CAMS Offices (Sports House) Cnr. Caxton & Castlemaine Streets, Milton Q 4064. Meeting Start - 7.45pm approx. Pre Meeting Drinkies and Feed up at the Paddo Tavern as usual.
Over 150 drivers from around Australia will converge on Warwick later this week, for the Shannons Nationals’ first visit to Morgan Park Raceway this weekend.
The circuit’s maiden national-level race meeting will feature seven categories, with sports cars, production cars, touring cars and karts all hitting the track in Round Seven of the 2009 Shannons Nationals.
Queensland-based drivers feature prominently across the board and will do battle against competitors from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Almost 60 interstate aces will race this weekend - with many lapping Morgan Park for the first time - while team members, officials, suppliers and media representatives will take the tally of interstate visitors to the area to around 400.
Along with the Queensland teams, drivers and officials, most will arrive in the area on Thursday, ahead of pre-event practice on Friday.
Among the drivers making the trek north, Victorian Sven Burchartz is fighting with Gold Coast driver Matt Kingsley for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge title.
Burchartz, the co-founder of the GT3 Cup Challenge and winner of the inaugural title last year, is looking forward to racing at Morgan Park for the first time.
“I’ve heard a lot about Morgan Park,” the Melbourne-based lawyer said.
“The Queensland guys all rave about the circuit, how well-suited it is to the Porsches and how enjoyable it is to drive.
“It’s a really competitive series, so the locals will hold a slight advantage going into the weekend.
“That said, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge is only in its second year, so we’re all used to going to and learning new tracks.
“It’s going to be a big weekend, I can’t wait to get out there.”
While drivers from New South Wales dominate the Boylan Traffic Solutions Australian Manufacturers Championship entry list, all eyes will be on a South Australian.
Rally ace and 2008 Targa Tasmania winner Steve Glenney from Adelaide made his national circuit racing debut in the production car championship a fortnight ago at Sydney’s Eastern Creek.
Driving a brand-new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X for a brand-new team, Glenney won two of the three races and finished second in the other to take the round victory.
“Eastern Creek was a fantastic debut,” Glenney said.
“It was our first national-level race meeting, we didn’t know what to expect coming into such a strong field, but the racing was a lot of fun and it was great to get the win.
“I’m looking forward to Morgan Park this weekend and, hopefully, having another strong weekend.”
Porsches and Production Cars will be joined at Morgan Park by the Kumho Australian Saloon Car Series, CUE Production Sports Cars, Kerrick Queensland Sports Sedans, Rockpress Pacific Superkart Challenge and Holden Gemini Challenge this weekend.
On-track action starts at 8am on Saturday with racing from 1:20pm, ahead of a full program of races on Sunday from 8:30am.
Tickets are just $15 on Saturday and $30 on Sunday, or $35 for the weekend, while kids under 14 are free all weekend.
For more information about the 2009 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships, visit www.thenationals.com.au.
