Shannons Nationals Season Opener This Weekend! 3/03/2010 at 6:31:56 AM The Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships is kicking off their 2010 season and celebrating a host of milestones this weekend at Goulburn’s Wakefield Park. Wakefield Park marks the 40th Shannons Nationals round, as well as a celebration of five years on the national circuit for the rapidly growing motorsport series. Series Director Rob Curkpatrick is looking forward to how the season opener will shape up. “With the Formula 3s, Commodore Cup and the Sports Sedans competing this weekend as well as the Mazda MX-5’s, we’ve got a really strong grid that will guarantee plenty of quality racing action,” he said. “This weekend is an indication of what’s to come for the Nationals this year - we’ve got new one-off categories such as the Mazda MX-5’s signing up to compete at single rounds across the year, as well as new races including the inaugural Australian 6 Hour Endurance race at Eastern Creek,” he added. With enhanced multimedia coverage this year along with a new website, the Shannons Nationals is more accessible than ever before. Young drivers will be out to prove their talent this weekend in Australian’s fastest racing cars, the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship. In one of the most diverse F3 fields ever, drivers from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and China will do battle against young Australian drivers in the fight for the CAMS Gold Star, one of the most prestigious prizes in Australian motorsport. Talented youngster Ben Barker from the UK is looking to become the third straight British driver to win the coveted CAMS Gold Star, but he will be up against strong opposition from China’s Zhang Shan Qi, Ben Crighton and Mitchell Evans from New Zealand and the 2009 F3 Rookie of the Year, Tom Tweedie from NSW. This weekend will also be the first round of a big 2010 season for the Commodore Cup, which is welcoming new drivers and series commentator, David Conole, along with old favourites making a return to the grid. Axent Racing is returning to the Commodore Cup for the first time in two years, with Geoff Fontaine and rookie Garth Duffy behind the wheels of the two-car team. Duffy and Fontaine will face tough competition against a talented entry list including fellow Commodore Cup rookie Adam Beechey and 2009 runner-up Tony Bates, who is looking to go one place better this year. The Commodore Cup is also trialling a new grid format at Wakefield Park, whereby the grid for the final race will be determined by the fastest lap times, not finishing times, in the previous race. David Stevenson, Commodore Cup series manager, is excited about the upcoming grid trial. “This new grid format will mix things up a bit and create more competition throughout the weekend… It is only a one-off trial at Wakefield Park at the moment, but hopefully we will be able to implement it at future rounds this season.” The Kerrick Sports Sedans are also gearing up for a big first round with two new classes, Heavy Metal and S2, debuting at Wakefield Park and with 25 confirmed entries, it is the largest opening to a Sports Sedans season ever. Also new to the Sports Sedans schedule in 2010 is the PPG Gearbox Dash for Cash – open to the top six drivers from qualifying, the Dash for Cash utilises a four lap, reverse grid, single-file start with prize-money being awarded to the first three drivers to cross the finish line. On-track action starts at 10am on Saturday 6 March, with three races on Saturday afternoon before a full program of racing from 10am on Sunday. Tickets for the bumper weekend of racing are just $15 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday, while a weekend pass is available for $35 and kids under 15 are free. For more information about the 2010 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships season opener, visit www.thenationals.com.au or www.wakefieldpark.com.au.