MORE STANDALONES FOR AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION CAR SERIES

The Australian Production Car Series is set for more standalone events – Photo: InSyde Media

THE AUSTRALIAN Production Car Series is set to do more stand-alone rounds in 2019, away from where it has traditionally run with the Shannons Nationals.

By GARRY O’BRIEN

The category is set to have this year’s finale at Phillip Island with a six-hour endurance race on the first weekend of November, and Auto Action understands plans are in place to lock that in for years to come . . . and become the traditional end to the season event.

It is believed that the category wants to also establish a season opener and that Sydney Motorsport Park in early March is the target venue with four one-hour races. There is even a possibility of a third stand-alone meeting at The Bend in the second half of the year.

While category manager Iain Sherrin says nothing is locked in and that next year is still being negotiated, he did confirm that the category wants a race, some four to five weeks before the Bathurst 6 Hour.

“The Shannons Nationals will have a condensed calendar, from April to September, we want to start earlier than that with longer breaks between events,” Sherrin commented.

Another concern would be how much track time would be available at the Shannons events, given the production car category runs enduro-style racing and there is talk of the introduction of several new categories such as TCR, and the Formula 4 Championship on a fulltime basis.

Sherrin has confirmed that the tradition “Fight in the Night” at Queensland Raceway with the Shannons Nationals will remain as part of the series, as too will the Sandown Raceway round with its four one-hour races.

“What we are looking at to have our rounds locked in for each venue at around the same time of the year.

“The calendar is the hardest thing to do. As it is now, we have to wait for the Supercars’ calendar and then the Shannons’ calendar, and then everyone is scrambling over that. We really want to be in control of ourselves and have consistency with our dates, year to year,” he added.

Sherrin has ruled out of having a round with the Shannons at the Bend. “It will be too soon after Bathurst if that date is around where it was this year!”

This has led to the suggestion that the category may go to the new South Australian venue later in the year and run a format similar to QR – a 300km race on Saturday and the same, or something longer on the Sunday.

If that is the case, the Australian Production Car Series would kick off at SMP, have two events with the Shannons Nationals at Sandown and QR, and then finish up at The Bend and Phillip Island.

Auto Action further understands that the category would look to gain a support program from categories wishing to also run enduro-type events. That would allow for less categories with more track time for them.

For more of the latest national motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of Auto Action, on sale now. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.