New look for Sports Sedans opener
The 2025 National Sports Sedans will launch its five round season at SMP this weekend and whilst there’s some familiar machines and faces absent, it’s opened the door for a host of exciting debutantes.
There’s also a new sponsor jumping on board for the opener via the Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne based Advanced Car Carriers, with the transport company also a chance to join permanently, with Vic state competitor and Melbourne depot operator Cam McKee behind that move.
And in another early season move, the perpetual Des Wall Cup (normally reserved for SMP) has also been shifted to the final Phillip Island “Island Magic” round, which ensures that Des Walls’ 2009 title winning Chevrolet Corvette GTS – rebuilt and raced by his son David Walls – will be guaranteed to compete, with the Walls family keen to take out the legacy trophy.
But in honing in on the opener, whilst the temporary Round 1 absence of champion Peter Ingram leaves a hole, it’s a big chance for the likes of Steve Tamasi to get a jump in his Calibra in the hunt for a second national title, as well as the likes of Ashley Jarvis in his Monaro, and the quick IRS GT SS of Geoff Taunton.
The new National Sports Sedan Series logo.
But in terms of the five new national debutantes – including Cadel Ambrose/Micheal Rowell/Matt Sims/James Harwood/Darren Saillard – there’s a great excitement for the 17-year old Ambrose in the new John Gourlay Audi A4.
Triggering memories of the lightning young Jordan Caruso in the previous Gourlay Audi, Ambrose comes with a big talent base, as evidenced by his round win at the Vic Sports Sedans opener at Sandown where he paced the likes of Brett Dickie for pole and two race wins.
Coming out of Karting, Excels (where he also took the Vic round win) and TGR 86, it looks like the Auto Union Gourlay team has unearthed another young jet.
There’s also the newly built Rowell Pace/IRC GT SS that impressed at the recent Bathurst 12 Hour Combined Sedans meeting where the Queenslander took a podium and qualified well in a large quality field.
And with Aubrey’s Sims BMW powered by an LS engine, Harwood’s Nissan R32 GTR, and Saillard competing in the former Scott Cameron Commodore VS, there’s plenty of toe amongst the newcomers.
All up, with the likes of Mark Duggan’s Aston Martin, Brad Shiels Fiat 124 coupe, Nick Smith’s Mazda RX7, and Steven Lacey’s IRC GT SS among the 17 car field, including six more state based Sports Sedans on the grid, it’s anyones for the taking.
Category manager and competitor Michael Robinson told Auto Action that it’s a fresh and exciting start to the season.
“There’s quite a few new faces, so it’ll be quite an exciting opening and something different to what we’ve had in the past,” Robinson told AA.
“Cadel is one of the biggest additions with a fresh new look at the front end, and with some of the familiars and veterans there’s a good chance at getting a good jump at the championship if they can get a solid start in this Round 1.
“For some of the Sydney boys it’s a big chance, we haven’t opened at SMP for a long time. With a different mixture of drivers and cars, it’ll be a different start to what we’ve seen. All the new competitors have good quality cars, and they join a grid that will provide some very close racing.”
It bodes well for an exciting season, considering that there’s ten regular computers to come back in Round 2, and some great new machines still in the works.
In addition to Sports Sedans, the Toyota Scholarship Series, Aussie Racing Cars, Holden HQs and SuperKarts will also be on show at the Motorsport Australia Trophy Tour event.
National Sports Sedans Championship round 1 entry list
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