46 Articles on NATIONAL
[NATIONALS] A weekend of high drama
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.
Despite thick fog enveloping the Island at first light, conditions were almost perfect for the penultimate day’s competition for the final round of the 2011 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils at Phillip Island.
![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/thumb/NATIONALS-Time-for-the-title-decider_1472.jpg?cache=20111102105958)
[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.
[RADICAL] It's Singleton's crown!
“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.
[NATIONALS] Crashes and consistency on day 3
It was another fantastic round of competition at Morgan Park near Warwick in Queensland for round five of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils, with a number of return winners, and some aggressive driving were the highlights of the final day of competition.
[NATIONALS] A champion and a monster crash
The 2011 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils has crowned it's first champion for the season, with Ed Singleton amassing enough points to put the Radical Australia Cup title out of reach with one endurance race yet to run. Reigning champion Peter Opie (Radical Australia) needed to win everything for the weekend to have any kind of chance, but Singleton's consistency has put the result out of question.
[NATIONALS] The sun shines on Morgan Park
After suffering the elements during practice for the most recent rounds of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils, competitors and officials were greeted by bright sunshine and warm conditions for day one of action at Morgan Park for round five of the national motor racing championships.
[NATIONALS] Ready for Morgan Park
After a couple of cool damp events during the most recent rounds of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils, the national motor racing championship series moves to the warmer climes of Queensland for round five at Warwick’s Morgan Park Raceway on August 12-14.
![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.](http://www.321ignitionmag.com/_linkedimages/thumb/NATIONALS-Singleton-back-on-top_1445.jpg?cache=20110810134504)
[NATIONALS] Singleton back on top
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.
[NATIONALS] A weekend to remember!
A weekend to remember at Eastern Creek
Rnd#4, Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils
Eastern Creek, NSW - Sunday, July 17
The motorsport gods were kind to Eastern Creek for the final day of competition for round four of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils, on a weekend where the weather was always expected to play a part. In the end there was all manner of fire and brimstone, but none of it was falling from the sky..
First up was the Australian Formula Ford Championships who were having their debut event with the Nationals, and it was a run that Cameron Waters would not soon forget, the Linde Mygale driver winning two of the three races to control the round ahead of Nick Foster and CAMS Rising Star Trent Harrison.
Foster won the final race of the weekend after a great battle with Waters over the last few laps, but it was Waters who extended his championship lead with his maiden round win.
"I'm absolutely stoked with the result this weekend, things couldn't have gone much better and to take my first round win feels great," Waters said. "I didn't quite have the speed of Nick in the final race, but I scored plenty of championship points and extended my lead which was the aim this weekend."
Team-mate Foster returned to the podium for the first time this season and was relieved to be back at the front of the field.
"It's been a long time coming this season, but to get that first victory and then a podium for the weekend feels great. It should have happened a lot earlier in the year, but I've made some mistakes and we've had some bad luck as well, which has made things difficult," Foster said. "We have really good speed this year and to finish on the podium this weekend is proof of that, now we just need to be consistent to challenge for the title."
A solid weekend from Harrison was rewarded with third place, while teammate Jack LeBrocq failed to finish the final race with a broken fuel pump, costing him an almost certain podium after finishing second in races two and three.
"I'm really disappointed," LeBrocq said. "I had a great start in the final race and was looking forward to fighting it out for the race win, but the car just came to a stop. This weekend has given me plenty of confidence, so I'm really looking forward to the next round at Queensland Raceway."
New South Welshman Tom Williamson was fourth for the round ahead of LeBrocq and Garry Jacobson, while Adam Graham, Josh Hunter and Spectrum driver's Jesse Fenech and Shae Davies rounded out the top 10.
Despite another one-two result following race two in the final of the three outings of the Australian Saloon Car Series, Sam Milton (Nippy’s AU Falcon) has taken out the third round of the championship at Eastern Creek.
Following the surprise elevation to be declared the winner of race one after several were excluded, the South Australian followed his third in the second race with another in race three.
“You don’t want to win races due to others going out, but we have all had our share of bad luck, so things have to turn your way eventually,” he said. “It wasn’t all plain sailing for us either as we thought the car had broken a rear shock in race two. Fortunately it was just a small diff problem.”
Milton scored his maiden success over Mark Primmer in easily his best performance ever in the Dial Before You Dig Falcon AU. Primmer had to survive an inquiry into a first race incident before his sixthed place finish in the final race.
Peter Dane, also a local and Ford mounted, completed the podium with a pair of fourths on the second day of racing in his Redistrip AU. “I had a great start in race two but then lost the power steering and could do nothing about those quick guys when they came through.”
The last of three races was won by series leader Shawn Jamieson in his Bowden Homes Holden Commodore VT. Jamieson was beaten off the line by the Batteries Direct AU Falcon of race two winner Matt Lovell, but soon forged ahead.
“I had gone down in the rear a bit for that last race . . . and that was a mistake,” Jamieson said. “I tried to get away from Matt but then the tyres turned to mush and I had a fight on my hands to keep him behind me for the rest of the race.”
Fifth went to Tony Evangelou - again starting from the back of the field after coming in three kilograms underweight in the race prior. ‘Back row Joe’ as he became known, charged through to head Primmer, Harley Phelan’s Commodore, veteran Geoff Brown and Ryan Dane (AU Falcon).
Former hillclimber Dennie Rumble in the second of the Dial Before You Dig cars was tenth from the best of the older EA Falcons with Jonathan Fishburn, the series’ only fulltime lady driver Kelli Stephens (AU), Luke King in the second of the EA Falcons, young Cameron Moss (AU) and the ailing Ford of Ian Chivas.
Bevan Garioch was a casualty on the opening lap, parked near turn ten while Wayne Pattern was left stranded at turn nine in his VT with a lap to go.
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.
Hossack would yet again have to settle for second, but the Audi driver made sure it counted - setting a new lap record on lap two with a 1:29:6566…Ricciardello could only manage a 1:30:2081.
Dameon Jameson (Campbelltown Frames and Trusses) had started third in his Jaguar XKR and showed some real pace until engine dramas appeared on the last lap, relegating him a lowly eleventh handing Daniel Tamasi (Unitex Architectural Products Calibra/Chev) a podium finish.
Further down the order Geoff Whittaker (Reds Racing Service Commodore/Chev) and Chris Jackson (Fuel 2 Race Calibra/Chev) battled for the minor placings with Dean Camm (Five STar Fencing & Gates Corvette/Chev) not far behind, he and Chris Jackson having patiently picked their way through the field.
It was a race of high attrition though, with Anthony Macready (Nissan 300ZX/Chev), Glen Pro (Escort RS2000), Graham Smith (Calibra), Nick Smith (Fiat 131) and Butler all failing to finish.
The third and final race was nothing short of spectacular for Ricciardello, who started rear of grid (at his own request) citing gearbox problems but sporting a fresh set of rubber. Hossack lead Tamasi and Whittaker into the first turn before storming off into the distance.
Meanwhile, Ricciardello expertly weaved his way through the traffic to fourth position before the field had even completed a lap. By lap two the Alfa had comfortably secured second position and proceeded to set yet another new lap record - 1:29:1643.
Local racer Jameson and Tamasi engaged in a fierce battle for third, Jameson’s Jaguar muscling the Calibra of Tamasi around the circuit, but the Victorian managed to hold on for a his second podium finish for the weekend.
Again, it was action a plenty in the middle of the field with Whittaker, Fred Axisa (VY Commodore/Chev) and Simon Copping (Commodore) all battling it out.
Sadly, it was a weekend to forget for Macready and Butler, both drivers failing to finish the race, along with Camm (who suffered significant damage during the race), Jackson and McGinniss.
Ricciardello returns to Perth having extended his series lead with another round win and the new lap record under his belt, whilst Hossack returns home having taken one race win, and some valuable data on the new Dunlop slick.
"It's been a pretty good weekend," the Audi driver admitted.
"The car was fast but Tony had track position on us this weekend with pole. It was no surprise he'd worn his tyres, I saw the same thing happen last year with James [Sera]. It's one of those things, you have to manage your tyres for the whole weekend, not just a couple of races.
"Look, I had a great time. We raced nose to tail for two races, and he won. We were both driving as hard as we could, and on this occasion he took the victory. Let's see how it pans out at the next round!"
Adam Beechey’s incredible run of V8 Commodore Cup presented by TTM podium finishes has continued after edging out Matt Hayes to win round four of the series at Eastern Creek.
The Tasmanian-based Donut King Racing driver held off race one winner Hayes after a tense 14-lap battle in today’s second race to take the win and the round overall, on countback.
It was Beechey’s 10th consecutive Commodore Cup podium, stretching back to the first round of the 2010 series, and extends his lead in the title race as the series moves into the two final rounds in Victoria later this year.
It is also his second consecutive round victory after winning the recent Ashley Cooper Memorial event at Winton, last month.
“It’s a great result and a great race today,” Beechey said.
“We had a really good, clean and hard battle with Matt all race which was great fun. The car has been really good all weekend but we got the start right today and I was able to hold Matt off despite him applying a lot of pressure.
“It’s been a good weekend for our championship defence and to be able to extend the podium streak out to ten races in a row is pretty special.
“Consistency wins championships and our aim has always been to defend the title this year.”
Hayes was second, despite being tied on points with Beechey on the overall results; his rival’s win in today’s second race working against the Victorian driver in the overall podium result.
After winning yesterday’s race, Hayes applied pressure on Beechey throughout the duration of today’s race, attacking on several occasions but ultimately unable to work his way through to the lead.
Nevertheless, after scoring his first victory yesterday Hayes was pleased to be able to score what was - for all intents and purposes - a round win.
“It’s been a great weekend and I think we’re finally there,” he enthused.
Tony Bates was third overall in his sportsalive.com.au car, finishing fourth in today’s race but doing enough to secure the strong overall round result.
Bates also departs Eastern Creek as the new lap record holder, re-setting the benchmark to 1:44.9993s after Hayes lowered the existing mark yesterday.
Today’s 14-lap race featured battles through the field, Marcus Zukanovic featuring in the leading battle for the early stages before finishing a quiet third in his Action Racing Commodore.
After victory in the first of the 50-minute 'bi-duro' Radical Australia Cup races as round four of the series within the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils, James Winslow was in the box seat for a repeat in race two after qualifying Ed Singleton's MPA Projects entry on pole position for the second race.
Alongside him was Barker, with Macrow and Berryman on row two.
Winslow got a great start, as did Macrow and Berryman who charged through on Barker into turn one. Barker was soon through though and onto the tail of Winslow, with Macrow in close pursuit.
The 'pros' were getting away at one to one and a half seconds a lap, but with an extra 30 second penalty during the compulsory stop, they needed to pull away at a rate of two or more seconds a lap from Berryman who was the leading amateur ranked driver.
Racing to the pit-stops was clean, and it was Berryman who was first in, followed two laps later by Winslow to hand over to Singleton, with Barker putting in a blinder before his stop to hand over to Muston.
Despite the 30-second penalty Muston resumed in front with Berryman all over Singleton.
Whilst all this was going on, Tim Macrow brought the #1 Opie car to a stop in the mid-field with smoke pouring from the engine cover.. "It felt a bit odd from the start of the race," he admitted afterwards, "but it didn't appear to be losing too much pace to the leaders, but before it went I was starting to look for where there might be trouble, and it just lost power coming out of turn three and let go a bang as I went for the kill switch, and that was it."
As if set to the script of a dramatic play, Tim Berryman also rolled to a stop not far past the abandoned Opie car, with a complete loss of drive.
"Looks like there might be a gearbox issue," he admitted post-race, "it would start, but no drive. What can you do."
That took the pressure off Singleton, who dropped off the pace to conserve admitting that whilst competitive.. "I'm also a mathemetician.."
In the end it would be a win to Muston and Barker, more than 40 seconds clear of the Singleton/Winslow combination, with Tony Palmer an outstanding third over Trevor Gerber (Radical Australia) and Chris Medland (Radical Australia) who did an outstanding job from rear of field.
For Winslow, who was doing double duty in F3, he found the race pace comfortable, and enjoyed the experience. "Actually, I drove the car exactly the same way as I've been driving the F3 all weekend."
For Singleton, the race win puts him back into the championship lead with just three races to come.
For second placed Tony Palmer (63 points), it was a result he could only have dreamed of after dramas during Saturday's opening race. "That was a rookie mistake, passing the Safety Car too early, but I won't do it again," he laughed.
"This is not bad for a bloke who had done very little racing a couple of seasons ago, coming straight out of a track day through Radical Clubman Cup to Radical Australia Cup. Just goes to show, you have to keep it straight and mak sure you're there at the finish.
Third overall [again] was the ever consistent Simon Haggarty, who added not just another trophy to his weekend, but a sponsorship deal with new Shannons Nationals supporter Hi-Tec for his trouble, just as he rolled out of the garage for the second race.
"This is fantastic," he beamed. "Another podium and a new sponsor, all in one day, and to make it even better, I got offered a new job just as I was about to go out and qualify on Friday, so I'm very happy with the weekend."
Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car veteran Terry Wyhoon had an almost perfect weekend at Eastern Creek during round four of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils, and whilst the result put him to the top of the championship scoreboard, it was rising star Justin Garioch who stole much of today's limelight.
Courtesy of his race one win yesterday, Wyhoon (Lubrimaxx BA Falcon) sat on pole for race two, with Jim Pollicina (Poll Performance VY Commodore) alongside.
Pollicina got a lightning start, so good that he was judged to have gone before the light's had gone out, the Holden pilot bolting off the line. In the end, video proof suggested that Pollicina had made the most of a start that saw Wyhoon bog down slightly, but with a drive-through penalty the result, Pollicina's race was all but over.
Behind the front row, Chris Smerdon (Lubrimaxx BA Falcon) got a strong start, but so too Matt Hansen (Australian Custom Moulders VY Commodore), the Holden pilot firing into turn one inside Wyhoon, but he backed out despite holding track position.
"I saw him coming and moved over, but then I got a call that he'd gone," Wyhoon admitted afterwards, "so I moved across and went for broke."
Chris Smerdon ultimately inherited third, and became very wide as he battled to find the perfect setup for his ex-SBR Falcon. As 'team-mate' Wyhoon bolted away with Hansen in tow, Smerdon kept fastest qualifier Justin Garioch (Valley Longwall International/Hi-Tec Oils BA Falcon) at bay, but ultimately the young Falcon pilot got through leaving younger brother Nathan to battle with the experienced former champion behind.
Matt Hansen's solid run too was thwarted late in the race after miss-shifting to top hear as he ran onto the front straight allowing Smerdon and Nathan Garioch (Valley Longwall International/Hi-Tec Oils BA Falcon) through.
Once clear of Smerdon, Justin Garioch set out after Wyhoon, and hauled the Victorian in, crossing the line three seconds in arrears, with Smerdon hanging on for third.
"That was good," Wyhoon grinned post-race, "we've just got to keep it up."
And keep it up he did, storming away from the start of race three to lead comfortably into turn two as Smerdon again jumped into second, forcing Justin Garioch back to third and defending from Hansen.
Justin Garioch was clearly the fastest car on the circuit and as Wyhoon again jumped away, Garioch was forced to push Smerdon as hard as he could to find a way past, looking up the inside on the run into turn two, but Smerdon was wise to the move, but ultimately Garioch prevailed taking the veteran up the inside at turn one on lap three.
He then set out in pursuit of Wyhoon and hauled the former NASCAR champion in, catching him but unable to find a way past.
His final run at the lead was out of the final corner, the Queenslander pulling alongside Wyhoon but unable to get past before the line - the difference at the line - nine one hundredths of a second..
"I really needed that," Wyhoon admitted post-race, unaware that the result had given him the championship lead (by one point over Smerdon), "but full credit to Justin, if Chris hadn't held him up, I'm not sure I could have kept him behind me.
Justin Garioch was the star of the weekend with second, his best result of the season, with Smerdon recovering for third.
Coming into the round Scott Loadsman looked to be a threat to the Falcon drivers title aspirations, but he suffered dramas with an off on the opening lap of race one, recovered for race two, but stalled on the grid for race three. "I haven't done that before," he admitted post-race. "That messed the weekend up completely because I was always coming from rear of field, very disappointing.."
John Goodacre has taken outright round victory in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia’s Eastern Creek round, with Terry Knight victorious in the 996 Cup Class.
Goodacre entered the Eastern Creek round with a newly acquired Porsche GT3 Cup (Type 997) car after upgrading from his older model 996 Porsche after the Mallala round. The car swap proved fruitful, claiming one race win and the outright round victory in his first appearance in the 997 Cup Class.
Goodacre started Sunday with a win in Race 2, where he managed to pull away from the field before a mid-race safety car period. On the restart, he was challenged by Phil Morriss for the lead but managed to remain at the front and achieve his first GT3 Cup Challenge outright race win.
Jeff Bobik finished third for Race 2, ahead of Roger Lago, Jon Trende, Jan Jinadasa and John Morriss, Brad Rankin and Peter Boylan in ninth; with Paul Bolinowsky the first 996 Cup Class driver in the placings in tenth.
Bobik went on to take the Race 3 victory; the third different race winner in as many races, finishing ahead of Goodacre, Lago, Phil Morriss, Trende, Rankin, John Morriss and Jinadasa in eighth.
Goodacre’s second place in Race 3 was enough to secure the round victory in his first appearance in the 997 Cup Class.
“It was great to move up into the 997 and actually win the round. It’s an unbelievable effort from everyone,” said Goodacre.
“I didn’t think I’d be so quick straight away in the 997. We’d only had one practice in the car, so I thought I’d only make the top six. The win was a lot better result than I thought I would get.
“My aim is to get more round wins down the track. The more I drive the car, the more I get used to it. Hopefully I get quicker in it and improve the car throughout the season.”
Knight finished the weekend with two class race wins from the three races, claiming his second consecutive round win in the 996 Cup Class.
“I’m thrilled to bits. My team have done a great job to get the car ready for me for the round,” said Knight.
“It's always great to get another 996 Cup Class round win. It was also rewarding to be competing among the 997 drivers on a track that suits their style of race car."
Lago remains in the championship lead after the Eastern Creek round, ahead of Bobik, Goodacre, Morriss and Knight.
Mat Sofi continued on his winning way during the third round of the F3 Australian Drivers Championship.
The local driver won race two before dominating the feature race to take his first ever clean-sweep of F3 races in a weekend. In a near faultless drive, the Astuti Motorsport driver won the feature race by eight seconds in the most crushing weekend of his racing career.
James Winslow (R-Tek) finished second and Chris Gilmour (Gilmour Racing) third to continue their close battle for the outright championship, however neither could catch the inspired Sofi and his Mugen Honda-powered Astuti Dallara this weekend.
Sofi scored every point available bar two this weekend - snaring a pair of fastest laps and the new lap record – he now has four career victories and 16 podiums to his credit.
“It was one of those weekends where it all came together,” an elated Sofi said.
“I have to send huge thanks to the Sam (Astuti) and the team because they gave me a brilliant car that was super consistent and great to drive, not to mention really quick!
"Believe me, I was driving as hard as I could and it was super, super tough all weekend."
Winslow struggled in today’s final race with a gear shifting issue that made it difficult to select second, third and fourth gears, but preserved to finish second in the feature race and extend his championship lead to a not-yet comfortable 19 points.
Gilmour’s third moved him to a clear second in the championship as the series approaches its half way point, the Queenslander continually edging his Gilmour Racing F307 closer to the front of the field and his first F3 win in seven years.
“Every round we’re getting closer and closer. If you take Sofi out of the equation this weekend we were bang on Winslow’s pace most of this weekend and that’s where we need to be,” Gilmour said.
John Magro and Bryce Moore finished just of the podium and are now separated by just two points in the championship, West Aussie Moore just ahead of his Queensland counterpart in third and fourth, respectively.
The battle for the Forpark Australia F3 Scholarship rose up a notch, National class contenders Ben Gersekowski (BF Racing) and Steel Guiliana (R-Tek Motorsport) separated by literally millimetres in their battle today.
After Gersekowski won race one yesterday, Guiliana returned serve in today’s second sprint race to win by just one-tenth of a second in a race long battle that saw the pair swapping positions regularly.
Gersekowski bounced back in the finale and, despite being pushed hard, won relatively comfortably in the end to take the lead in the class standings – with his closest rival just four points behind.
Tasmanian Josh Burdon was third overall, bouncing back with race-leading pace today after a disappointing crash yesterday, whilst Roman Krumins edged closer to the class leaders and was fourth.
The Australian Swift Racing Series completed their third ever meeting with a superb display of close, and an all new race winner for the series to add up to an overall success for the one make category.
A first lap clash between title favourites McCutcheon and Dixon saw contact between the two, forcing Dixon to retire.
This however would allow the excitement to continue as Allan Jarvis and Morgan Haber progressed on, which saw multiple lead changes, however Jarvis managed to fend off the hard charging 17 year old to claim his maiden race win, with Haber second and McCutcheon third to also take out the round win.
Warren McIlveen, Luke May and Jeff Reed won the opening round of the 2011 Australian Superkart championship after a dramatic weekend at the Eastern Creek Raceway round of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships.
McIlveen (Stockman Superkarts/Mac's Marine Stockman-Honda) did not win any of the four races held throughout the four-day race meeting, but was the only driver to finish in the top four in each of the four races, allowing the Tamworth based six-time 250 International class champion to win yet another national championship event.
Luke May clean swept the 250 National class in the STR Truck Bodies/Dunlop Kartsport Anderson-Honda, claiming a new lap record as he went. Jeff Reed (Stockman Superkarts Stockman-Honda) asserted his dominance over the 125cc division after Race 1 winner Tim Philp broke down in the second race.
Action from the third round of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils from Eastern Creek can be caught on SBS Speedweek and SPEED TV’s Inside Speed in coming weeks.
[NATIONALS] Hi-Tec support for the Nationals
The Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships continues to expand and evolve with each passing season, so it's no real surprise that immediately prior to the Eastern Creek round of the 2011 series, that they would reveal an exciting new association that will benefit the Nationals for seasons to come.
[RADICAL] Opie dominates at Winton
There’s really no other way to describe the final outcome of a weekend where yet again, the bulk of the field had not turned a wheel in anger immediately prior to arriving at the northern Victorian regional circuit for round three of the Shannons Nationals.
[RADICAL] Radical head to the Island
After an impressive season opener at Wakefield Park in early April as part of the 2011 Shannons Nationals, Radical Australia Cup heads to motorsport mecca for round two of their five round championship, at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.
[V8TC] Coming of age at Wakefield
It was a sight to behold. Twenty Kumho Tyres supported V8 Touring Cars sitting on the grid for the opening qualifier for round one of the 2011 Shannons Nationals at Wakefield Park. It had taken three seasons, but finally the job was done.
[RADICAL] Impressive Nationals debut
The Shannons Nationals turned 50 on the weekend, Wakefield Park’s 2011 season opener signalling the 50th event in six years at the very venue where it all started in March 2006. A lot has changed over the years, and 2011 signalled yet another forward step for the series with the introduction of Radical Australia Cup for the first time.
[V8TC] Kumho moves to V8 Touring Cars
Kumho Tyres Australia has announced that they will partner one of the emerging categories of Australian motorsport, becoming the naming rights sponsor of the V8 Touring Car Series, one of the flagship categories of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships.
[NATIONAL] 2011 calendar now set
After initially setting their competition dates for the new season well prior to the end of 2010 calendar year, Shannons Nationals Series Director Rob Curkpatrick was forced to make a last minute adjustment to work around a change in the V8 Supercar schedule.
[6-HOUR] Start delayed at Eastern Creek
[6-HOUR] Holt on top - Class D
The heavily favoured Garry Holt/Ryan McLeod Holden Astra scored an easy Class D pole position for the Dial Before You Dig Australian Six Hour, despite some confusion as to the car’s eventual driver line-up.
[6-HOUR] Mazda vs BMW - Class C
The Grand Prix Mazda team secured their favouritism for Class C honours in the Dial Before You Dig Australian Six Hour, after clocking the fastest time in qualifying by over eight tenths of a second.
[6-HOUR] Tough day for Aussies - Class B
None of the four Australian built cars in the field will start the race from inside the top ten, after the two favoured HSV and FPV cars ran into problems during qualifying.
Two Evolution IX model Mitsubishi Lancers will start from the second row of the grid, with the David Wall/Des Wall/Trevor Symonds East Holiday Parks entry edging out the Tony Quinn/Klark Quinn VIP Petfoods machine in qualifying.
[6-HOUR] Luff's conservative view..
Having scored pole-position for the Dial Before You Dig Australian Six Hour, Warren Luff says that he will drive conservatively during the opening stint of the race.
[6-HOUR] Economy crucial to success
While much of the pre-race talk has surrounded tyre wear, fuel consumption still looms as a crucial factor ahead of the inaugural Dial Before You Dig Australian Six Hour.
Stuart Kostera and Warren Luff have continued their dominating form at Eastern Creek Raceway today, scoring pole for the Dial Before You Dig Australian Six Hour.
[6-HOUR] Heaphy cautious on tyre wear
“Everything’s going okay, but I’m a little concerned about tyre wear,” Team Mitsubishi Ralliart boss Allan Heaphy admitted post-qualifying at the inaugural Eastern Creek Australian Six Hour.
[6-HOUR] Disappointment for Osborne
After a competitive opening practice day at Eastern Creek, and a long night to sort their twin Mazda 3 MPS Class C cars, Colin Osborne was confident they were as well prepared as they could have hoped heading into qualifying.
[6-HOUR] Tough day for Renault
Ian Thorp’s R-Sport team has endured a tough weekend with a niggling third gear issue with the Clio 197s. “They don’t race with the standard production box in Europe,” he shrugged post-qualifying.
[6-HOUR] Bowe upbeat after practice
2010 Bathurst 12 Hour winner John Bowe was in an upbeat mood on Friday afternoon at Eastern Creek, following practice for the Dial Before You Dig Australian Six Hour.
[6-HOUR] Walls flying under radar at EC
Flying under the radar during Friday practice for the Dial Before You Dig Australian Six Hour at Eastern Creek was Alan East Motorsport.
[6-HOUR] Luff/Kostera top practice
Team Mitsubishi Ralliart duo Stuart Kostera and Warren Luff topped Friday’s private practice ahead of this weekend’s Dial Before You Dig Australian Six Hour, cementing their favouritism for the race.
[NATIONAL] Sports Sedans plan big 2010
The Kerrick Sports Sedan National Series has announced its plans for 2010, including a new class within the series and a five-round calendar with the Shannons Nationals.
[V8UTES] Letcher destroys ute at Bathurst
V8 Ute driver Allan Letcher has been cleared from the medical centre after his car rolled six times into the infamous Bathurst Chase following a race one incident with V8 Ute drivers Charlie Kovacs and Ben Kavich at Mount Panorama, Bathurst today, Saturday, 10th October.
[NATIONALS] Domaschenz brothers storm Winton
Geelong brothers Jason and Craig Domaschenz took out the Commodore Cup Endurance Challenge while the Formula 3 success was shared, in Round Five of the Shannons Nationals at Winton Motor Raceway.
[SSEDAN] Ricciardello wins at Mallala
Tony Ricciardello won the Clem Smith Cup for Sports Sedans in Round Four of the Shannons Nationals at Mallala Motor Sport Park, where South Australian drivers starred.
[NATIONAL] Provisionally it's Jamieson
The opening round of the 2009 Australian Saloon Car Championship series remains provisional after Holden Commodore driver Shawn Jamieson from South Australia led both races from lights out to flag fall.
[CAMS] Future secure for Australian..
The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) is delighted that an arrangement for the Australian Manufacturers Championship has been established for 2009, with CAMS retaining the overarching
responsibility for the category, particularly the sporting and technical regulations.
[CAMS] CAMS lowers minimum age..
The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) has approved a change to the minimum licensing age requirement for circuit racing in Australia from 16 to 14 years, creating a smoother pathway for up-and-coming young drivers.
[NATIONALS] Nationals add Morgan Park..
The Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships will visit Queensland's Morgan Park Raceway for the first time in 2009, following a change to this year's schedule.
[CAMS] Shannons Nationals 2009 calendar
For the first time, the Shannons Nationals will contest its 10 rounds at 10 different circuits in 2009.
As the second-tier series in Australian motorsport continues to grow, the calendar for its fourth season has been announced, with Wakefield Park and Queensland Raceway returning to the program and the series lining up for its first visit to Winton Motor Raceway.
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[AMC] Lauren Gray takes out Aust..
[MINI] McFadyen inaugural MINI champion
