Nov 14, 2013
A NEW SERIES KING TO BE CROWNED
BY THE MIDDLE of next Sunday afternoon the winner of the 2013 Kerrick Australian Sports Sedan Series will be known. With the completion of the fifth round this weekend at the Sandown Raceway Shannons Nationals, it could be title number eight for a seven-time winner or it could be someone new.
Two rounds ago, none of the three now in contention, really rated themselves but how soon things change. Tasmanian Bruce Banks finds himself an unlikely series leader, starting the season with a Chev Camaro and racing most recently, racing his trusty Mazda RX7. Queenslander Shane Bradford (Chev Camaro) always believed he had what it takes to be in contention . . . and still is, while West Australia’s Tony Ricciardello (Alfa Romeo/Chev) felt he had the pace but not enough rounds left to make it work.
These scenarios have largely been brought about by Kerry Baily’s exclusion from the results of two of the races at Phillip Island’s round four and the subsequent withdrawal of the title-leading Aston Martin/Chev from the final round, due to bushfires affecting his business.
Banks holds a 22-point lead over Bradford while Ricciardello is a further 14 points adrift and how the final points play out, will depend where others finish . . . like the very quick Darren Hossack whose primary aim is just to win races in the Audi/Chev and fellow Victorian Daniel Tamasi’s Calibra Chev which has the pace to match or beat most in a straight line at least.
There will be a quality rollup to add to the mix including Queenslanders Bob McLoughlin (Commodore/Chev), Anthony Cox (Saab/Dodge), Colin Smith (Holden Monaro/Chev) and Charlie Senese (Chev Corvette) plus Victorians Michael Robinson (Monaro/Chev), Peter Beninca’s two litre Alfa Romeo and Damien Johnson’s Holden Torana, as well as the exquisite Jaguar XKR/Chev of NSW’s Dameon Jameson.
The Sandown Raceway field is predominately Chev V8 powered. The Australian Sports Sedans allow more freedoms than any other sedan category in the country and have been competing nationally since 1975. The category can list among its winners such names as Allan Moffat, Frank Gardner, Allan Grice, Tony Edmondson and Allan Jones. Originally created in the United States, the Trans Am cars run alongside Sports Sedans, look similar, are built differently but produce very similar lap times to the Aussie cars.
The Kerrick Sports Sedans are set to hit the circuit for three 20-minute practice sessions on Friday, November 15 at 10:00am, 12:40pm and 3:20pm, leading to a pair of qualifying outings the next day, Saturday November 16, at 10:05am and 1:20pm. The first of three 12-lap races is scheduled for later in the day at 3:50am, before the final two races on Sunday November 17 at 10:40am and 1:10pm.
ROUND FIVE ENTRY
SPORTS SEDANS
No ENTRANT/SPONSOR DRIVER CAR
4 Auto Union Deutsche Darren Hossack (Vic) Audi A4/Chev V8
5 B&M Ricciardello Motors Tony Ricciardello (WA) Alfa Romeo GTV
9 Luxury Auto Body Daniel Tamasi (Vic) Holden Calibra/Chev V8
11 Beninca Motors Peter Beninca (Vic) Alfa Romeo GTV/Nissan QR20
14 Rosemount Smash Repairs Anthony Cox (Qld) Saab/Dodge V8
19 Johnson Motorsport Damian Johnson (Vic) Holden Torana 6
32 Bell Real Estate Michael Robinson (Vic) Holden Monaro/Chev V8
44 MR Automotive Colin Smith (Qld Holden Monaro/Chev V8
45 Campbelltown Frames & Trusses Dameon Jameson (NSW) Jaguar XKR/Chev V8
51 MR Automotive Bob McLoughlin (NZ) Commodore VS/Chev V8
56 BJ Banks Electrical Bruce Banks (Tas) Mazda RX7
TRANS AM
No ENTRANT/SPONSOR DRIVER CAR
68 Aston Air Conditioning Shane Bradford (Qld) Chev Camaro
81 The Car Mine/Liqui Moly/Meguiars Charlie Senese (Qld) Chev Corvette
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