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10-07-07, 10:34 AM
Momentum Builds for Shannons Nationals in Eastern Creek Return
The Shannons Nationals head to Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway for the first time in 2007, consistently building momentum for the second half of the season.
This weekend’s round at the 3.9 km circuit some 50-minutes from the Sydney CBD marks the half way point of the season for the Shannons Nationals and will also highlight positive signs of growth from many of the categories.
A bumper program featuring the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, The Supaloc Australian Saloon Car Championship, the Shannons Australian Production Car Championship, the Empire Trade Exchange Commodore Cup, Kerrick Industrial Sports Sedans and the SX Projects Australian Superkarts will give Sydney race fans a full program of racing to support this weekend.
Forward momentum from the Production Cars and Sports Sedans in particular highlight the entry lists submitted for this weekend.
The Shannons Australian Production Car Championship grows in strength as the season progresses with a solid 20-car field entered, all of them looking to usurp the two leading drivers of the year in Garry Holt (BMW 335i Turbo) and Leigh Mertens (HSV Club sport).
The return of several Bathurst 12 hour cars (The Enduro was the first round of the Shannons APCC) ensures that Variety will be a byword in the production pits this weekend – nine manufacturers providing over 12 different models of cars in the four-class field.
The Kerrick Sports Sedans, featuring wild winged cars powered in majority by six-litre Chev V8s, are amongst the quickest closed-cars in the country and an expanded field is ready to hunt down Tony Ricciardello on a track that last year provided some of the best Sports Sedan races since the series joined the Shannons Nationals.
Defending champ Dean Randle (Saab 9-3) and Des Wall (Chev Corvette) hunted down Ricciardello’s Alfa in last year’s final race at Eastern Creek and assumed the lead – after a heady dice – with just two laps remaining.
All three are back this weekend, whilst hotshot Daniel Tamasi (Calibra V8) and series stalwart Phil Crompton (Mustang Trans Am) are back – Tamasi with some upgrades to his V8 powered coupe.
Eastern Creek will be a crucial hit out for the wings and slicks cars of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, who will hold their fifth round of the year at the circuit where their championship started in February.
Four drivers are split by just nine points half way though the most competitive year in Australian Formula 3 history and Eastern Creek will see some looking for revenge after a wild round at Mallala just a fortnight ago.
A controversial coming together between Tim Macrow and Leanne Tander created a war of words following the first race whilst James Winslow held on to record a stunning win. With Macrow taking the second race the championship is evenly balanced with one slip-up all that is needed to totally swap the order around.
In the Supaloc Saloon cars Bruce Heinrich – without a win prior to the round at Mallala last week – will be looking to use Eastern Creek as a further launching pad towards championship success but there will be plenty of people out to stop him.
The circuit was the scene of one of the great Saloon Car races last season, Kris Walton and Scott Nicholas going head to head for the podium in the final race of the year.
After two wild rounds at Mallala and Queensland before it, 28 Saloon Cars will line up at Eastern Creek to resume the traditional Ford – Holden rivalry.
After a thrilling Mallala event where Brett Holdsworth took his first Empire Trade exchange Commodore Cup Series round win, 20 of the 4.2-liter powered Holdens will line up in Sydney to resume hostilities.
Holdsworth, Daniel Richert and Geoff Emery will look to pick up where they left off in Adelaide, however multiple champ Emery will be keen to keep his Commodore out of the wall after the amazing last-lap incident that saw him crash heavily just before crossing the line in race two.
And whilst all the ‘car categories’ have nominated strong grids for the weekend’s program, the Superkart Nationals – with some 49 entries – may well steal the show.
It’s the final round of the Australian Superkart Championship and up to four drivers have a chance at winning – but life will be made extremely tough given the size and depth of the field.
2002 Champion Sam Zavaglia leads the standings by just four points but with experienced hands Warren McIlveen, Gary Pegararo and Carlo Chermaz right behind the title looks to go down to the final race.
18 races held over July 14 & 15 will make up round five of the Shannons Nationals.
Entry is free on Saturday whilst admission Sunday is just $20 for Adults, $15 for Concession with kids under 13 admitted for free.
A full event program and entry list information is available from the round page on the official Shannons Nationals website – www.thenationals.com.au (http://www.thenationals.com.au/)
The Shannons Nationals head to Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway for the first time in 2007, consistently building momentum for the second half of the season.
This weekend’s round at the 3.9 km circuit some 50-minutes from the Sydney CBD marks the half way point of the season for the Shannons Nationals and will also highlight positive signs of growth from many of the categories.
A bumper program featuring the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, The Supaloc Australian Saloon Car Championship, the Shannons Australian Production Car Championship, the Empire Trade Exchange Commodore Cup, Kerrick Industrial Sports Sedans and the SX Projects Australian Superkarts will give Sydney race fans a full program of racing to support this weekend.
Forward momentum from the Production Cars and Sports Sedans in particular highlight the entry lists submitted for this weekend.
The Shannons Australian Production Car Championship grows in strength as the season progresses with a solid 20-car field entered, all of them looking to usurp the two leading drivers of the year in Garry Holt (BMW 335i Turbo) and Leigh Mertens (HSV Club sport).
The return of several Bathurst 12 hour cars (The Enduro was the first round of the Shannons APCC) ensures that Variety will be a byword in the production pits this weekend – nine manufacturers providing over 12 different models of cars in the four-class field.
The Kerrick Sports Sedans, featuring wild winged cars powered in majority by six-litre Chev V8s, are amongst the quickest closed-cars in the country and an expanded field is ready to hunt down Tony Ricciardello on a track that last year provided some of the best Sports Sedan races since the series joined the Shannons Nationals.
Defending champ Dean Randle (Saab 9-3) and Des Wall (Chev Corvette) hunted down Ricciardello’s Alfa in last year’s final race at Eastern Creek and assumed the lead – after a heady dice – with just two laps remaining.
All three are back this weekend, whilst hotshot Daniel Tamasi (Calibra V8) and series stalwart Phil Crompton (Mustang Trans Am) are back – Tamasi with some upgrades to his V8 powered coupe.
Eastern Creek will be a crucial hit out for the wings and slicks cars of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, who will hold their fifth round of the year at the circuit where their championship started in February.
Four drivers are split by just nine points half way though the most competitive year in Australian Formula 3 history and Eastern Creek will see some looking for revenge after a wild round at Mallala just a fortnight ago.
A controversial coming together between Tim Macrow and Leanne Tander created a war of words following the first race whilst James Winslow held on to record a stunning win. With Macrow taking the second race the championship is evenly balanced with one slip-up all that is needed to totally swap the order around.
In the Supaloc Saloon cars Bruce Heinrich – without a win prior to the round at Mallala last week – will be looking to use Eastern Creek as a further launching pad towards championship success but there will be plenty of people out to stop him.
The circuit was the scene of one of the great Saloon Car races last season, Kris Walton and Scott Nicholas going head to head for the podium in the final race of the year.
After two wild rounds at Mallala and Queensland before it, 28 Saloon Cars will line up at Eastern Creek to resume the traditional Ford – Holden rivalry.
After a thrilling Mallala event where Brett Holdsworth took his first Empire Trade exchange Commodore Cup Series round win, 20 of the 4.2-liter powered Holdens will line up in Sydney to resume hostilities.
Holdsworth, Daniel Richert and Geoff Emery will look to pick up where they left off in Adelaide, however multiple champ Emery will be keen to keep his Commodore out of the wall after the amazing last-lap incident that saw him crash heavily just before crossing the line in race two.
And whilst all the ‘car categories’ have nominated strong grids for the weekend’s program, the Superkart Nationals – with some 49 entries – may well steal the show.
It’s the final round of the Australian Superkart Championship and up to four drivers have a chance at winning – but life will be made extremely tough given the size and depth of the field.
2002 Champion Sam Zavaglia leads the standings by just four points but with experienced hands Warren McIlveen, Gary Pegararo and Carlo Chermaz right behind the title looks to go down to the final race.
18 races held over July 14 & 15 will make up round five of the Shannons Nationals.
Entry is free on Saturday whilst admission Sunday is just $20 for Adults, $15 for Concession with kids under 13 admitted for free.
A full event program and entry list information is available from the round page on the official Shannons Nationals website – www.thenationals.com.au (http://www.thenationals.com.au/)