OzRacingWrap

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.

“We are very proud of what we can offer competitors and fans around Australia in 2012,” said Shannons Nationals series director Rob Curkpatrick. 

“It is a challenge to fit everyone in and give them what they request, but the end result is a packed schedule and nine very exciting rounds of the Shannons Nationals in 2012. Our ‘core’ categories are looking stronger than ever whilst the addition of Australian GT and Touring Car Masters really adds to the package at several rounds this year.

“There are several rounds scheduled where we are still working on the program and on building their status, including a unique event to be held as part of the Wakefield Park round in October. The package overall is quite strong but we are continuing to work with our partners, the promoters and the categories to improve and grow the series.”  

The schedule announced today includes four rounds of the Australian Manufacturers Championship that include a ‘double’ slot in the program – meaning longer distance races that have become a norm for Production Car racing in the past few seasons. 

Additions include a seven-round Australian Swift Racing Series calendar, four rounds featuring the return of the Australian GT Championship to the Shannons Nationals program, and two – Phillip Island and Sandown – that will feature the Touring Car Masters series in another series first.

Shannons Nationals organisers will continue to support categories in establishing ‘marquee’ rounds of their own respective series’, which add to each event across the year. 

The Clem Smith Cup for the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series will again be held at Mallala (April 13-15) whilst the Ashley Cooper Memorial weekend for the V8 Commodore Cup will return to Winton Raceway in Victoria on June 22-24.

Three rounds of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series will again make up the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy ‘series-within-a-series’ that was a huge success in its inaugural season last year, whilst two rounds of the Radical Australia Cup will also feature longer-distance races.  

Open wheel fans don’t miss out either, Australia’s fastest cars from the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship will feature on two of the quickest tracks – Phillip Island and Eastern Creek – while the Australian Superkart Championship has confirmed an expanded two-race program for 2012 – one at Phillip Island and the other on the newly resurfaced Queensland Raceway. 

The Australian Saloon Car Series, Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Cars also feature prominently with their respective six and eight-cylinder powered, Holden versus Ford battles. 

Each round of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils will be streamed live on the internet via the brand-new Shannons Nationals website (www.thenationals.com.au) and series partners’iTVlive.com.au. 

Each round will then be broadcast on SBS Speedweek and SPEED TV Australia’s Inside Speed in the weeks following each round. 

The first round of the 2012 Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils will be held at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway on March 9-11.