[NATIONALS] Time for the title decider..
![After seven rounds in seven months across four states, the 2011 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils will reach its conclusion this weekend [November 4-6] with the crowning of a number of 2011 champions at Phillip Island.](http://www.321ignitionmag.com/_linkedimages/NATIONALS-Time-for-the-title-decider_1472.jpg?cache=20111102105958)
It's time for the title decider..
Preview: Rnd#7 - 2011 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils
Phillip Island, VIC - November 4-6
After seven rounds in seven months across four states, the 2011 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils will reach its conclusion this weekend [November 4-6] with the crowning of a number of 2011 champions at Phillip Island.
It’s been a big year for Australia’s leading circuit racing series, a year which saw the introduction of a range of new categories [Radical Australia Cup, Swift Racing Australia, Formula Ford], the series first ever four day event at Eastern Creek, and the announcement mid-season of a new presenting sponsor with Hi-Tec Oils joining Shannons as a series supporter.
On track though has been where the bulk of the action has taken place, and it’s here that the series has continued to flourish. Heading into the final round there are still a number of titles that are yet to be decided.
In Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia, reigning title holder Roger Lago (Falcon Property Group Type 997) looks like he will go back-to-back after continuing to impress this season, even against the might of Matt Kingsley, Jeff Bobik, Jon Trende, the Morris brothers and John Goodacre. As was the case 12 months ago, 2009 champion and pre-season favourite Kingsley has suffered a litany of dramas, not the least being a car destroying accident at Mallala [he was the innocent party] which all but wrecked his title aspirations.
Despite that Lago has been impressive all season, withstanding the onslaught from his aforementioned foes to be comfortably clear in the points heading to the final.
And whilst you’d be hard pressed to bet against Lago going back-to-back, the same cannot be said for the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car field with three drivers in with a shot at series victory.
Inaugural series champion Chris Smerdon (BA Falcon), crowd favourite Terry Wyhoon (BA Falcon) and Holden pilot Scott Loadsman (VY Commodore) are separated by just 49 points heading to Phillip Island, and with 133 points on offer, the title is far from decided.
Local driver Wyhoon perhaps starts the final round as favourite, but the Touring Car veteran has not been the luckiest of drivers this season, and against the might of Smerdon and his ex-Courtney Stone Brothers Racing Falcon (still engineered to some degree by SBR), the battle is expected to go down to the wire. Don’t discount Loadsman either, the Holden pilot is happy to go toe-to-toe with anyone, so if it comes down to a street fight, the Lithgow native might just have the goods.
Throw in the returning Justin Garioch (BA Falcon) who pushed Wyhoon all the way at Eastern Creek in his last outing, and Mallala sensation Michael Bartsch in a later model BA Falcon, and you have an instant recipe for excitement with no clear winner - just what the doctor (and the promoters) ordered..
At Morgan Park two and a half months ago, Tony Ricciardello (Alfa Romeo/Chev) wrapped up his seventh national Kerrick Sports Sedan title, in part because of a lack of serious competition. Reigning champions Dean Randle (SAAB/Chev) and James Sera have been out all season, whilst former champion Darren Hossack (Audi/Chev) mounted a limited campaign, but both will be back at Phillip Island to battle the West Australian and the sparks are set to fly.
Hossack will be keen to repay Ricciardello for the defeat the Alfa pilot dished out at Eastern Creek earlier in the year, the Victorian admitting that Phillip Island’s flowing layout better suits the John Gourlay owned Audi. For Randle it will be his first run behind the wheel of the car since the start of the 2010 Nationals, and whilst three of the big players in the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series will attract plenty of attention, so too will Production Car regular Lauren Gray behind the wheel of Garry Roberts’ LC Torana.
This will be Gray’s first foray into the national Sports Sedan series, and already in testing the former F3 pilot has shown that she has plenty of speed, which should set up an interesting battle with S2 Class champion Damian Johnson.
Typically, when the Commodore Cup National Series comes to Victoria, the field is full of established and former stars, and this weekend will be no different especially with the title on the line..
Reigning champion Adam Beechey (Donut King) holds a single point lead heading into the final three races of the year, and the Tasmanian has already shown that he can weather any storm, so will not be easily dethroned, but with rising star Matthew Hayes (San Marco Italian Restaurant) winning almost at will over recent rounds, there will be plenty of pressure. Mathematically former champion Marcus Zukanovic (Action Racing), Ross McGregor (Southern Star Windows) and Tony Bates (Alternative Freight Services) are still in the equation, and with Jason Domaschenz, Nick Parker and the Tancredi brothers back in the field, the result is by no means a sure thing..
Despite missing every round to date, 2010 champion Tim Rowse (Rowse Motors) will return to the Saloon Car field at Phillip Island to do battle with newly crowned champion Matt Lovell (Batteries Direct). Rowse will be joined by fellow Commodore pilot Simon Tabinor (Eurostar Diesel) as the duo battle Falcon stars Lovell, Sam Milton (Nippy’s), Andrew O’Connell (O’Connells Tyres) and Andrew Nowland (Coffey Ford).
And whilst the championship battle at the top of the points table is over, the minor placings are yet to be determined with Geoff Brown (AU Falcon), and Mark Primmer (AU Falcon) separated by just two points in the battle for third, with Ian Chivas (AU Falcon) and outgoing V8 Touring Car Champion Tony Evangelou (VT Commodore) just 30 points behind..
The Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship comes into its penultimate round at Phillip Island with Queenslander Chris Gilmour looking to extend his points lead over former champion James Winslow [2008].
Unfortunately for Gilmour, Winslow is the more favoured driver at Phillip Island having taken victory there in the past, whilst Gilmour’s ‘track’ record on the fast, flowing Victorian circuit has not been as good as he would have liked, but with a maximum of just 47 points on offer, Gilmour could just rely on consistency to keep him in front heading into the series final at Symmons Plains just a week later.
It’s not just the Gold Star class either that is undecided heading into the final rounds of the season, the coveted Forpark Australian Scholarship with it’s $50K first prize is up for grabs in the National class where former karting star Steel Guiliana is battling R-tek team-mate Ben Gersekowski for title honours, and with 17 points in that battle, it’s by no means a sure thing either!
In 2010, multiple Australian champion - in just about anything he cares to campaign – Darren Hossack prevailed during a tough two round national Superkart title stoush with multiple Australian champion Warren McIlveen. Initially it looked as if McIlveen had the numbers, but on count back, Hossack took the #1 plate. Step forward 12 months and the situation is almost identical with the two ‘veterans’ of the sport at it again in the 250 International class, with six-time champion McIlveen holding a three point advantage over Hossack ahead of the four sprint races at Phillip Island during the championship decider.
Whilst the battle at the front in 250 International will provide plenty of interest (as will the addition to the field of newly crowned Australian Manufacturers Champion Stuart Kostera), there are also titles on the line in 250 National and 125s.
In 250 National, former CIK International karting champion and 2010 runner-up Luke May holds a strong 14 point lead over Dalton Rowell, the two will provide a focal point up front as will returning reigning champion Martin Latta and Matthew Palmer.
In the 125cc single-cylinder class the battle for the title will be tight between Jeff Reed and Paul Campbell, whilst further back the final podium position will be a closely fought affair between Mehmet Sunani, Rodd Conn, Anthony Lappas, Tim Philp and Drene Jamieson.
Cars will be on track from 9:00am Friday morning (November 4), with qualifying and the weekend’s first races underway on Saturday through to the events conclusion on Sunday afternoon when the 2011 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils series champions will be crowned.
Rnd#7 2011 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils
Phillip Island - Event schedule
Saturday, November 5, 2011
9:05 P1 Commodore Cup National Series (15 mins)
9:25 P1 Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series (15 mins)
9:45 P1 Australian Superkart Championships (15 mins)
10:05 P1 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge (20 mins)
10:30 Q1 Australian Saloon Car Series (15 mins)
10:35 Q1 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship (20 mins)
11:15 P2 Commodore Cup National Series (15 mins)
11:35 Q1 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series (15 mins)
12:00 Q1 Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series (20 mins)
12:25 Q1 Australian Superkart Championships (15 mins)
12:45 Q1 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge (20 mins)
13:10 Q2 Australian Saloon Car Series (20 mins)
13:35 Q1 Commodore Cup National Series (20 mins)
14:00 TA Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series (20 mins)
14:25 Q1 Australian Superkart Championships (20 mins)
14:50 Q2 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series (15 mins)
15:25 R1 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship (10 laps)
15:55 R1 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge (10 laps)
16:20 R1 Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series (9 laps)
16:40 R1 Australian Superkart Championships (8 laps)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
9:10 R1 Commodore Cup National Series (8 laps)
9:35 R1 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series (9 laps)
10:00 R2 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge (10 laps)
10:25 R1 Australian Saloon Car Series (8 laps)
10:50 R2 Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series (9 laps)
11:15 R2 Australian Superkart Championships (8 laps)
11:40 R2 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship (10 laps)
12:10 R2 Commodore Cup National Series (8 laps)
12:35 R2 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series (9 laps)
13:00 R3 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge (10 laps)
13:30 R2 Australian Saloon Car Series (8 laps)
13:55 R3 Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series (9 laps)
14:20 R3 Australian Superkart Championships (8 laps)
14:45 R3 Commodore Cup National Series (8 laps)
15:10 R3 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series (9 laps)
15:35 R3 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship (12 laps)
16:10 R4 Australian Superkart Championships (8 laps)
16:35 R3 Australian Saloon Car Series (8 laps)
2011 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils
Rnd#1 - Wakefield Park, Goulburn, NSW (April 1-3)
Rnd#2 - Mallala, Adelaide, SA (May 13-15)
Rnd#3 - Winton, Benalla, VIC (June 24-26)
Rnd#4 - Eastern Creek, Sydney, NSW (July 14-17)
Rnd#5 - Morgan Park, Warwick, QLD (August 12-14)
Rnd#6 - Sandown, Melbourne, VIC (September 9-11)
Rnd#7 - Phillip Island, VIC (November 4-6)
Gates open 8:00am (Friday/(Saturday/Sunday). Tickets; $15 (Saturday), $30 (Sunday), $35 (2-day pass). Concession $10 (Saturday), $20 (Sunday).
SHANNONS NATIONALS presented by HI-TEC OILS
The Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships was formed in 2006 as a partnership between racing categories, circuit promoters and the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS).
Providing a regular and stable home for a wide variety of national-level motor racing categories, the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils combines a mixture of touring car, sports car and open-wheel competition.
Events deliver value-for-money entertainment for motorsport fans, with non-stop quality racing and affordable admission prices, whilst spectators can also get up-close with the cars and speak to the drivers in the easily-accessible pit paddocks.
In 2011, the seven-round championship will visit seven different circuits in four states whilst for 2012, the series will expand again to nine rounds across four states, starting in March, and ending in late November.
Shannons Insurance [http://www.shannons.com.au] continues their valued and enthusiastic support of the series in 2011 and are joined by presenting partners Hi-Tec Oils [http://www.hi-tecoils.com.au] enabling the Nationals to continue to grow in its sixth year.
Racing from the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils will be broadcast around Australia in 2011 free-to-air on SBS Speedweek and on Foxtel's new dedicated 24/7 motorsport Channel SPEED (Inside Speed and a dedicated Nationals program each round), it can also be viewed from the event via live-streaming at http://www.itvlive.com.au
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