.

And with the big production car race a week away, we thought we’d check in with one of those preparing to tackle the big race.

Read on to find out what some of the 'baby car class' contenders are thinking!

ONE of the late Jason Richards’ former V8 Supercars has been restored and is returning to the track in Round 4 of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series at Queensland Raceway's Shannons Nationals round next weekend on August 11-12.

Richards’ 2003 Team Dynamik Commodore – which he famously rolled at Pukekohe in New Zealand that season – has been restored by Adelaide-based THR Developments to its original #45 black, red and white livery as a tribute to the Kiwi driver.

NEALE MUSTON has told his rivals ‘I’ll see you in Queensland’ after winning the fourth round of the 2012 Radical Australia Cup at the weekend, at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Muston has now won each round at the Western Sydney circuit this year and though he didn’t win both races, has rocketed up the championship ladder despite missing round two at Phillip Island in May.

Former Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series champion Chris Smerdon will be missing from the grid at Round 4 of the series at Queensland Raceway on August 11-12 – and thus ending a record streak.

The South Australian has been the only driver in attendance at all 22 V8 Touring car rounds since the series for ex-V8 Supercars debuted at Mallala in 2008. That streak will come to an end due to business commitments.

IN the first of a new series of features to appear on thenationals.com.au, we're going behind the scenes with some of the key movers and shakers of the Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils; both on and off the track.This week, Touring Car Masters regular Matt O'Brien kicks off our series of guest columnists with his look back at the dramatic Phillip Island TCM round back in May, and his thoughts for the remainder of the year. Read on for the full story..

 

THE SHANNONS NATIONALS presented by Hi-Tec Oils will quite literally ‘turn on the lights’ when they return to Queensland Raceway this August – the first time in five years the series will race at the Ipswich venue.

Australian Manufacturers Championship (AMC) organisers have announced that Hydraulink will support the inaugural ‘Fight in the Night’ at the Ipswich circuit – a pair of 200km endurance races for Production Cars to be staged on Saturday and Sunday nights as part of a blockbuster round six of the Shannons Nationals on August 10-12.

It’s the half-way point of season 2012 and it’s time for the Masters to return to Queensland Raceway, the ‘paper clip’ being a place they have only ventured once before and that was back in 2009. Over the last three years a lot has changed in the series, with new regulations, an extended vehicle production year window, drivers changing vehicles, retirements and new faces, and category development that has certainly stepped up more than one gear.

Round four signals the debut for yet another face sure to add to the colour of the Touring Car Masters, as we welcome Michael Wedge from the Queensland V8 Series where he had been sitting in fourth in the championship, piloting the Speed FX Racing HQ Monaro as the Jim Morton-led team rejoin the popular series.

Tony Ricciardello was back to his winning best following his third round victory in the Kerrick Australian Sports Sedan Series, taking all three races at Sydney Motorsport Park on July 15.

The seven times national series winner was challenged by Darren Hossack in the Audi/Chev but gear selection issues over the three races thwarted his chances of a podium place.

Action went right down to the wire in race two of the Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security with John Bowe squeezing his Il Bello Rosso Ferrari past Peter Hackett’s Erebus Racing Mercedes Benz on the penultimate lap to take Ferrari’s first Australian GT race win for 2012.

Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia points leader Kane Rose has continued his series stronghold at Sydney Motorsport Park, sharing race victories with fellow front-runner Jeff Bobik on Sunday.

Rose opened Sunday with a lights-to-flag victory in Race 2 from Bobik and John Goodacre, however it was the fourth-placed Philip Woodbury who was the highlight of the race.

TIM MACROW likes a good comeback to the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship.

On three separate occasions in three years the 2007 Gold Star winner has made a cameo appearance in the championship and on three occasions he has ended up taking home the big trophy.

Macrow edged out James Winslow in today’s 15-lap feature at Sydney Motorsport Park to record his 19th career win, fresh from also winning the second sprint race held earlier in the morning.

The series points lead changed hands today with Reece Murphy (#62 Murphy Glass and Mirrors) heading Allan Jarvis (#1 Achilles Radials) by 6 points after they both shared first and second places in today’s two 8 lap sprints.

 

A FIGHTBACK of epic-sized proportions from seven-time Kerrick Sports Sedan Champion Tony Ricciardello has highlighted a massive weekend of racing at round 5 of the Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils.

After a troubled start to the year, the West Australian driver dominated the biggest Kerrick series field in recent memory, winning all three races and setting a new lap record in the process at Sydney Motorsport Park in Sydney’s west.

JAMES WINSLOW survived a mid-race restart and a challenge from two former champions to win his 25th career Australian Formula 3 race this afternoon at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Winslow narrowly missed out on pole position to the returning Tim Macrow earlier in the day, but made amends in the first 10-lap race, winning the start before holding off an early challenge from both Macrow and Chris Gilmour to take the win.

JBS Lamborghini pilots Roger Lago and David Russell have won race one of Round four of the Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security event at the Sydney Motorsport Park in dominant fashion.

In an exciting race with as many as five cars dicing for the lead at times, it was Erebus Racing’s Peter Hackett who pitted first, opting to take himself out of the fight and rejoin on a clear track in an effort to gain an advantage. As the balance of the field followed through with their pit stops it looked like Hackett’s strategy had worked as he emerged with a 20 second lead over his JBS Lamborghini rival, helped in part by the additional eighteen second time penalty added to Lago’s compulsory pit stop time with co-driver, David Russell, being classified as a seeded (professional) driver. This didn’t faze Russell though and with the benefit of being fresh in the car and with new tyres, he proceeded to hunt the Mercedes Benz SLS down, passing him for the lead and eventual race win on lap 20.

 

Current Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia series leader Kane Rose has taken his fifth win for the 2012 season after an impressive Race 1 victory at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The Victorian racer began the 10-lap Porsche race from pole position beside Philip Woodbury, but it was Jeff Bobik to lead the field in the first few laps of the race.

The battle for honours in the Hi-Tec Oils Australian Swift racing series continued at Sydney Motorsport Park today with the previous round winner Damian Ward (#11 Hi-Tec Oils) taking the pole position after qualifying 100^th of a second ahead of rival Reece Murphy (#62 Murphy Glass and Mirrors). With the Swift of Adam Brand #5 looking resplendent in its new Kitten Car Care livery securing third spot over the Achilles entry of Allan Jarvis #1.

A DAY OF ACTION-PACKED racing and some unpredictable results has welcomed the return of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils to Sydney Motorsport Park today.

A charging maiden win from Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 pilot Roger Lago and co-driver David Russell highlighted a big day of on-track action as Round 5 of the Shannons Nationals hosted practice, qualifying and racing today - making it a busy day out.

Meanwhile, Tony Ricciardello led a champions quinella in Kerrick Sports Sedan Series qualifying, whilst James Winslow led home a 1-2-3 finish for former F3 champions in the openig Gold Star race of the weekend.

Seven times series title holder Tony Ricciardello has struck back after a disastrous start to the season to claim pole position for the third round of the Kerrick Australian Sports Sedan Series. Ricciardello topped both of today’s qualifying sessions in the rebuilt Chev-powered Alfa Romeo and recorded a best time of 1 minute 29.9890 seconds.

In a closely fought Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security qualifying session, Peter Edwards & John Bowe have topped the time sheets in their Maranello Motorsport prepared Il Bello Rosso Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3.

 

FRESH from finishing second in the most recent round at Winton, Roger Lago’s Lamborghini Gallardo has emerged as the fastest car in practice for this weekend’s Australian GT Championship outing, as round five of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils commenced today in Sydney.

There was nothing unlucky about a black Lamborghini being quickest on Friday the 13th today - the car comfortably quickest  over a strong GT field.

The sun shone on Sydney Motorsport Park for a full day of practice across six categories, but it was the Italian supercar of Lago – ably assisted by V8 Supercar racing co-driver David Russell – who topped the charts in the two dry sessions held.

Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia will this weekend enter the second half of its competitive six-round season, with several series newcomers set to challenge the regular front-runners.

Entering Round 4 at the newly re-named Sydney Motorsport Park, Kane Rose holds a 49-point lead in the Outright standings from John Modystach, Jeff Bobik and 2011 Eastern Creek round winner John Goodacre.

This weekend at the fifth round of the Shannons Nationals, the third round of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series features a strong 30-car entry, the biggest in several years.

For 2012 preseason favourites Tony Ricciardello and Darren Hossack, it will be do or die this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park (formerly Eastern Creek Raceway) if they want to have any chance of winning the series. Ricciardello (Alfa/Chev) and Hossack (Audi/Chev) have had ordinary starts in their bids for another title trophy for their mantelpieces, both having to borrow cars at round one and then encountering mechanical issues at round two.

 

WITH SUNNY weather predicted and admission just $20 on Sunday, round five of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils could be just the ticket for a fun family day out. That’s what one Sydney family will be doing this weekend – except they will be spending it at 200km/hr in some of Australia’s quickest racing cars at Sydney Motorsport Park, near Blacktown.

In what is expected to be an Australian (national level) Motorsport first, a Mother and Son will team up in a two-driver endurance race at the 3.9km circuit in Sydney’s west this weekend when Sue Hughes and son Jon Collins combine for two, 50-minute endurance races in the Radical Australia Cup.

THE SHANNONS NATIONALS presented by Hi-Tec Oils will bring grids of champions to the recently-renamed Sydney Motorsport Park next weekend, July 13-15.

Amongst the six competing race categories, the Kerrick Sports Sedan series features four past title winners amongst their field, whilst Formula 3 (three) Australian GT (one), Hi-Tec Oils Swift Racing Series (one) and the Radical Australia Cup (one) all feature former series winners who still want to add more to their respective resumes.

The Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security category will celebrate its 50th National Championship event at the next round of the Shannons Nationals Series, to be run at Sydney Motorsport Park (formerly known as Eastern Creek) on July 14th-15th.

GT racing was born in Australia in the early 1960's with just a single event being held annually to determine a national champion. In the 1980's GT racing evolved to become the Australian Sports Car Championship but over time the category moved away from production based models to more highly modified versions, eventually developing into the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series cars of today.

Holden Commodores hogged the podium at round three of the Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series at Winton Raceway on June 24 with category rookie Josh Kean winning from Simon Tabinor and Gavin Ross – all in VTs – at the fourth round of the Shannons Nationals.

Damian Ward driving the Hi-Teac Oils swift survived serious competition from Reece Murphy (MGM #62) to take out the third round of the Hi-Tech Oils Swift racing series at Winton Raceway. It was only an error from Murphy that allowed Ward a clear run to the checkered flag in race 3.

Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia front-runners Kane Rose and Jeff Bobik shared race victories in the final day of Round 3 at Winton Motor Raceway, with Rose strengthening his series stronghold with the round triumph.

Rose started Sunday with Race 2 victory, claiming a lights-to-flag win over Brent Odgers and Philip Woodbury – a season-best result for the New South Welshman.

Erebus racing’s Peter Hackett triumph’s as Klark Quinn falters in a thrilling finish to race 2 of the Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security at Winton this afternoon.

Roger Lago led at the start with the hard charging Hackett, K Quinn, McConville and Eggleston and the rest of the field in hot pursuit, Tony Quinn being the only first lap victim spinning the VIP Petfoods Mosler on turn one.

 

THE SHANNONS NATIONALS presented by Hi-Tec Oils celebrated the series’ 60^th round with more of the usual action, excitement and close racing the series has offered since its formation in 2006.

Winton turned on its usual unpredictable weather, early rain turning into patchy sunshine and a cool afternoon – but the on-track action was its usual competitive best.

17-YEAR-OLD rookie Josh Hunter has claimed his second round win of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series in an action-packed day at Winton Motor Raceway in Victoria. The Fernandez Motorsport Falcon driver finished third in this morning’s nine-lap second race of the weekend, before leading home the 15-lap final to seal the round and re-take the series lead from Jim Pollicina.

The racers in the Hi-Tech Oils Australian Swift Racing Series took to the track at Winton for a practice and qualifying session and grid positions for Sunday’s first race took on a new look, with Australian karters filling the first three spots.

Erebus Racing’s Peter Hackett emerged victorious in a race dominated by black flags and a confusing safety car period in the first race of round 3 of the Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security.

There was action right from the start with Nick O’Halloran spinning his Ferrari to the tail of the field in a frantic battle for the lead with Reid, Lago and K Quinn on the first lap.

 

Despite shedding a power steering hose late in qualifying for the third round of the Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series, Simon Tabinor has posted the fastest time for race one (of three) tomorrow.

Like most of the 22-car field the English-born Victorian, aboard his Eurostar Diesels Holden Commodore VT, posted his fastest time in the first of the two qualifying sessions, and pipped series leader Matt Lovell from South Australia, by 0.4 seconds to claim his first pole of the year.

Hard charger Kane Rose has shot to the lead of the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy standings after an eventful victory in the opening Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia race at Winton Motor Raceway.

FORMER Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series champion Tony Evangelou has returned to the series in style with victory in today’s opening race of round three at Winton in north-eastern Victoria.

Evangelou, the 2010 series champion, won today’s nine-lap opener in his first race in the series since last year’s opening round at Wakefield Park.

 

KANE ROSE has recovered from a nearly-costly mistake to spectacularly recover to victory in the Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge series 30-lap race today, at round four of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils.

After near-torrential rain at Winton yesterday, the 60th Shannons Nationals round got underway under blue skies and sunlight this morning but it was the racing late in the day that warmed people up.

The Hi-Tech Oils Australian Swift Racing Series undertook three practice session at Winton Raceway, and under some very trying conditions but the front wheel drive excitement machines handled the conditions with only a few off-track excursions.

Series debutants Damian Ward (Hi-Tech Oils #11) and Dale Corbett (Bartercard #3) showed the value of a Karting heritage with strong results on the timing sheets, sitting mid field behind series regulars Allan Jarvis (Achilles Radials #1), Rob Jarvis (BVC Racing #17) and Reece Murphy (MGM Glass and Mirrors #62).

KUMHO TYRES Australian V8 Touring Car Series leader Jim Pollicina slipped and slid his way around to top practice at a sopping Winton Motor Raceway today, ahead of the 60^th Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils round this weekend.

With constant rain and cold conditions, Pollicnia’s 1m32.52s set in practice two stood up as the quickest of the day, in front of returning former series winner Tony Evangelou and Nathan Garioch.

THE Hi-TEC OILS Australian Swift Racing Series has confirmed the addition of former Formula Ford racer and current Dreamtime Racing Dunlop V8 Supercar Series test driver Samantha Reid for this weekend’s round at Winton Raceway.

With the Shannons Nationals celebrating its 60^th meeting this weekend at Winton Raceway, it is appropriate that an original core group category member, Australian Saloon Cars, should be out in force to help acknowledge the occasion.

James Brock has been forced to switch from his regular Erebus Drillpro Racing Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 to a Mosler MT-900 for the third round of the Australian GT Championship at Winton this weekend.

With the silver machine out of action after his shunt at the previous round at Phillip Island, Brock will attempt to bridge Klark Quinn’s eight point championship lead aboard a Mosler MT-900, owned by Rod Salmon.

After two rounds and four action packed races the 2012 Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security is still a closely fought contest with no clear title favourite emerging from the pack.

Fastest laps and race wins have been shared between Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Mopar Dodge Viper and Ferrari proving the parity of the internationally developed FIA GT3 category is delivering competitive racing.

Following on from the demands of the unforgiving concrete jungle of Adelaide and the super fast Phillip Island circuit, Winton’s tight and twisty layout will provide new challenges to teams and drivers to find that perfect setup in their effort to stand on the top step of the rostrum this weekend.

21 cars entered and ready for this weekend’s third round …

THE growing Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series will feature a record field for its next round at Winton... Motor Raceway this weekend.

A total of 21 cars have entered for the round, surpassing the previous record mark of 20 runners at Wakefield Park and Phillip Island last year.

It’s the latest sign that the emerging series - run for the last five years for ex-V8 Supercars - is one of the real growth categories of Australian motorsport, especially considering it had just three starters at its inaugural round at Mallala in 2008.

THE SHANNONS NATIONALS presented by Hi-Tec Oils turns 60 this weekend, and will celebrate with a festival of everything good about Australia’s racing series designed ‘for the people’.

The series moves to Victoria’s Winton Motor Raceway, near Benalla, for round four of a 2012 season that continues to offer exciting racing and plenty of surprises.

The final race under the sun of the north saw the Touring Car Masters line up for a final 12 lap blast around the Hidden Valley circuit, and the field and fans alike were wondering, could anyone catch Bowe. As the action continued across the field, it was just the man they were hunting that took off into the distance, securing his third race win and a clean sweep of the round to put Bowe back atop the series points standings.

With the lights going green, Bowe accelerated away, Tilley made a flyer to gain second, with Edwards following as Sparks darted to the inside to hold position in the charging field. Action as promised had Alexander’s HT Monaro off at turn one, King making room to avoid further dramas on his already tough weekend.

 

THE HISTORIC Winton Motor Raceway, near Benella, will be the scene of the 60^th Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils round contested since the series’ foundation in 2006, as the CAMS National Motor Racing Championships.

Since then circuits around Australia have hosted rounds featuring categories from every corner of the Australian Motorsport landscape.

KUMHO Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series leader Jim Pollicina has engaged the driver coaching services of VIP Petfoods V8 Supercar pilot – and two-time V8 Supercar Development Series champion - Steve Owen ahead of the third round of the series at Winton Motor Raceway later this month.

Queensland driver Lyle Kearns is the latest addition to the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series and will make his debut in round three of the series at Winton on June 23-24.

The 42-year-old Gold Coaster tested his ex-Paul Morris Motorsport Commodore at Queensland Raceway on May 30 and is among a 21-strong entry for the growing series for ex-V8 Supercars.

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.

Despite both former title holders Tony Ricciardello and Darren Hossack being back in their regular cars for round two, neither were able to make an impression on series leader Kerry Baily at the second round of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series at Phillip Island on May 27.

Ricciardello and Hossack were expected to fight out the three races on the fast, flowing Victorian circuit but both had mechanical issues that cost them more rewarding results. Baily on the other hand, won the round in his Aston Martin ahead of Shane Bradford’s Chev Camaro . . . and increased his lead in the title hunt over Des Wall’s Chev Corvette and the Holden Monaro of Michael Robinson.

The final race of what had been an action packed, weather disrupted, exciting and somewhat experimental weekend for the Touring Car Masters has seen dual series champion Gavin Bullas take home the final race win, Round 2 glory and the inaugural Phillip Island trophy.

As entries lined up on the grid for the final times, O’Neill and O’Brien remained in their garages, a clutch failure and dropped valve respectively bringing the final race to a 24 car challenge. Miedecke and Hunter bogged down off the start, Bowe went to the inside as Middleton smoked away from the line. It was another action repeating with three wide into turn one once more for Stillwell, Miedecke and Benson on for the challenge, while Bullas was through to take the lead into turn three.

In another action packed race on the Island, Brett Youlden has secured his maiden Touring Car Masters victory, coming out with the glory after a race long challenge with fellow HQ pilot, Mark King.

Having joined the series in mid 2008, Youlden maintains a ‘local’ operation of a tight knit team who knew they had a win in the crosshairs and have finally turned their passion into the prestige of the number one result. The challenge was on from the green, with King from the front row and Youlden launching from sixth to third off the start of the weekend’s reverse grid top ten race.

Kane Rose has taken victory in the second round of Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia, in doing so moving to the top of the Porsche points table.

In the opening Sunday race, John Goodacre took the lead from the start before a safety car was called after Terry Lawlor, Brendan Cook and Philip Woodbury were involved in a start line incident.

Putting their qualifying dramas behind them the Safe Evolutions team celebrated with Darren Hossack taking a clean sweep of wins on Sunday of the 2012 Australian Superkart Championships, held as part of Round 3 of the Shannons Nationals, presented by Hi-Tec Oils.

As the sun finally peaked through the rain clouds of Phillip Island, the battle of the Mustangs heated up off the front row of the grid as reigning series champion Bowe, and dual series champion Bullas, showcased true racing prestige in a repeat of their opening round tussle to go side by side around the island circuit as Bowe came home to take win number three for 2012.

 

Kerry Baily has extended his lead in the 2012 Kerrick Sports Sedan National Series by taking two races and the round at Phillip Island.

Baily led home Tony Ricciardello in the opening two heats, before Darren Hossack trumped all comers in the final.

The opening race result was not without its controversy, with the timing screens showing that the Baily snuck past Ricciardello by 0.01s at the line, despite the Alfa appearing to have kept its nose in front.

GREG CRICK mastered the conditions to take the Australian GT spoils at Phillip Island, as part of a big weekend of racing in Round 3 of the 2012 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils.

The sportscars were one of six categories in action at the Victorian circuit, which again provided both wet and dry weather on Sunday.

Tamworth-based racer Warren McIlveen has started his championship defence in the best possible manner by winning the opening race of the 2012 Australian Superkart Championship at the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils.

Local racer Kane Rose has christened his newly acquired Porsche with victory in the opening race of Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia at Phillip Island.

The Victorian driver qualified second behind South Australian pole-sitter John Goodacre, who claimed a significant early lead in the opening nine-lap Phillip Island race.

Unpredictable weather conditions and a superb tyre strategy by Dylan Thomas has reaped the CXC Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 driver a gutsy victory in the first of two one-hour races that made up the third round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship at Phillip Island yesterday.

Thomas elected to mark up a softer set of his two-tyre replacements at the compulsory pit stop and that gave him far superior pace in the second half of the race where rain fell at times, to catch and pass his Class A Extreme Performance Mitsubishi rivals.

Erebus Racing Mercedes-Benz pilot Peter Hackett has taken victory at Phillip Island after a shortened opening enduro during round two of the Australian GT Championship protected by Sargent Security. Storming off the front row on the rolling start in driving rain, Hackett was only seriously troubled by team-mate James Brock who forced his way through to the lead before the compulsory pit-stop mid race, Hackett returning the favour late in the race.

THE MERCEDES-BENZ of Peter Hackett claimed a commanding victory in the opening race of the Australian GT Championship, as racing in Round 3 of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils kicked off at Phillip Island.

After Friday’s dramatic flooding – as part of Victoria’s big wet – saw practice cancelled early, officials pumped away the excess flood water overnight. While there was again rain as part of a wet-dry day, the full program of practice, qualifying and racing was completed.

Reigning series champion and round one winner, John Bowe has secured his second consecutive pole of the season, blowing away the field as the Masters returned to Phillip Island after a four year absence.

A weekend of interchangeable weather conditions had many across the field erring on the side of caution, waiting and juggling the conditions to finalise a wet or dry setup, with tyre choice a last minute decision as the vehicles rolled out of the garages.

On a damp Phillip Island circuit at the Shannons Nationals third round, the great form of Jim Pollicina’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X continued with co-driver Dean Lillee topping qualifying for the first of two one-hour races in the third round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship for production cars this morning.

Welcome to our Saturday Race blog for round 3 of the Shannon Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec oils at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.

This blog will update throughout the day and work with our social media efforts on facebook and twitter to keep you updated throughout the day’s action – and it will continue across the weekend.

Last Updated - 15:38PM - PEOPLE AND PLACES, NAMES AND FACES

Secret squirrel behavior has run through the Superkart paddock with a number of teams trying all manner of new parts and engines this weekend at Phillip Island, but the Fuji Xerox/Zahl 1 Karting team took it to a new level "smuggling" a brand new kart from the factory Anderson team in the European championship.

"It's a new chassis, a 2012 Anderson Maverick with the latest DEA engine from Russell Anderson in the UK," said Jason Smith.

VICTORIA’S OTHERWISE RELATIVELY DRY month of May has broken – but in the process has called an early halt to unofficial practice for categories preparing for this weekend’s third round of the Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils.

Constant rain began this morning and intensified across the day, forcing first a postponement and then a complete cancellation of all activities today.

The 2012 Australian Manufacturers Championship is shaping as the tightest contest for Production Cars ever with several in the hunt for outright, class and manufacturers titles, and with a new outright player is set to debut in the fastest class at Phillip Island’s Shannons National meeting this weekend.

After a thrilling six hour event at the same circuit a month ago, the category is back to its more usual pair of one hour races. The Class A Extreme Performance Mitsubishi Evo Xs of Stuart Kostera/Inky Tulloch and six hour winner Jim Pollicina with Dean Lillee alongside, are expected to be the pace setters.

The Pedders Valvoline Racing team head back to Victoria’s premier motor racing circuit with what is to be the best motor racing event Phillip Island has seen in quite some time. The Shannon’s Nationals and PIARC present some of the country’s best national level categories all putting their best foot forward for an amazing motor sports show. With the Touring Car Masters, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Australian GT Championship, Kerrick Sports Sedans, Australian Super Karts Championship and the Australian Manufacturers Championship all competing this weekend we are sure to see some fantastic motor racing.

While Queensland resident Kerry Baily and his awesome new Aston Martin DBR9 won all three races at the opening round of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series at Mallala on the Shannons Nationals program a month ago, former champions Tony Ricciardello and Darren Hossack had serious issues – forcing them both to find alternative drives just to grab some points.

A car-engulfing fire in his Alfa/Chev looked likely to force the West Aussie Ricciardello out but he accepted an offer from Bob McLoughlin to use his Commodore/Chev while Hossack suffered an engine denotation in the John Gourlay-owned Audi/Chev. The Victorian team worked feverishly around the clock to rebuild the crashed Simon Pfitzner’s Ford Falcon.

Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia returns to the race track this weekend for the second round of the one-make series, with young gun Michael Almond aiming to again impress in his debut season.

Almond made his GT3 Cup Challenge debut at his home circuit, Mallala, for Round 1 of the Porsche series last month, placing third for the event, and now aims to continue his competitive form at the picturesque Victorian circuit.

“The pressure is on me now going into Phillip Island; I did half alright at Mallala,” said Almond.

AFTER doing things his own way brought him a pair of Australian Manufacturers Championship titles, Garry Holt is now of the opinion that ‘if you can’t beat them, join them.’

Holt won two titles and a pair of Bathurst 12 Hour races in a BMW 335i, however the past few seasons have seen the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution become the dominant force in Australian Production Car racing.

So, the Sydneysider has decided to join the Mitsubishi brigade and will return to the series this weekend at the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils round, at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.

AFTER doing things his own way brought him a pair of Australian Manufacturers Championship titles, Garry Holt is now of the opinion that ‘if you can’t beat them, join them.’

Holt won two titles and a pair of Bathurst 12 Hour races in a BMW 335i, however the past few seasons have seen the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution become the dominant force in Australian Production Car racing.

So, the Sydneysider has decided to join the Mitsubishi brigade and will return to the series this weekend at the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils round, at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.

International contender in the Touring Car Masters, Keith Kassulke is bringing the famed Jim Morton Ford XB Coupe back to life at Phillip Island next weekend after eyeing off the stunning entry last season during Glenn Seton’s short but successful race campaign.

Having seen the machine come together for its series debut, Kassulke had been keenly watching the Ford while taking to the track for a full season in his Outbound Racing 1971 Holden HQ Monaro, coming home with consistent results and closing season 2011 with the Rare Spares Hard Charger award win at the Homebush finale.

Hunter Valley born and bred, Matt O’Brien has always been a small fish in the big pond that is Australian motor sport. Having started competing in the early years against many of today’s V8 Supercar stars, O’Brien took the career path to go underground in the mining industry while never letting his passion for racing waver.

Debuting his 1971 Holden HQ Monaro in the Touring Car Masters in 2009, O’Brien has seen the good, the bad and the ugly side of racing, having started from pole at Mount Panorama, suffered dramatic engine failures in the heat of competition, and taking to his Aussie battler spirit to keep him in the game as investment dollars became needed to keep the #27 HQ on track.

Phillip Island is one of Australia’s most spectacular places and round three of the 2012 Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils features one of the most spectacular programs yet assembled for a Nationals round.

As well as staple Shannons Nationals categories like the Kerrick Sports Sedan series, Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge and the Australian Manufacturers Championship, the Australian GT Championship (Protected by Sargent Security) and Touring Car Masters series will both return to the series for the first time in years.

Here is our category-by-category look at Round 3 of the Shannons Nationals...

FORMER Bathurst 24 Hour winner Cameron McConville has been appointed Driving Standards Advisor for the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series.

The highly experienced Victorian driver becomes the first ‘DSA’ appointed to the Kumho Series – run for ex-V8 Supercars - since it began in 2008.

McConville will dovetail the role with his driving standards work with the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, which like the Kumho Series, races on the Shannons Nationals program of events.

RADICAL AUSTRALIA CUP winner Ed Singleton tackled the world-famous Spa Francorchamps circuit last weekend, as his prize for winning the title last year.

In what is one of the biggest awards on offer at the end of any national series in Australia, Singleton won a fully-funded drive in a round of the European Radical Masters series held at the Belgian circuit.

HE HAS ONE OF the most famous surnames in Australian Motorsport, but James Brock is well beyond any need to live up to his ‘son-of-a-legend’ status.

His complete focus is on seeking to build on his strong start to the Australian GT Championship protected by Sargent Security when the series returns to the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils at Phillip Island on May 25-27.

The Melbournian finished second in the opening round of the GT championship in Adelaide this March, driving for Erebus Racing as part of a two-car Mercedes Benz SLS AMG attack with team-mate Peter Hackett.

HE HAS ONE OF the most famous surnames in Australian Motorsport, but James Brock is well beyond any need to live up to his ‘son-of-a-legend’ status.

His complete focus is on seeking to build on his strong start to the Australian GT Championship protected by Sargent Security when the series returns to the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils at Phillip Island on May 25-27.

The Melbournian finished second in the opening round of the GT championship in Adelaide this March, driving for Erebus Racing as part of a two-car Mercedes Benz SLS AMG attack with team-mate Peter Hackett.

THE TOURING CAR MASTERS series will return to the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils for the first time in four years at Phillip Island this May.

In a packed weekend of racing that also includes the return of the Sargent Security Australian GT Championship, the third round of the 2012 Shannons Nationals will feature the first of two TCM rounds to be staged with the Nationals this year year.

TCM last raced with the Shannons Nationals in 2008, an 18-car field taking to Oran Park for three races; but in the intervening years the field has grown to average nearly 30 cars with a host of new models and brands.

THE TOURING CAR MASTERS series will return to the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils for the first time in four years at Phillip Island this May.

In a packed weekend of racing that also includes the return of the Sargent Security Australian GT Championship, the third round of the 2012 Shannons Nationals will feature the first of two TCM rounds to be staged with the Nationals this year year.

TCM last raced with the Shannons Nationals in 2008, an 18-car field taking to Oran Park for three races; but in the intervening years the field has grown to average nearly 30 cars with a host of new models and brands.

The Valvoline sponsored Pedders Racing team took to the Phillip Island Australian Production Car Endurance round with excitement and high hopes for victory in their class E Proton Satria.

The weekend began with the team trialling some new set ups and tyre combinations that appeared to work well. With practice sessions and qualifying taking place on Saturday, the drivers were able to provide good feedback to their pit crew paving the way for a great opportunity to perform well in the 6 hour race.

Pedders Racing again made every effort to promote and enhance the profile of their sponsors which was made possible by the announcement that Pedders Suspension had become sponsors of the series for the remainder of the year. Taking full advantage of this opportunity the team were able to get out amongst the crowd and really show their professionalism in this national series.

VARIETY is the spice of life this weekend on SBS SPEEDWEEK when the action from Mallala's Shannons Nationals Presented by Hi-Tec Oils round goes to air, featuring action from the Kerrick Sports Sedans, Dial Before You Dig Saloon Cars and V8 Commodore Cup.

Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series reigning title holder Matt Lovell kicked off round two at Mallala last weekend with the fastest time in qualifying and a first up race win. 

But then Simon Tabinor who could do nothing to pass the lime green Batteries Direct Ford Falcon AU, got the magic start he was looking for in the next race . . . and that set the Eurostars Diesel Holden Commodore to win races two and three and take the round overall.

Kerry Baily’s new Aston Martin looked fast and went fast too as it won a drama-filled opening round of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series at Mallala’s Shannons Nationals last Sunday and put its driver’s name on the category’s prestigious Clem Smith Cup.

It was the sixth running of the hallmark event. “I see Darren (Hossack) and Tony (Ricciardello) have their names on this trophy a few times so it’s about time I had a turn,” said the elated winner Baily.

Sunday’s two races were so evenly matched that the only way to separate the drivers was small mistakes made as the pressure was put on throughout the field. In every position, the nose to tail action had the racers watching every mirror looking for passing moves as they were waiting their chance to pounce.

FORMER Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series champion Chris Smerdon has helped put his 2012 title chances back on track with victory in the second round of the series for ex-V8 Supercars at Mallala Motorsport Park.

Smerdon, driving an ex-Stone Brothers Racing Falcon originally raced by James Courtney, won both of today’s races to seal his record sixth Kumho Series round win and second Mallala round win in a row.

The 2008 Kumho Series champion, Smerdon entered the weekend last in the pointscore after a disastrous opening round at Eastern Creek in March that saw him pointless.

ADAM BEECHEY’s streak has continued into round two of the Southern Star Windows V8 Commodore Cup at Mallala today, taking an emphatic pole position after an early challenge from Michael Tancredi.

The first runs in the session saw Tancredi fractions ahead of the Donut King Commodore, before the Tasmanian smashed two stunning laps in the 1 minute 18 second bracket that jumped him to the top of the leaderboard and to another pole position.

Kerry Baily won the Clem Smith Cup and took a clean sweep in the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series under picture perfect conditions at Mallala today, at the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils.

Baily and Corvette driver Des Wall led from the beginning and though Wall remained within a few seconds of the stunning new Aston Martin, never got quite close enough to challenge for the win in Sports Sedans’ marquee race – named in honour of the former racer and Mallala circuit owner.

Tony Ricciardello, in a borrowed Commodore, finished third.

The highly challenging Mallala circuit provided the perfect venue for the feisty swifts as the first race became a real dog fight between series regulars Allan Jarvis (Achilles #1) and Rob Jarvis (BVC racing #17) as they chased down Adam Brand (Handorf Old Mill #5)  who had the better of the start over pole sitter Reece Murphy (MGM racing #62).

The father and son team chased down a two second lead by Brand and the three proceeded to provide the days most exciting racing as they went three wide through turn seven and continued battling and trading places around the esses. Allan Jarvis won out but the swift series displayed the kind of racing that one make controlled series are renowned for.

 

John Modystach has taken his first ever race victory in the Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia series in the season opening endurance race at Mallala.

The Position Partners-backed racer started on the front row of the grid alongside surprise pole-sitter and GT3 Cup Challenge debutant Michael Almond.

Modystach quickly moved into the lead at the start of the 40-lap race before the safety car was called, caused by an opening corner incident which left Keith Wong and Adam Marjoram stranded on the circuit.

Defending Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series title holder Matt Lovell increased his lead in the 2012 with a flawless performance at Mallala Motorsport Park today. The Batteries Direct Ford Falcon AU driver qualified fastest and led all the way through the first of races that are part of the second round of the Shannons Nationals at the South Australian circuit – and in doing so, has kept together an unbeaten record in this year’s series. Yet it was by no means an easy victory as the South Australian had to fend off the British-born Victorian Simon Tabinor and his Eurostar Diesel Holden Commodore VT for the entire 14-lap duration.

VICTORIAN driver Mark Shepherd has claimed a breakthrough maiden win in Race 1 of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series at Mallala Motorsport Park.

The Wangaratta-based motel owner took his first-ever pole position earlier in the day and was perfectly placed to grab the lead in the 14-lap race when leader Shawn Jamieson’s Commodore blew a power steering hose while out in front with just two laps to go.

The Image Racing Falcon driver was able to bring his ex-Brad Jones Racing Ford home to seal victory clear of Sydney’s Jim Pollicina and 2011 Mallala round winner Chris Smerdon.

John Modystach has won race one of the Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia at the second round of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils, rounding out a perfect autumn day at South Australia’s Mallala Raceway.

Modystach made the perfect start and led the field into turn one as drama unfolded at the back of the field, two cars coming together at turn one and bringing out the Safety Car.

The restart was clean and saw Modystach start to make his mark on the 40 lap race by building an early lead.

ROUND TWO of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils began on Friday the 13^th – and it was instantly bad luck for seven-time Kerrick Sports Sedan champion Tony Ricciardello.

His Iconic Alfa Romeo GTV caught fire in the second Sports Sedan practice session at Mallala this morning and was badly damaged, the fire tearing through much of the rear half of the bright red, Chevrolet-powered car.

However the West Australian drivers luck turned soon thereafter, when rival competitor Bob McLoughlin offered up his VS Commodore for his use for the remainder of the weekend.

CELEBRATING the beginning of its fifth season, the Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge kicks off the 2012 season this weekend at South Australia’s Mallala Raceway.

The one-make Porsche series has been a Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils staple since its formation in 2008, also at Mallala.

And where 13 cars started that first round, a big field of 22 Porsches will race to commence their new year this weekend in a weekend that doubles as the start of the ‘series within a series’ Jim Richards Endurance Trophy.

The nation’s fastest circuit racing tin top sedans, the Kerrick Australian Sports Sedans, has undergone an energetic rejuvenation during the off season and kick off their 2012 motor racing sedan at Mallala Motorsport Park this weekend. New cars and a reorganisation of the category herald the start of an exciting season for the booming, winged wonders of Australian Motor Sport.

They will be venturing to the South Australian circuit to be part of the second round of the Shannons Nationals program with their goals not just to amass opening round points but to also lay claim to the prestigious Clem Smith Trophy, the hallmark event for the category.

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia has secured Staff Solutions International as the new Title Partner of the one-make Porsche series.

Established in 2009, Staff Solutions International is a specialist Executive Search and General Recruitment consultancy servicing industry sectors such as Oil & Gas, Mining, Energy & Transmission, Rail and Water Utilities.

The series will be known as the Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia.

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia has secured Staff Solutions International as the new Title Partner of the one-make Porsche series.

Established in 2009, Staff Solutions International is a specialist Executive Search and General Recruitment consultancy servicing industry sectors such as Oil & Gas, Mining, Energy & Transmission, Rail and Water Utilities.

The series will be known as the Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia.

LOCALS LINE UP FOR HUNTER AS KUMHO V8 SERIES HEADS TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA

16-year-old championship leader headlines 20-car entry list for round two …

AT just 16 years old age, Josh Hunter finds himself in an amazing position as the leader of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series after his one and only round start.

He has the opportunity to continue his assault on the category for former V8 Supercars this weekend at Mallala Motorsport Park in South Australia, which hosts round two of the series as part of the Shannons Nationals.

AT just 16 years old age, Josh Hunter finds himself in an amazing position as the leader of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series after his one and only round start.

He has the opportunity to continue his assault on the category for former V8 Supercars this weekend at Mallala Motorsport Park in South Australia, which hosts round two of the series as part of the Shannons Nationals.

After a flying visit to New Zealand to compete in the second round of the NZ Six Championship at Levels Raceway, Timaru, reigning Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Car Series title holder Matt Lovell is focused to continue his good form at Mallala this weekend.

Lovell won the opening round of the 2012 Aussie series at Bathurst in February and finished second in his trans-Tasman venture for what is effectively a series for older Saloon Cars.

IT WILL TAKE a mighty effort to stop two-time V8 Commodore Cup presented by Southern Star Windows champion Adam Beechey from adding a third title to his resume this season – if round one is anything to go by.

The Donut King Racing driver dominated at Sydney’s Eastern Creek in March and even the combined efforts of Beechey’s closest 2011 rival, Matt Hayes, and 2008 champion Michael Tancredi couldn’t topple the bright pink Commodore from establishing an early season lead once again.

Even the only part of the weekend that didn’t go to plan for the Tasmanian – the ‘chook lotto’ lucky dip draw for grid positions – was quickly rectified, his seventh-place start for race one quickly turning into second by turn one and an eventual race win in the finale’ to set up an early series lead.

The Kerrick Australian Sports Sedan Series appears set for a strong year with 16 teams signing up to complete the full season under its new license system.

Tony Ricciardello (Alfa GTV), John Gourlay (Audi A4), Des Wall (Corvette) and Kerry Bailey (Aston Martin) head the list of car owners that have made the five-round commitment.

The move to lock competitors into a full-time program through financial incentives comes after just five cars completed the full 2011 campaign.

The Kerrick Australian Sports Sedan Series appears set for a strong year with 16 teams signing up to complete the full season under its new license system.

Tony Ricciardello (Alfa GTV), John Gourlay (Audi A4), Des Wall (Corvette) and Kerry Bailey (Aston Martin) head the list of car owners that have made the five-round commitment.

The move to lock competitors into a full-time program through financial incentives comes after just five cars completed the full 2011 campaign.

Older model ex-V8 Supercars invited for non-championship appearance at Wakefield Park

KUMHO Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series organisers have announced plans for a 'Heritage Round' concept for later in the 2012 season.

The category will host original ex-V8 Supercars spanning the last two decades of the popular Aussie racing category at the Shannons Nationals round at Wakefield Park on October 12-14 – the weekend after the famous Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

The event will not be a round of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series, but will be open to eligible ex-V8 Supercars.

Older model ex-V8 Supercars invited for non-championship appearance at Wakefield Park

KUMHO Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series organisers have announced plans for a 'Heritage Round' concept for later in the 2012 season.

The category will host original ex-V8 Supercars spanning the last two decades of the popular Aussie racing category at the Shannons Nationals round at Wakefield Park on October 12-14 – the weekend after the famous Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

The event will not be a round of the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series, but will be open to eligible ex-V8 Supercars.

After an eventful Clipsal 500 weekend in a leased Lamborghini, Ash Samadi is looking forward to returning to Phillips Island for Round 2 of the ‘Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security’ in his Team ASR Mosler MT900 GT3, the same car that took him to 5^th place in the 2011 Australian GT Championship.

Samadi, a former Formula 3 and Porsche Carrera Cup competitor and 2005 Porsche ‘Hard Charger Award’ recipient, really enjoys the fast Phillip Island venue and is confident the Mother Energy Drinks Mosler will be a force to be reckoned with this year.

Round two of Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils will be held at South Australia’s Mallala Motorsport Park on April 13-15, and will include the feature race for the thundering Kerrick Sports Sedan national Series, The Clem Smith Cup.

Other categories include the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia, Kumho Australian V8 Touring Car Series, Southern Star Windows Commodore Cup, Australian Saloon Car Series and the Hi-Tec Oils Swift Australia Series.

JAS Forwarding Worldwide are proud to announce their association as official freight forwarding partner to the ‘Australian GT Championship - protected by Sargent Security’.

JAS Forwarding Worldwide was formed in 1978 in Milan, Italy and has grown to become a worldwide leader in freight forwarding and transport logistics with over 3,000 employees working in 240 offices in 80 countries.

If they get it right, the 2012 Kerrick Australian Sports Sedan Series could be the turning point of what has the potential to be the most dynamic and exciting category in the country. It won’t be the first time that category principals have tried to refresh the category, or rather the national series, but this time around, a more professional approach has been taken.

A new company has been formed – Sports Sedans Pty Ltd – which will run the series as well as look after administration, commercial operation, sporting aspects , liaising with sponsors and seeking further category sponsorship opportunities.

Kerrick Industrial Equipment, makers of industrial cleaners, have renewed their support by securing the series naming rights for 2012. The association, now into its seventh year, is one of the longest running in Australian motor sport.  Given that the category is one that does not have the professional level of the top-line crowd pullers, Kerrick’s backing gives the series a level of prestige not otherwise afforded. It also means that the series can be televised.

Eastern Creek Raceway turned on a glorious weekend to kick off the first round of the Hi-Tec Oils Australian Swift racing series for 2012. With steadily increasing grids the Swift series is proving its worth as an economic entry into national motorsport. The Series is now well supported by Naming Rights sponsor Hi-Tec Oils, major tyre sponsor Achilles radials coming on board, and continuing support from the Shannons Nationals.

From Friday practice the racing was tight and competitive with lap times for all drivers improving at each session. Last years’ series winner Allan Jarvis (Achilles #1) was the standout but did not have it all his own way, with Adam Brand (Activfrieght  #5) and Reece Murphy (MGM Glass  #62) steadily putting pressure on Jarvis.

Neale Muston has won a thrilling first round of the 2012 Radical Australia Cup presented by MPA Projects at Eastern Creek Raceway, at the weekend.

The Excalibur Racing driver won both heat races on Saturday however it was a thrilling 50-minute feature race held on Sunday afternoon that quickly became the biggest talking point of perhaps the entire Shannons Nationals round.

Muston and defending series winner Ed Singleton fiercely battled for the lead in the final 10-minutes of the 50-minute mini-enduro, crossing the line with just 0.1 seconds between the pair.

John Bowe will race with a tribute to his late friend Jason Richards on the roof of his Touring Car Masters Ford Mustang this season.

Former V8 Supercars Championship driver Richards passed away in December last year following a 14 month battle with cancer.

Bowe was a close friend, neighbour and occasional on-track rival of Richards, and says that the tribute will ensure Richards remains part of his racing efforts.

Fraser Ross has revealed the look of his Porsche 997 that he will race in the 2012 GT3 Cup Challenge.

At a function, Ross announced a sponsorship deal with the Porsche Centre Brighton in Melbourne.

4^th March 2012 – Klark Quinn controlled the latter stages of race 2 in his VIP Petfoods Porsche GT3-R to take his second Australian GT Championship race win but it was on track behind him that controversy reined.

Peter Edwards (Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 458 GT3) was fending off the hard charging James Brock (Erebus Racing Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3) in the closing stages when contact was made between the pair, spinning Edwards to the tail of the field. Both drivers blamed each other for the clash and angry words were exchanged between drivers and race crews in pit lane as emotions overflowed.

The Pedders Racing Team successfully competed in Round 1 of the Australian Manufacturers Championship at Sydney’s historic Eastern Creek Raceway.

The team impressed both on and off of the track with the car finishing in 13th place overall (out of 17) and 1st in class E. The pit crew worked hard to keep the car on the track with an oil pressure issue being carefully managed.

9^th March 2012 – Peter Conroy Motorsport (PCM) are preparing to join Australia’s developing GT3 community and contest all remaining rounds of the Australian GT Championship protected by Sargent Security, starting at Phillip Island on 25-27 May.

PCM has specialised in the importation of quality race cars from around the world for the past 15 years and recently secured an Audi R8 LMS, similar to the 2011 championship winning car of Mark Eddy, for Conroy and regular enduro co-driver Mark Brame to drive.

3^rd March 2012 - Klark Quinn emerges victorious in an action packed first race in the 2012 Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security.

From the start Quinn (VIP Petfoods Porsche GT3-R) fought for the lead with Peter Hackett (Erebus Racing Mercedes-Benz SLS GT3) and pole sitter Greg Crick (MOPAR 75^th Anniversary Dodge Viper) with all three circulating under the lap record.

Crick was the first to falter with suspension failure forcing an early retirement as pit stops started to juggle the running order and the Adelaide weather added another element with light rain beginning to fall.

1^st March 2012 – Australian GT competitor, Tony Quinn, fell victim to the unforgiving walls at Adelaide in first practice today.

Quinn ran wide on the exit of turn 9 and spun into the wall damaging both ends of the Australian GT / Sargent Security Petfoods Ferrari 458 GT3. “I was just starting to get comfortable in the car but got it up on a kerb and away she went” said Quinn. “I’m pretty disappointed with myself really, it was a simple spin but you don’t get second chances on a street circuit like this.”

Neale Muston has won a thrilling Radical Australia Cup presented by MPA Projects feature race today in picture perfect conditions at Sydney’s Eastern Creek, bringing to a close the first round of the 2012 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils.

Muston led the field from Glyn Edis and Edward Singleton at race start, but a lengthy mid-race safety car closed up the leading bunch before the race was restarted with just ten minutes remaining.

Elevated to second after Edis was spun out of a podium spot at turn nine in the closing laps, Singleton chased Muston all the way to the line in a thrilling dice only to fall short by a tiny 0.1 seconds.

16-year-old young gun scores surprise debut victory

TEENAGE rookie Josh Hunter has impressed on debut in the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series, clinching the opening round of the series today at Eastern Creek Raceway.

The 16-year-old grandson of Australian speedway legend Garry Rush won yesterday’s opening race and today claimed two more race wins to ‘clean sweep’ the round.

He overcame a slow start in the longer Race 3 – where he slipped back to sixth - but he charged back through the field to hunt down Scott Loadsman for the lead and eventually take victory.

Defending back-to-back V8 Commodore Cup Champion Adam Beechey leads a small but feisty field after three practice sessions today at Sydney’s Eastern Creek.

It wasn’t for grid positions – the starting order will be drawn in a ‘chook lotto’ later tonight – but today’s close times indicated that Beechey will again be the benchmark in his bright-pink VS in 2012.

However, right behind him sits 2007 champion Michael Tancredi and Beechey’s main rival of 2011, Matt Hayes, both drivers keen to stop the Donut King Racing driver from escaping the year with a hat-trick of Commodore Cup titles – a feat only achieved once before.

The Team Mitsubishi Ralliart winning juggernaut continued on at the first round of the 2012 Australian Manufacturers Championship when team drivers Stuart Kostera and Inky Tullock qualified fastest and cruised to a race one victory today at Eastern Creek.

Their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X only surrendered the one-hour race lead during the regulation pitstop but soon had it back and won by 24.6 seconds over the similar ex-TMR Evo of Jim Pollicina which started sixth and gamely fought through to not only a second outright but second in Class A.

STUART KOSTERA AND INKY TULLOCH have begun the 2012 season in near perfect fashion by dominating the opening one-hour Australian Manufacturers Championship race today at Sydney’s Eastern Creek, as the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils kicked of the new year in style.

Under clear blue skies, Tulloch put the TMR Performance Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X on pole before running away with the race – only ceding the race lead to the identical car of Jim Pollicina during the pit stop shuffle.

SYDNEY’S RECENT WET weather has turned the opening race of the 2012 Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series season into a one-lap sprint.

Despite being held in perfect, bright and sunny conditions, a first lap collision between rookie Morgan Haber and Chris Smerdon forced both cars out into the wet runoff that presently surrounds the Eastern Creek Raceway bitumen thanks to consistent rain earlier this week.

A motorsport legacy continued today at Eastern Creek Raceway for the opening round of the 2012 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championship, as Robert “Bobby” Jane took to the track in the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series.

Son of racing legend Bob Jane, 21-year-old Bobby is making his debut this weekend for Vendetta Tyres/Vengance Wheels in a Ford Falcon BA, making the step up from Superkarts in Victoria.

“I won the championship for the Victorian Superkart club, along with driver of the year so when the opportunity with Terry (Wyhoon) arose; it was too good to miss,” Jane said.

A motorsport legacy continued today at Eastern Creek Raceway for the opening round of the 2012 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championship, as Robert “Bobby” Jane took to the track in the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series.

Son of racing legend Bob Jane, 21-year-old Bobby is making his debut this weekend for Vendetta Tyres/Vengance Wheels in a Ford Falcon BA, making the step up from Superkarts in Victoria. Meanwhile, Nathan Brumby (Radicals), Stuart Kostera (AMC) and Allan Jarvis (Swifts) topped their respective classes in practice.

“I won the championship for the Victorian Superkart club, along with driver of the year so when the opportunity with Terry (Wyhoon) arose; it was too good to miss,” Jane said.

 

Dual Production Car Champion Stuart Kostera will be striving for a hat-trick in 2012 by winning this year’s expanded Australian Manufacturers Championship, incorporating the Australian Endurance Championship, starting with round one this weekend.

The first of six rounds is at Eastern Creek on the Shannons Nationals program and this year there is an addition round over the 2011 calendar. The round will be contested over two one-hour races on the Sydney circuit’s regular layout with the ensuing rounds on a variety of tracks and over various distances and will include twin 200 kilometre races and six and eight hour endurance events.

STRONGER FIELDS AND CLOSER RACING will be the feature of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils season opener at Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney this weekend.

Five exciting categories will contest the first round of 2012 and each  has nominated strong fields – with most grids growing since last season –  for the two days of action this weekend.

SPRINTCAR LEGEND’S GRANDSON TO MAKE V8 DEBUT THIS WEEKEND

A STRONG field of 19 cars will take to the circuit at Eastern Creek Raceway this weekend in the opening round of the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series.

The series, for ex-V8 Supercar Falcons and Commodores, has expanded for 2012 to six rounds and the champion’s crown is up for grabs considering 2011 victor Terry Wyhoon is not racing this year.

The Pedders Racing team are set to defend their 2011 Titles, including Class E Champions, a clean sweep in the Drivers Championship and Best Presented Team in the Australian Manufacturers Championship.

With their new Team Manager Michael “Stig” Stiglich joining the ranks and hitting the ground running, the team is on track to head into the 2012 series on a high.

The team continues to do “the little things” to ensure that they have the best possible opportunity to succeed in this year’s expanded Championship.

Kerrick Sports Sedan National Series organisers are hoping to revitalise the class next season with their own version of the V8 Supercars franchise system.

Running with the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils, the spectacular tin-top class had just five of its 40 points scoring competitors complete the full five-round 2011 season.

With merely one week until the opening round of what is sure to be another stellar season for the Touring Car Masters’ muscle, series organisers have confirmed the season’s refinements that will see closer action across the classes. Combined with the new faces and debut of many new muscle machines, this year will be action packed and see a close title hunt all season once more.

The new line-up
Another strong field will hit the tarmac in 2012 as part of this ever growing, ever passionate showcase of real muscle car history, complimented by today’s technology and a whole lot of entertainment.

Paul Morris, or as he is more commonly known ‘The Dude’, is looking forward to a new challenge this year with confirmation he will be racing a Sargent Security backed Aston Martin DBRS 9 in the Australian GT Championship – protected by Sargent Security.

Peter Harris, Sargent Security’s general manager, said “Our support of Paul in the Sargent Security Racing Aston Martin was a logical step. He works very hard for his sponsor’s and we really enjoyed our association last year plus it aligns perfectly with our new category naming rights sponsorship of the Australian GT Championship”.

Round 1 of the 2012 Radical Australia Cup is only weeks away on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th March.

Over 24 cars are expected on the grid and excitement is building for the Radical single make series opening round.

In 2012 the Radical Australia Cup is a fully sanctioned CAMS series.

THE FOCUS will be on fan interaction and value across the nine-round 2012 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils schedule.

Already the most accessible and best value major national motor racing series in Australia, the Shannons Nationals has today announced that each round will feature a giant screen featuring on-track action throughout Sunday’s program to better entertain fans attending each event.

The 5.8 x 3.2 meters ‘Hi-Tec Oils Super Screen’ will carry the same live feed as the internet streaming coverage that will continue in 2012.

Sargent Security has been confirmed as major naming rights sponsor of the Australian GT Championship for 2012. As one of Australia’s leading security companies specialising in all aspects of alarm systems, guards, patrols and CCTV, Sargent Security is a perfect partner to the prestigious Australian GT Championship.

“Sargent Security was formed 14 years ago as a small security company in Liverpool, NSW and has quickly grown to become one of this country’s leading national security specialist providers” said General Manager, Peter Harris. “It has thrived through good times and bad due to continually providing quality workmanship and high tech value for money equipment but more importantly, due to its single minded work ethic of always delivering good, old fashioned quality service at the right price”

EXPANSION IN TELEVISION PACKAGE FOR 2012 SEASON

THE KUMHO Tyres V8 Touring Car Series will feature in its own, dedicated, one-hour television program on Australia’s new home of motorsport – SPEED.

In addition to its existing television package of coverage on the AVE-produced ‘Speedweek’ on SBS and ‘Inside SPEED’ on SPEED, all six rounds of the 2012 Kumho Series will now have a stand-alone, one-hour program dedicated to each round of the championship.

A NEW PARTNERSHIP between Formula 3 Management Pty. Ltd. and HWA, announced today, will increase competition and further reduce the long-term operating costs of competing in the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship.

Mercedes-Benz Formula 3 engines, built by HWA to a unique Australian specification, will become mandatory fitment to all of the latest-generation (MY2008-2011) eligible vehicles entering the country for the next four years.

ON PAPER, at least, Queenslander John Magro enters the 2012 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship as the title favourite.

His first full season in 2011 netted one win, thirteen podiums, an equal season-best three pole positions and third in the Gold Star standings. On raw speed there were few faster than the Mango farmer from Mareeba, an hour inland from Cairns, across the seven rounds contested.

It was just that at the time he was blindingly quick, he was also flat out overtaking cars that had sped past him after a sequence of less-than-blinding starts dropped him down the order at the beginning of most races in the first half of the year.

SHANNONS NATIONALS presenting partner Hi-Tec Oils will support young driving talent in 2012 after announcing major sponsorship of the Swift Racing Series, a key Shannons Nationals category.

The Hi-Tec Oils Swift Racing Series features one-make racing with identical Suzuki Swift cars with only limited modifications, ensuring close and competitive racing. The series is geared to becoming a launching pad for young drivers to gain wheel-to-wheel racing experience at the most affordable budget possible.

SHANNONS NATIONALS presenting partner Hi-Tec Oils will support young driving talent in 2012 after announcing major sponsorship of the Swift Racing Series, a key Shannons Nationals category.

The Hi-Tec Oils Swift Racing Series features one-make racing with identical Suzuki Swift cars with only limited modifications, ensuring close and competitive racing. The series is geared to becoming a launching pad for young drivers to gain wheel-to-wheel racing experience at the most affordable budget possible.

REIGNING CHAMPION STEPS DOWN TO GUIDE ROOKIE RACER

BOBBY Jane, the 21-year-old son of Australian motor racing legend Bob Jane, will make his car racing debut in this year's Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series.

Jane will drive a Ford Falcon BA for Victorian-based Image Racing in the six-round national series, which starts at Sydney's Eastern Creek Raceway on March 9-11.

While the youngster has a famous surname, the Falcon he will drive is also packed with V8 Supercar history.

ORIGINAL RICHARDS CARS RESTORED TO ORIGINAL LIVERIES FOR 2012 SEASON

A PAIR of teams in this year's Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series will pay special tribute to former V8 Supercar driver Jason Richards across the six-round national series in 2012.

The teams will race Holden Commodores in the series for deregistered V8 Supercars, though as a special tribute both will run them in original livery - as raced by Richards - specifically for this season.

ORIGINAL RICHARDS CARS RESTORED TO ORIGINAL LIVERIES FOR 2012 SEASON

A PAIR of teams in this year's Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series will pay special tribute to former V8 Supercar driver Jason Richards across the six-round national series in 2012.

The teams will race Holden Commodores in the series for deregistered V8 Supercars, though as a special tribute both will run them in original livery - as raced by Richards - specifically for this season.

The Kumho V8 Touring Car Series continues to grow, with confirmation of two new entries for the 2012 season.

Having recently purchased the Steve Ellery Racing built Ford Falcon BA that finished third in the 2003 Bathurst 1000, Queenslander Maurie Pickering is currently preparing for his first assault on the series.

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia will feature a six round, six month schedule for the 2012 season.

The new-look compact calendar will again be held exclusively at Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championship events and feature two new tracks in 2012 – Winton and Queensland Raceway.

The Porsche category will hold its season opening round at Mallala Motor Sport Park in April, with the final round to again be held at Phillip Island in September in the series' second 2012 appearance to the Victorian circuit.

THE SHANNONS NATIONALS presented by Hi-Tec Oils has revealed the final breakdown of events and categories for the 2012 season.

The nine rounds across four states feature an average of six categories at each round, representing the diversity of the Australian Motorsport landscape with everything from Touring Cars to nimble open wheelers and everything in between.

It is the most diverse Shannons Nationals calendar yet announced in the series six-year history.

Five new drivers and two old hands took to the track at the Gold Coast's Norwell driver training centre last week in the first of a series of test sessions to kick off activities for the 2012 Swift Racing Series.

Rob Whyte (Monster Drift driver) and 16 year old national Karting driver Lucas Ward were two of the standouts of the new drivers that tested the exciting Swift Sport race car. Both drivers are keen to join the Swift Racing Series in 2012.

The Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Cars class is set to step up to the next level in 2012, with more rounds and an improved race format system.Due to competitor demand, the category steps up from five to six rounds in 2012.

All six rounds of the series will be held in conjunction with the Shannons Nationals.

 

The 2012 Radical SR3 Cup cars developed specifically for Radical Australia and the 2012 Radical Australia Cup racing series have arrived!

Perfect timing had the order of 10 pre-purchased cars depart the UK factory early December for the sea voyage down under with an arrival date of 16th January.

Not only did the ship dock on time but the cars were all cleared from Customs and on loaded onto trucks to Eastern Creek within 24 hours.

An amazing turnaround.

Strong grid numbers are assured for all 7 rounds of the RAC in 2012 with 29 cars registering for entry.

This is a 50% increase over 2011.

A Masters Division has been introduced and sponsored by Octane Events.

There are 11 drivers eligible to compete in this class which will run a championship point score in parallel with
the main championship. The minimum age limit is 54 which translates to anyone born in 1958 or earlier.

 The class structure for the Australian GT Championship has been revised and expanded to cater for a wider variety of exotic sports cars for the 2012 season. The series will now feature four classes, the outright GT Championship class headlining the latest 2011 spec cars complying to FIA GT3 regulations, such as the Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 - LP600, Ford GT- 40 GT3, Mercedes – Benz SLS AMG GT3, and Audi R8.

The GT Trophy class has been added to allow older spec GT3 cars to remain competitive. Cars such as the Ferrari 430, Lamborghini LP520, Porsche GT3 997 Cup S and Dodge Viper Competition Coupe Series 1 are now eligible for class honors, as well as mixing it up with outright contenders.

Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils organisers have confirmed the exact make-up of each round on their 2012 calendar.

As previously reported, the Australian GT Championship and Touring Car Masters series will both join the Shannons card this season.

Having moved away from the concept of running their own meetings, the GTs will be seen with the Nationals at Phillip Island in both May and September, as well as the June Winton and July Eastern Creek meetings.

There is now an ideal opportunity for budding race drivers or current racers wanting to experience the exciting and versatile Suzuki Swift racing machines.

Conditions apply, but there are no licence requirements, and anyone with motor racing ambition should think seriously about having a go.

The series of test days will be run at the Gold Coast's Norwell driver training centre.

There is now an ideal opportunity for budding race drivers or current racers wanting to experience the exciting and versatile Suzuki Swift racing machines.

Conditions apply, but there are no licence requirements, and anyone with motor racing ambition should think seriously about having a go.

The series of test days will be run at the Gold Coast’s Norwell driver training centre.

Leading Formula 3 Australian Drivers' Championship team principals Mark Rundle and Ian Richards have praised the performances of the rookie drivers that tested their cars at this week's Kumho Tyres F3 Experience drive-day.

Held at South Australia's Mallala circuit – the home venue for both Team BRM and R-Tek Motorsport, the day saw nine rookie drivers take to the track.

The Touring Car Masters and Vodka 0 Australian GT Championship will both be a part of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils next season.

The Nationals will boast a full nine-round calendar in 2012, kicking off at Eastern Creek in March and concluding at Sandown in November.

The Australian Swift Racing Series has confirmed a 7-round calendar for the 2012 season, which will take in seven of the Shannons Nationals events, with a further two meetings currently being negotiated.

2010 V8 Touring Car Series Champion Tony Evangelou returns to the Series in 2012. Evangelou's return will be in the ex Ford Performance Racing BA Falcon. 

After only competing in the opening Round of the V8TC Series in 2011, Evangelou spent the rest of the 2011 competing in the Saloon Car Series where he finished the Championship in 5th place.

 

The 2012 calendar for the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series is now finalised!

This coming season will see the traditional 5 round series expand to 6 Rounds, and the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series will again run with the increasingly popular Shannons Nationals motor racing series.

Amid further dramas, Terry Wyhoon has not just won the sixth round of the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car National Series at Phillip Island but won the series overall, having chased the title for four years.

Roger Lago has been crowned the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Champion, as Jeff Bobik and 996 Cup Class champion Terry Knight took class honours at Phillip Island’s season finale.

Warren McIlveen in the Mac's Marine/Stockman Superkarts Stockman-Honda only took his first 2011 race victory on Sunday morning at Phillip Island, but it was the shot in the arm to pull away from Darren Hossack in the Safe Evolutions Anderson-Safe and the last two races he proved to have enough buffer to hold of the closing www.artmotorsport.com.au PVP-FPE of Anton Stevens.

Chris Gilmour used his customary good start to perfect effect at Phillip Island today, powering from third off the line to win the sixth round of the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship and solidify his championship lead with one round to go.

A series of dramas has brought the final round of the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car National Series alive with Ford Falcon driver Terry Wyhoon and Holden Commodore Scott Loadsman set to take the title decider down to the wire at the Shannons Nationals Phillip Island meeting this weekend.

Ivan Klasan has taken his first race victory of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia season at Phillip Island in Saturday’s race one, while Terry Knight’s 996 Cup Class race win was enough to secure him the 2011 class crown.

The sixth season of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils has come to its conclusion, and whilst there were few surprises in the end as to the victors, the racing - as always - was intense.

James Winslow has closed the margin to F3 Australian Drivers Championship leader Chris Gilmour after taking pole position and a tense race one victory at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit today.

Last year's Australian Saloon Car Series winner Tim Rowse has qualified fastest for the final round of this year's series at the Phillip Island Shannons Nationals. In the Rowse Motors Holden Commodore VT driver's only appearance for the year, Rowse posted a first session best of 1 minute 50.5176 seconds and missed the second session to prepare an engine for a fellow competitor.

Adam Beechey and Matt Hayes will start from scratch in their battle for the 2011 V8 Commodore Cup series presented by Western General Bodyworks after Hayes evened the ledger by taking pole position at Phillip Island today.

At four of the five rounds contested on the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils program this year, Ford stalwart Tony Evangelou raced a Holden Commodore in the Australian Saloon Car Series. The 2010 Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car National Series winner picked up the ride after selling his Falcon BA and ASCS administrator Les Morrall brought John Goodacre's front running Holden when the latter moved to GT3 Cup Challenge.

In the two-part Dial Before You Dig AMC 500, round four of the VIP Petfoods Australian Manufacturers Championship at Sandown, Stuart Kostera and Inky Tulloch proved dominant, scoring another victory and continuing a winning streak that dates back to the second round of 2010.

The Australian Swift Racing Series continued on their charge as part of Round 6 of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships this weekend, with race 2 and 3 on Sunday, and after an action packed opening to the meeting, it was assured to be a superb finish.

While it may be only a practice session in preparedness for this weekend's fourth round of the VIP Petfoods Australian Manufacturers Championship at Sandown Park in Victoria, Cameron Wilson and Peter Burnitt have topped the time sheets – surprisingly toppling the series dominating Team Ralliart Australia Mitsubishi of Stuart Kostera and Inky Tulloch in the process.

Ricciardello dominates Morgan Park Sports Sedan - 19/8 Tony Ricciardello was totally dominant in the B&M Rocciardello Motors/Red Rooster Alfa GTV/Chev at Morgan Park last weekend. In all four track outings he was under the previous track record set last year by Darren Hossack culminating in a 1:12.6124 lap in race two.

“What a great track,” was the common theme of practice from the Radical Australia Cup competitors, many of whom were having their maiden run on the regional Queensland circuit during the fifth round of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils.

After an action packed day that saw Morgan Haber claim his first pole position of the Australian Swift Racing Series, and Allan Jarvis claim his 2nd win of the season, the nation's newest one make category headed into the final day at Morgan Park Raceway intent with excitement in mind.

Race two of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series at Eastern Creek was effectively a carbon copy of race one for pole-sitter Tony Ricciardello (Red Rooster Alfa Romeo GTV/Chev), only this time the Alfa pilot got the jump on Darren Hossack (Auto Union Deutsche Audi A4/Chev) at the start and led for the entire race.

After dominating the third round of Radical Australia Cup [RAC] at Winton last month, reigning RAC champion Peter Opie amassed just three points from his home event at Eastern Creek, after an accident in race one and a rare mechanical failure in race two left the way open for title rival Ed Singleton to take the round victory, and a strong lead in the championship chase heading into the Morgan Park final.

Adam Beechey has delivered his second V8 Commodore Cup title in two years after a dramatic and thrilling finale' to the one-make V8 championship this weekend at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in Victoria.