The starting grid is now set ahead of Monday nights’ series return of this year’s Shannons Supercar Showdown reality TV series on 7mate, as 10 racers compete for entry into the 2012 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, at Mount Panorama.
Contestants have come from all over Australia and as far as New Zealand and Texas to compete in the amazing winner-takes-all Showdown. The 2012 Champion join Grant Denyer and race a V8 Supercar prepared by Kelly Racing in the 50th anniversary celebration of the ‘big race’.
2011 Winner, Cameron Waters created history when he debuted as the youngest ever driver to take on The Mountain in its history.
The show’s Judges, Rick and Todd Kelly have short-listed an exciting mix of male and female drivers who will put their reputations on the line in front of a National television audience, in the pursuit of lining up on the starting grid at Bathurst.
Entrants include NZ’s Andre Heimgartner who at 16 years of age already competes in Carrera Cup and 19 year old Jack Le Brocq, who won the coveted CAMS Rising Star Award and is a member of the FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy.
At 34 years of age, Sarah Harley had all but written off her dream of ever driving a V8 Supercar and in 2012 Sarah was the only female driver to race at the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour where she teamed up with ex-Formula 1 driver Christian Klien.
No stranger to fast cars, is father of two and Motor Magazine’s Editor Andrew “Amac” MacLean. Amac’s motoring career began at age 16 racing karts before moving into journalism.
And Texan Ed Sevadjian has crossed the Pacific to follow his ambition of racing on Australia’s biggest motorsport stage.
An excited Rick Kelly was quick to add that this year’s entrants represent a diverse level of achievement in a broad range of motorsport categories.
“We have drivers coming from local and international categories, from open wheelers, to Carrera Cup through to rallying. We cast the net wide and I think we have the right mix of experience and competitive edge to produce a very worthy winner.”
Both Rick and Todd Kelly will be joined by Australian V8 racing legends throughout the Series who will offer valuable tips and insights to each of the Contestants as they compete each week to avoid elimination.
“Shannons Supercar Showdown is an amazing project and the scale to pull something like this off is just incredible” said Grant Denyer.
Shannons Supercar Showdown returns on Monday, July 23 at 6.30pm on 7Mate, and is jointly produced by WTFN and The Media Mix.
