Motorsport Australia Speed Read - December 2023 by Motorsport Australia

SPEED READ D

BATES AND TAYLOR CHAMPIONS AFTER NAIL-BITING FINALE Harry Bates and Coral Taylor have been crowned champions of the 2023 Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) after a thrilling season finale in Canberra.

CIRCUIT CHAMPIONS OF 2023 Following a dramatic month of motorsport, Speed Read recaps all the different winners for each of the official Motorsport Australia national circuit competitions.

FROM THE CEO A monthly message from Sunil Vohra, Motorsport Australia CEO, recapping his busy start to the role of Chief Executive Officer.

M O T O R S P O R T . O R G . A U

SA CAR CLUB PROGRAM OPENS FOR ROUND TWO The South Australian Government’s SA Car Club Program is now accepting applications for the second round of funding.

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CONTENTS 4

Circuit Champions of 2023

Kostecki lands maiden Supercars title

Weston and Hancock claim Rallysprint victory with last gasp win

Ensuring safety new self-extraction requirements in 2024 and 2025

Motorsport Australia to close during festive period

Australians honoured at FIA Prize Giving

Unstoppable Kai's resilience awarded

Seven: the unrivalled home of motorsport in Australia

From the CEO

Jones comfortably wins PIARC Supersprint on the island

Bates and Taylor champions after nail-biting finale

Bosch Motorsport to go around again in 2024

Gill to run Junior WRC in 2024

Geelong Revival proves big hit again

February locked in for Motorsport Australia National Awards

Media awards open for nominations

Shannons continues longstanding support of SpeedSeries

SA Car Club program opens for round two

Five champions crowned in classic Shannons SpeedSeries finale

The Bend hosts successful round of SA Motorsport Series

Supercars releases 2024 calendar

Supercars to recycle used race tyres

ARC and SpeedSeries update 2024 calendars

2024 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia calendar announced

Successful Symmons 6-Hour Regularity proves big hit

Monochrome GT4 Australia announces standalone series in 2024

COVER

Highlighting the closeness of this year’s season-long title fight, Bates and Taylor needed to win both the Subaru Canberra Rally of Canberra outright and the EROAD Power Stage in order to take out the championship. And the duo did just that.

275 Canterbury Road, Canterbury VIC 3126 PO Box 172, Canterbury LPO Vic 3126 Member Hotline 1800 883 959 (9am - 5pm AEST) Telephone 1300 883 959 or +61 3 9593 7777 Website motorsport.org.au E-mail info@motorsport.org.au

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C I R C U I T C H A M P I O N S O F

Photo: Jack Martin Photography

2023 The national circuit racing 2023 season came to a close in November with a number of championships and series holding their final rounds – some of which went down to wire, while some were merely the inevitable crowning of official champion-elects. Following on a from a dramatic month of motorsport, Speed Read recaps all the different winners for each of the official Motorsport Australia national circuit competitions.

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA OPEN W i n n e r : Tr e n t G r u b e l Runner up: Ryan How A thrilling title battle between Trent Grubel and Ryan How was the highlight of the inaugural six-race Australian Formula Open season. The fight went right down to the final round of the season at Phillip Island, where despite How completing a clean sweep of round wins, Grubel would be crowned champion by just three points.

Photo: Network R

Grubel showed dominance early on in the season, taking top honours in rounds one and two to insert his claim as the driver-to-beat in 2023. When he wasn't winning, fourth place was the lowest he would finish all year.

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD SERIES Winner: Matthew Hillyer Runner up: Jake Santalucia Matthew Hillyer was the driver to beat all season long in Australian Formula Ford Series, beating Jake Santalucia by 90 points. It was a dominant year for Hillyer who led the standings from start to finish, picking up five of a possible six round wins. His biggest points haul came in the fourth round at Winton, where he claimed pole position and went on to take victory in all three category races.

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Photo: MTR Images

Photo: Daniel Kalisz Photographer

FANATEC GT WORLD CHALLENGE AUSTRALIA POWERED BY AWS W i n n e r : L i a m Ta l b o t Runner up: Geof f Emer y A m w i n n e r : B r a d S ch u m a ch e r Tr o p h y w i n n e r : R e n e e G r a ci e

A three-way title fight resulted in Liam Talbot claiming his first series win, topping multi-time champions Geoff Emery and Yasser Shahin. The 2023 champion set the tone early in the season with three wins in the first four races, before returning to the top step of the podium in each of the final three rounds. A class-high eight wins was the driving force behind Brad Schumacher’s Am win, with only one of his four nonvictory races coming outside the top two runners. A successful return to motorsport saw Renee Gracie claim top honours in the Trophy class, doing so in impressive fashion after winning every race she competed in ahead of her closest rival, Paul Luchitti.

Photo: Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series

Photo: Jam Motorsport

AUSTRALIAN PROTOTYPE SERIES Winner: John Paul Drake Runner up: Scott Bormann John Paul ‘Joker’ Drake continued to make the Australian Prototype Series his own, claiming a second consecutive title by 38 points ahead of Scott Bormann. Drake’s start to the season was so strong that he was able to miss a couple of races in the final round and still leave Adelaide as champion, taking the maximum amount of points at Phillip Island and the first of two category visits to Shell V-Power Motorsport Park.

BATTERY WORLD AUSSIE RACING CARS SUPER SERIES Winner: Joel Heinrich Runner up: Reece Chapman The 2023 Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series visited four states and another country for its six-round 2023 season, which saw Joel Heinrich secure the title by seven points over Reece Chapman. Heinrich’s title campaign was built off the back of a remarkable start to the season that saw him win the opening three rounds in Newcastle, Queensland and Tasmania – with a clean sweep during the first meeting in Newcastle proving to be his most prolific outing. While the South Australian didn’t win a round for the rest of the year, consistent top five finishes in Darwin, Townsville and New Zealand were enough to earn him the series title.

Photo: Edge Photographics

DUNLOP SERIES SUPER2 AND SUPER3 Super2 winner: Kai Allen Runner up: Zak Best Super3 winner: J o b e St e w a r t Kai Allen became the youngest ever Super2 champion after an epic final round saw the 18-year-old edge Zak Best by just six points. The South Australian had two race wins for the year coming from Townsville and Bathurst, however it was consistent top five finishes that separated himself from the pack, with only one finish outside the top six across seven rounds. In Super3, it was Jobe Stewart who dominated all season long, finishing with a 210-point advantage over Jett Johnson with four race wins and seven second place finishes.

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GULF WESTERN OIL TOURING CAR MASTERS Winner: Steven Johnson Runner up: Ryan Hansford Steven Johnson was the driver to beat all season long in Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters, who visited six different circuits in an exciting 2023 season. The Queenslander began the year with a hattrick of round wins in Tasmania, Newcastle and Winton before settling into the top five for the majority of the season’s back-end

Photo: Daniel Kalisz Photographer

However, the early dominance still resulted in an 81-point advantage over Ryan Hansford with the latter coming to life in the final rounds.

KUMHO V8 TOURING CAR SERIES Winner: Jude Bargwanna Runner up: Jim Pollicina Jude Bargwanna was a driver on a mission from day one, finishing a convincing 100 points clear of category veteran Jim Pollicina in just his rookie season. Bargwanna crossed the line first in five of the first six races across Phillip Island and Winton and was barely challenged in the early half of the season. Photo: Speed Shots Photography

However, while more competitors began to step up in the second half, multiple podium finishes and the occasional race win would be enough to seal the title.

MOBIL 1 AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION CAR SERIES Winner: Iain Sherrin Runn er up : Coleby Cow ham/ Lin ds ay Kearn s Iain Sherrin was able to withhold the pressure from behind to take the Mobil 1 Australian Production Car Series title race right down to the final laps of the season at Mount Panorama. Photo: Speed Shots Photography

Coleby Cowham/Lindsay Kearns and Grant Sherrin were all alternating the series lead for most of the season, but the ever-consistent Iain would ultimately claim top honours following a strong finish to the year.

MONOCHROME GT4 AUSTRALIA Winner: Shane Smollen Runner up: Mark Grif f ith The inaugural season of Monochrome GT4 Australia saw the exciting category compete over six rounds, where Shane Smollen entered the history books as the category’s first series winner. Smollen saw plenty of action alongside the likes of Mark Griffith and Karl Begg throughout the entirety of the season, but when it came down to scoring points when it mattered, Smollen was always the driver to step up. Photo: Speed Shots Photography

In doing so, Smollen claimed multiple round wins to finish ahead of Griffith comfortably in the standings.

NATIONAL TRANS AM SERIES Winner: James Mof fat Runner up: Lochie Dalton A dramatic season finale went the way of long-time series leader, James Moffat following a season-long battle with Garry Rogers Motorsport teammate, Lochie Dalton. Moffat maintained his lead through dominant clean sweeps in Tasmania and Sydney, with Dalton coming within a glimpse after a round win in Winton. The gap between the two would end up at a comfortable 78 points, with Brett Holdsworth rounding out the top three a further 123 points back.

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Photo: Daniel Kalisz Photographer

Photo: Speed Shots Photography

PORSCHE MICHELIN SPRINT CHALLENGE AUSTRALIA Winner: Marco Giltrap Runner up: Aron Shields Pro Am winner: Sam Shahin New Zealand’s Marco Giltrap capitalised on some early season dominance to ensure he was barely headed for the entirety of the six-round season.

Photo: Porsche Motorsport Australia

PORSCHE PAYNTER DIXON CARRERA CUP AUSTRALIA Winner: Callum Hedge Runner up: Jackson Walls Pro Am winner: A dr i a n F l a ck

After winning four of the first five races, Giltrap didn’t pick up another win for the rest of the year but instead relied on a further five podium finishes to relieve any pressure from behind.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia title race went right down to the final race of the season, where Kiwi Callum Hedge pipped pre-round leader Jackson Walls to win the title by just 27 points.

In the end, 113 points would separate Giltrap and the second placed Aron Shields, while young Oscar Targett finished third despite missing the opening round.

Consistent podium positions all season long kept Hedge in the hunt, however it was back-to-back round wins at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park and Sandown Raceway that would ultimately be the difference maker.

As for Pro Am, Sam Shahin consumed a whopping 12 class wins throughout the year to lead the Pro AM competitors by a comfortable margin of 133 points – highlighted by six straight wins to finish the season.

Adrian Flack was also awarded Pro AM honours after a thrilling season finale, with a season-high nine race wins enough to top Dean Cook and Sam Shahin by less than 50 points overall.

PRECISION NATIONAL SPORTS SEDANS W i n n e r : To n y R i c c i a r d e l l o Runner up: Jordan Caruso The return of Tony Ricciardello in 2023 delivered a fascinating Precision National Sports Sedans title battle with reigning champion Jordan Caruso. The duo alternated round wins all season long, with Ricciardello’s biggest points haul coming in round four at Mount Panorama – setting up a comfortable lead ahead of the final round, which Caruso won. The win hands Ricciardello his 12th category title, more than any other driver in its history.

Photo: Edge Photographics

REPCO SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP W inn er : Bro die Ko s te cki Runner up: Shane van Gisbergen Not many people expected Erebus Motorsport to be in the hunt for the title this year, but Brodie Kostecki was a man on a mission and started his charge early - enjoying first career win at the Australian Grand Prix before claiming a handful of other wins and podiums throughout the year.

Photo: Daniel Kalisz Photographer

S5000 AUSTRALIAN DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP Winner: Aaron Cameron Runner up: Jordan Boys Ta s m a n S e r i e s : A a r o n C a m e r o n Two drivers found themselves in championship contention across the six S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship rounds in 2023,

The young West Australian won an epic battle with the outgoing Shane van Gisbergen and managed to secure the title in the second last race of the year - eventually beating the three-time champion by more than 300 points.

but it was Aaron Cameron who would ultimately claim a maiden Motorsport Australia Gold Star award in convincing fashion. A late season surge saw Cameron 158 points clear of Boys after the November finale in Adelaide, while his closest title rival for much of the season, Cooper Webster, settled for third. This was by far Cameron’s best season in the series to date, amassing a total of seven wins and a further five podiums for the year. Not only did a victory in Adelaide seal the final round for Cameron, but it also helped him secure the Tasman Series title, as he became only the third driver to complete the double in the same calendar year.

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SUPERCHEAP AUTO TCR AUSTRALIA Winner: Josh Buchan R u n n e r u p : To n y D ’A l b e r t o A back-and-forth season across seven intriguing rounds resulted in Josh Buchan winning the title battle against Hyundai teammate, Bailey Sweeny. The duo was on another level all year long, however it was the Kumho TCR World Tour rounds where Buchan was able to make his mark – ultimately finishing 61 points clear of Sweeny while reigning champion, Tony D’Alberto nipped second after an impressive final round. Photo: Speed Shots Photography

Buchan’s biggest points haul came in Phillip Island, where two race wins secured his one and only round win for the year.

TOYOTA GAZOO RACING AUSTRALIA 86 SERIES Winner: Ryan Casha Runner up: Campbell Logan Ryan Casha was awarded the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series title following a fantastic season full of consistent results. Photo: Attachement Warehouse

The Queenslander had a solid lead for much of the season before an incident at Sandown Raceway brought Campbell Logan into the title conversation. However, Casha was able to secure the title in the final round of the season at Mount Panorama with sixth outright.

Photo: Tamara Jade Media

TYREPOWER V8 SUPERUTES SERIES

It was a dominant 2023 for Aaron Borg from start-to-finish, who went on to take top honours in every round he competed this year.

Winner: Aaron Borg Runner up: Adam Marjoram

Missing the third round of the season at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park opened the door for his closest title contender, Adam Marjoram, who brought it within 10 points – but it wouldn’t matter in the end, as Borg secured the title in the season finale.

WORKHORSE RADICAL CUP AUSTRALIA Winner: Alex Gardner Runner up: Elliot t Schut te A new star was born in Workhorse Radical Cup Australia, with three round wins for Alex Gardner allowing the 16-yearold to cruise to a maiden national series triumph.

Photo: Speed Shots Photography 8 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

The Queenslander looked unstoppable for much of the season, with Elliott Schutte and Cooper Cutts the only other drivers able to steal a round win across the five meetings.

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Brodie Kostecki is the new champion of the Repco Supercars Championship after claiming the title in the penultimate race of the 2023 season.

The West Australian went into the season-ending VAILO Adelaide 500 with a decent lead of 131 points over three-time champion Shane van Gisbergen and secured the title in the opening race of the weekend. Finishing the first of two outings in sixth place, Kostecki ended up with the title after van Gisbergen was forced to retire on the opening lap following a collision with Will Brown.

With Brown returning to the fold and finishing the final race in P14, Erebus Motorsport also secured the Teams’ Championship – marking a successful campaign for the small Victorian team. "I am stoked to get the team championship and the drivers’ championship. There has been a

while Grove Racing’s David Reynolds and Waters’ Tickford teammate Thomas Randle made it an all-Ford podium lockout.

“There's been a lot of hard work that's gone in all season, and the team truly deserves it”

Although Kostecki started from pole position, a cautious approach to the race saw him gain enough points to build an unassailable lead ahead of the final race.

Claiming victory in the opening 250km race was Cameron Waters,

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Reynolds again found himself on the podium in the final race, finishing third behind Penrite teammate and first-time winner Matthew Payne and the second-placed Broc Feeney.

Kostecki, on the other hand, ended the year off with a P8 finish despite starting from pole position for the second time of the weekend.

lot of hard work that's gone in all season, and the team truly deserves it. We are truly humbled to be here," Kostecki said post-race. "It's very special for me. Not only just me, but all my close family friends and supporters. I know how much I put into this, so it's a special one for me

Photos: Edge Photographics

KOSTECKI LANDS MAIDEN SUPERCARS TITLE

Photos: Edge Photographics

and everyone that's close around me, and I'm very much looking forward to defending that title next year. We'll come back bigger and stronger. "I believed in the team the whole way through. We had glimpses of success with the old generation of cars. But to be able to fire off so strongly in Newcastle - start with the first pole for the Gen3 era and end with pole this weekend - the last half of the year has been pretty awesome.

"We've been building this program for three seasons now, and when I first jumped in, it was my first full-time drive in 2021. A lot of people ruled us out - especially with two rookies joining the team. "It was a pretty big rebuild for a team. Erebus is only small in numbers, but we just got through it all, kept the same people around, really just pushed each other along, and got the most out of each other. And that's why we're here today."

“It's great to be here with so many ends the fans as well” Kostecki year with a solid

"A lot of people counted us out halfway through the season as we went through a bit of a lull period, but we sort of bounced back bigger and stronger.

"It's an awesome feeling. It's great to be here with so many fans as well. "I'm looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into next year already, and I can't wait to defend this title.

return of six wins, a further 12 podiums, and 10 ARMOR ALL Pole Positions, beating van Gisbergen by 333 points, while Feeney ended the year in third, a further 124 points behind his Red Bull Ampol Racing teammate. The Repco Supercars Championship 2024 season will begin with the Bathurst 500 at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit on 24-25 February.

REPCO SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP TOP 10 1. Brodie Kostecki - 2888 points 2. Shane van Gisbergen - 2565 3. Broc Feeney - 2441 4. Chaz Mostert - 2287 5. Will Brown - 2264 6. Cam Waters - 2099 7. Andre Heimgartner - 2016 8. Anton De Pasquale - 1818 9. David Reynolds - 1806 10. Will Davison - 1786

Get The Winning Edge MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 11

The popular Whiteline Tarmac Rallysprint held the second round of its 2023/2024 season last month, with Tim Weston and Jake Hancock taking out top honours in style. With a strong entry list of 44 crews getting five runs of the challenging course around the famous Sydney Dragway and their top three times contributing to a final score, it was Weston and Hancock who came away with a solid six-second victory.

difference in the end, as it was six seconds faster than their first run, elevating them back to top spot. Their victory came at the expense of Josh Muggleton and Blake Stokes who were leading at the end of the penultimate run, only for the Toyota GR Yaris pilots to fall to third place after their final run – despite producing their second best time of the day. Splitting the two crews at the conclusion of the event were David Isaacs and Paul Pritchard, who remarkably sat out of the final two runs of the day but had done enough on their opening three runs to secure a runner-up finish.

“The competition was fierce, and the drivers demonstrated exceptional skill and determination”

Behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, the duo had a sluggish start to the event, but hit their straps over the next two runs before posting their fastest time of the night on their final attempt of the course.

Having led the field after a strong second and third run, it was their final attempt that proved the

Although the overall top 10 was dominated by 4WD cars, there were two 2WD cars who made it through, with the eighth placed Richard and Daniel Kimber taking out the class victory in their Porsche 996 GT3. The next best 2WD car was the Ford Focus XR5 of Finn Houlahan and Jackie Cheung, after the duo finished almost 18 seconds off the Kimbers. Following on from the successful round, Clerk of Course Rhiana Froome was pleased with the

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quality of entrants and competition over the course of the evening. "We are thrilled with the success of Round 2 of the Whiteline Tarmac Rallysprint. The competition was fierce, and the drivers demonstrated exceptional skill and determination,” Froome said. “Congratulations to Tim Weston and Jake Hancock for their welldeserved victory, as well as to all the participants who made this event truly unforgettable.” With two rounds now complete, Weston and Hancock’s victory put them top of the standings with a comfortable gap over the next best driver. Three rounds remain in the season, with this the third round to take place on Thursday 14 December.

For info on the series and how to enter the remaining three rounds, visit nsscc.com.au

Photos: Roy Meuronen

WESTON AND HANCOCK CLAIM RALLYSPRINT VICTORY WITH LAST GASP WIN

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ENSURING SAFETY NEW SELFEXTRACTION REQUIREMENTS IN 2024 AND 2025 Photo: Drag Photos

All Motorsport Australia licenced competitors will be required to self-extract from their vehicles in 10 seconds or less from 2025 and beyond, with a 15 second limit in 2024.

Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport & Commercial Operations Michael Smith said the new requirements would not be overly onerous, based on the test results across the sport.

In line with advice from the Motorsport Australia Risk and Safety Committee, and FIA standards, the phased introduction will provide competitors with the opportunity to practice the best way to self-extract themselves from their vehicles before being tested at events.

“Together with input and technical analysis conducted by our Motorsport Risk & Safety Committee, this change provides competitors with clear requirements around selfextraction with an initial 15-second limit in 2024, before transition to 10 seconds in 2025,” Smith explained.

In 2024, competitors will initially be required to self-extract in 15 seconds as part of a staged introduction of the new requirement, before the 10 second limit is mandated on 1 January 2025. This requirement will not apply to those competitors competing in categories that already have a shorter extraction time listed in their regulations, with the lesser time taking precedence. Motorsport Australia has implemented the requirement to ensure competitors are trained and ready if they are required to self-extricate during an emergency situation. A number of tests were conducted at events across disciplines in 2023, with competitors tested averaging well below the 10 second requirement.

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“Like anything, the more practice competitors get at self-extraction, the better they will become. This is also something people can practice at home or at the workshop without adding any additional testing costs, as you simply need to belt yourself in wearing your full race gear and practice the best way to exit your vehicle.

“When it comes to fire and other leaks or issues, a quick self-extraction is key to surviving and minimising or preventing serious injury”

“The ability to self-extract from a vehicle is an important part of motorsport safety in line with international guidelines being used around the world. This is important as in the event of a serious incident time is crucial. The tests conducted at events around Australia this year saw competitors average well below 10 seconds, highlighting that for most competitors this will not be a significant challenge. For example, at a state circuit racing event where competitors were tested this year, the average time of self-extraction was 8.45 seconds, and the slowest time recorded was 11 seconds.

“When it comes to fire and other leaks or issues, a quick self-extraction is key to surviving and minimising or preventing serious injury. Practicing selfextraction will provide some muscle memory and improved reaction times that you can rely on should you ever find yourself in an emergency situation.

“Our officials and staff will be very happy to work with those who may not initially be able to meet this goal to ensure they can understand how to meet the requirement and self-extraction requirements.”

For more information and a list of FAQ around the change, head to: motorsport.org.au/selfextraction

MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA TO CLOSE DURING FESTIVE PERIOD With the Christmas and New Year holiday period fast approaching, Motorsport Australia can confirm it will be closed during the festive season. From 11am AEDT on Thursday, 21 December 2023, Motorsport Australia’s national office will be closed before reopening at 8:45am AEDT on Monday, 8 January 2024.

During this time, the Motorsport Australia hotline and will be offline and the member services email will be monitored sporadically, meaning emails may not be responded to until 2024. The Motorsport Australia member portal will remain open and available to members via our website over the holiday period.

Car clubs wanting to affiliate for 2024 must note that there will be no processing of paperwork during the holiday period, and no event permits can be issued during this time. All Motorsport Australia members and car clubs are encouraged to reach out to finalise any queries, documentation, licence applications or renewals prior to the Christmas and New Year closure.

MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 15

AUSTRALIANS HONOURED AT FIA PRIZE GIVING New South Wales-based official George Chrobak has been named the 2023 FIA Best Track or Road Marshal as part of the FIA’s prestigious Prize Giving Ceremony in Baku. Over a stellar 40-year career as a circuit official, Chrobak has gone from a young, inspired junior flag marshal to a regular Chief Marshal at the pinnacle of Australian motorsport, the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix. The passionate and selfless volunteer has also spent a large portion of his time in the sport training the next generation of officials via the Motorsport Australia National Officiating Program or with the International Training Team, making him a worthy winner of the 2023 award. Chrobak now joins an esteemed list of previous Australians honoured at the Ceremony, having also been a significant part of the Australian Grand Prix team that was awarded the FIA Best Team of Officials in 2020.

“I’m extremely humbled by this award and would like to sincerely thank those who thought of me and nominated me,” Chrobak said. “I do understand that this is a major international FIA award and to be part of a select group of special Aussie marshals who have been bestowed a similar award is a bit difficult to comprehend – it will take a bit of time to happily sink in.

“It was a fantastic honour to play a key role in leading a large team of keen, dedicated volunteer officials who are some of the best in the world”

“I was so surprised and taken aback when I received a call informing me that I had been nominated for this year’s FIA Officials award. However, that quickly changed to major overwhelm when I was told the FIA had actually chosen me as the recipient.

“Not only was it a huge surprise to be part of the award back in 2020, but it was a fantastic honour to play a key role in leading a large team of keen, dedicated volunteer officials who are some of the best in the world.” Chrobak first got involved in the sport after being inspired by watching events at Amaroo Park and Bathurst in the 1970s before joining the Junior ARDC while he was in school.

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He then officially joined the sport in 1980, starting out as a trainee flag marshal at Oran Park and volunteering as much as he could over the next few years, eventually working his way to more senior trackside roles by the end of the decade. In the early 1990s, he played a role in helping develop Motorsport Official Training in NSW, while also participating in the program during its infancy – eventually being recognised for his efforts in 1994 when he was named the NSW State Official of the Year.

In the 2000s, Chrobak first represented Motorsport Australia as part of the International Training Team to help train Bahrain officials for their Formula 1 Grand Prix, while being also part of the Singapore, South Korea, and Qatar F1 training programs. On home soil, he has attended more than 40 Bathurst 1000 events where he has had the role of Senior Chief Flag Marshal at more than half, as well as performing various leadership roles of Chief Spectator, Track, Flag, and Sector Marshal over the past few decades, while holding the position of Chief Marshal at the past two Australian Grand Prix.

“I feel at peace with the award, knowing the FIA had taken all my senior officiating roles, contributions, and performances over a number of years into account in coming to their decision,” Chrobak added. “A major thanks is owed to the wider group of passionate Aussie motorsport volunteers who week in, week out, give a decent amount of their heart and soul to keep the wheels turning in the right direction for events big and small across the country. “To be part of such a worldwide community of friends and acquaintances with a common interest is one of the great joys of life. Any award is icing on the cake, but I must admit it’s an awesome cake.” While Chrobak was unable to attend the official ceremony, there were a few other Australians who did make it out and were recognised for their remarkable efforts in 2023.

Australia President Andrew Fraser also at the ceremony, Fraser praised all award recipients for their successful campaigns. “It’s a wonderful achievement by all three individuals, and I am extremely proud to see multiple Australians represented at the ceremony,” Fraser said. premier category of motorsport, picking a sprint race victory, multiple podiums and a pair of fastest laps – ultimately ending the year in ninth on the standings. Victorian James Wharton and Queenslander Jack Beeton also received silverware for winning their respective championship titles, with Wharton taking out the Formula 4 UAE Championship and Beeton the 2023 Formula 4 South East Asia title.

“Any award is icing on the cake, but I must admit it’s to the an awesome Infouraddition circuit drivers, West Australian rally cake” co-driver Ben Searcy

Formula 1 first-year driver Oscar Piastri was named as the Rookie of the Year for the second time, having first won the award back in 2021.

was also recognised in Baku for winning the 2023 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship alongside Rifat Sungkar of Indonesia.

Piastri received the award following an impressive debut season in the

With Formula 2 race winner Jack Doohan and Motorsport

“A congratulations must first go out to George for receiving the 2023 FIA Best Track or Road Marshal – he is a highly deserving winner who has been a long-time stalwart of our sport and has contributed greatly over a four-decade period. “While it is a fantastic achievement for him, it further illustrates how highly Australian volunteer officials are regarded, and the fact that we continue to be recognised at an international level as the best in the world reflects the quality of our motorsport officials. “As for the drivers, a big congratulations to them for their respective international seasons – a lot of hard work goes into racing against some of the best around our region and the world. “All drivers and their success are a reflection of the vast talent coming out of Australia and how we are growing as a competitive force in a range of competitions.”

MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 17

UNSTOPPABLE KAI'S RESILIENCE AWARDED This month’s Supercheap Auto Official Superstar has been awarded to Kai Stephens. Hailing from Western Australia, Kai was nominated by his peers after going above and beyond at the recent Excel Nationals event. Kai was at the event for four days straight despite having unfortunately rolled his ankle three days prior. Even with the small injury, Kai didn’t stop as he continued to pop his hand up to assist at every opportunity. Best described as flexible and knowledgeable, Kai performs in

18 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

many roles at events, including pit lane chief assistant and steward. A very humble and helpful person, Kai is a deserving recipient of this award because he has attended every meeting this year, he has helped others on their officiating journey to learn about the sport and has even rallied around clubs to gain more officials. As December’s Supercheap Auto Official Superstar, Kai will receive a $100 Supercheap Auto gift card, commemorative pin and certificate for his efforts.

KAI STEPHENS Do you know someone like Kai; a Motorsport Australia official who deserves to be recognised for going above and beyond their duty? Nominate now and your friend could win a $100 Supercheap Auto gift card, commemorative pin, and certificate — with their story shared in Speed Read.

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Photo: Daniel Kalisz Photographer / Race Project

SEVEN: THE UNRIVALLED HOME OF MOTORSPORT IN AUSTRALIA More motorsport is coming to the Seven Network in 2024, with Motorsport Australia securing a new deal with Australia’s most-watched television and digital network.

Every round of the Shannons SpeedSeries will be live and free on 7plus throughout 2024 and 2025, with a host of exciting categories locked in for the coming season at a wide range of venues across the country. The Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) and Polaris Motorsport Australia Off

Road Championship (AORC) will also remain with Seven following significant growth during its time on 7plus in recent years, further cementing Seven’s place as the Home of Motorsport.

A rich mix of categories will be taking part in the Shannons SpeedSeries in 2024, including the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS, National Trans Am Series, Monochrome GT4 Australia Series, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge and plenty more.

The Shannons SpeedSeries kicks off the Australian motorsport season at Sandown International Raceway on 9-11 February, before back-toback racing at Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 12 Hour and Supercars’ Bathurst 500 opening round – all broadcast live and free on Seven and 7plus in February.

Next year’s Shannons SpeedSeries is scheduled to include 10 rounds, with all rounds live and free on 7plus across Saturdays and Sundays, with selected events to also be broadcast on 7mate, including the season opener at Sandown. Meanwhile, the Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship continues to go from strength to strength, and next year will feature more content across the screens of Seven. After one of the closest seasons in history, Toyota’s Harry Bates and codriver Coral Taylor will be looking to go back-to-back, with the first round to be held in Canberra on 5-7 April.

Photo: Dan Thompson

20 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

The Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship starts its 2024 season in New South Wales, with the Pooncarie Desert Dash on 19-

21 April. A range of highlights and interviews will be available after each round on 7plus throughout 2024. Motorsport Australia CEO Sunil Vohra was pleased to have the new deal with Seven. “We’re excited to be expanding our existing partnership with the hard-working team at Seven to be bringing more motorsport more often to fans,” Vohra said.

“Next year promises to deliver a huge year of motorsport across all our platforms and we can’t wait for Sandown to begin our season in 2024, with live and free coverage of the new-look Shannons SpeedSeries.”

“We’re excited to be expanding our existing partnership with the hardworking team at Seven”

“We know how important it is for motorsport fans across the country to be able to access their content live and free, but also on demand, and the 7plus platform in particular will be a huge boost for the refreshed Shannons SpeedSeries, alongside the rally and off road content that is already at home with Seven.

Seven Network Head of Sport Lewis Martin echoed Vohra's sentiments.

biggest and best motorsport events year-round,” he said. “We look forward to continuing our great partnership with Motorsport Australia to deliver epic content that is accessible to all Australians, live and free on Seven and 7plus.”

“As Your Home of Motorsport, we are ecstatic to deliver even more high-octane action to fans all over Australia, live and free on Seven and 7plus," Martin said.

“With event coverage of the SpeedSeries, Australian Rally Championship, Off-Road Championship, and the Supercars Championship, Seven and 7plus has Australians covered for the

MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 21

FROM THE CEO Monthly message from Sunil Vohra, Motorsport Australia CEO

It’s been a busy start to the role of CEO of Motorsport Australia and one I have very much enjoyed. The warm welcome from around the motorsport community has been wonderful to experience and very helpful in getting up and running. Part of the generous welcome has been acknowledgement of my own racing experience – I had underestimated how much being an active racer would resonate with people, so it’s great to see it is noticed and valued.

We’ve covered some ground getting to events around Australia and getting the chance to meet lots of people in and around the sport. Before my official start, I went with Motorsport Australia President Andrew Fraser to the Gold Coast 500 to see Supercars and the support categories hustle the chicanes of the famous street circuit.

colleagues at Motorsport Australia and the Board. I’m grateful for the efforts of so many people who have helped me get up to speed and across the activities that drive outcomes for us as a sport. We’ve also worked hard to set the 2024 budget and engaged with the state structures, as well as getting into risk and safety issues, which are significant parts of my early focus.

The next day it was up to Prosperine in North Queensland to join the Whitsundays Sporting Car Club at their Khanacross event. A real highlight was being able to compete in the WRX of local legend Jacko. Having a couple of timed runs around the dirt course, my competitive side was happy to be second in the standings for most of the morning before one of the youngsters finally got his car started and proceeded to smoke us all. Following that first weekend, I had trips to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International, Subaru Canberra Rally of Canberra and then capped off the busy month with the Adelaide 500. In addition to events, there has been a lot of time in the office with

22 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

There is a lot to do from here. It’s a broad remit in a big, complex sport. The one thing I have seen in every interaction is the underlying passion for motorsport that we all share. It’s a great asset and one that should help us work collectively to see the sport grow and prosper. You’ll hear from me often – I’m committed to transparency and openness. And I’ll still be racing to be part of the great community that is grassroots motorsport. With the festive season now upon us, have a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s holiday period, and I look forward to a big year with you all in 2024. Until next time, Sunil.

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JONES COMFORTABLY WINS PIARC SUPERSPRINT ON THE ISLAND

The sunny shores of Phillip Island hosted another edition of a PIARC Supersprint last month, as well as sharing the spotlight with the VSKC series. Taking centre stage as the weekend’s main event, more than 60 competitors featured in the supersprint, which saw Emily Jones come away with the quickest of the weekend with an outstanding time of 1.38.2047. Jones was the only driver to set a time inside the one minute and forty second mark for the whole event, doing so on her second lap of the 14th session. It wasn’t just a one off for the Victorian speedster either, who had posted an earlier 1.38.3306 on her third lap in session six. She also led sessions two, 10 and 18 with times around the 1.41 and 1.40 minute mark respectively. Finishing behind Jones in outright second with a time of 1.43.5609 was Simon Ansell who found his best time late in the day in session 18. Ansell was a consistent finisher all day, with top three finishes in session, six and 14 before finding his best in the 18th session. David Turner also showed consistent early pace to finish outright third,

Photos: Revved Photography

his fastest lap being a 1.43.8316 in session two, while Graham Bentley placed fourth with a best time of 1.44.6262 in session nine. The trio of Ansell, Turner and Bentley were clearly the closest competition to Jones for pace. Sally-Anne Hains rounded out the top five with her quickest time of 1.46.5436 which she set in session six. Hains managed to match times with Turner setting fastest laps around the 1.46 and 1.47 mark but was unable to breach the gap to the front runner Jones. Preceding Sunday’s Supersprint were the SuperKarts on the Saturday, which saw some interesting results across its four races on the Saturday. Jordan Ford took out races one and two, before a DNF derailed his chances at a clean sweep and ultimately spelled the end of his day, not appearing in the final race. Fellow 250 International runner Nicholas Schembri picked up the scraps and won the final two races, handing him the overall win. Also running on the Island was the 2 Litre Sports Sedans, which was highlighted by an entertaining duel between Andrew Pinkerton and Steven Howard.

24 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

The pair split Saturday’s races at one win apiece, with Pinkerton taking advantage of his superior qualifying result to pounce first, winning race one while Howard came home fourth. The race one winner then conceded the race two win, finishing right behind Howard who completed a brilliant comeback. On Sunday morning, Howard made it two in a row with Pinkerton just behind once again, but the pair both failed to win race four, which went to Michael Ricketts. Howard finished in second, just one second ahead of Pinkerton in third, who sealed the round win with four podiums to Howard’s three. Ricketts’ final race win wasn’t enough to clinch a place on the outright podium though, after he didn’t appear in race three. Ryan Tomsett rounded out the overall podium places with three podiums and a fourth-place finish.

Harry Bates and Coral Taylor have been crowned champions of the 2023 Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) after a thrilling season finale in Canberra. Highlighting the closeness of this year’s season-long title fight, Bates and Taylor needed to win both the Subaru Canberra Rally of Canberra outright and the EROAD Power Stage in order to take out the championship.

And the duo did just that, as they won the final stage of the season by two seconds over fellow title contenders Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin, which saw them eventually take out the event by just six seconds.

“For it to is a lot of culminate in "There relief right now I'm just front of so many and so happy that we're able to do Canberrans, the job today. it's incredible "It's just amazing to have my team right here to see” behind me - an

As a result of both the event and EROAD Power Stage victories, Harry and Taylor finished the season on 531 points, ultimately edging out Lewis and McLoughlin by just one point, as the Power Stage bonus points proved the difference in the end. "I just can't believe it. I'm totally lost for words," Bates said.

26 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

"It's been a really, really up and down year and for it to culminate in this (the title) in front of so many Canberrans, it's incredible to see so many fans out here to witness it.

incredibly hard working group of guys and girls who also deserve a round of applause and obviously to have my family here as well, it's emotional. I just can't believe it's my second ARC title.

Photos: Gears and Wheels Photography

BATES AND TAYLOR CHAMPIONS AFTER NAIL-BITING FINALE

Photos: Gears and Wheels Photography

"It didn't all go exactly to plan this weekend. We had a lot going on in the car and obviously the battle between Lewis and I was very tight, but we had to make sure that we were keeping up our intensity because Lewis and Anthony were on fire this weekend. "The fact that the battle came down to 3.9 seconds for the event is just crazy. It took a lot of mental strength to get through this weekend." The two Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia crews had been fighting it out throughout the whole 12-stage event, with Lewis and McLoughlin ending Saturday’s competition holding a three second advantage. Although Lewis and McLoughlin ended the day in the lead, Harry and Taylor had led for much of the day, having charged out to the 27 second lead ahead of the final stage. However, a big spin on the final stage saw the leading Toyota GR Yaris AP4 to lose 30 seconds on Lewis and McLoughlin, forcing them to spend the night in second place. Sunday morning’s three stages provided fans with a breathtaking duel between the two as they exchanged stage wins - Harry and Taylor’s win on the day’s first stage elevating them to the lead, before Lewis and McLoughlin re-took the lead on the following stage. An overshoot for Lewis on Sunday’s third stage saw him 11 seconds

slower than Harry and demoted him back into second place before Harry’s win on the fourth stage of the day extended his lead out to almost seven seconds. Another push from Lewis helped win the penultimate stage of the event and bring himself to within four seconds, However, Harry and Taylor produced their incredible two-second EROAD Power Stage victory that saw them claim the title by just one point. While the battle for the outright title took centre stage for much of the weekend, there was plenty at stake behind them as Eddie Maguire and Zak Brakey rounded out the podium in both the event, and overall season. Finishing Canberra in fourth place were the returning Taylor Gill and Daniel Brkic, who held off a fast charging Luke Anear and Malcolm Read by just 12 seconds. It was a memorable performance from Gill and Brkic, who also won the White Wolf Constructions ARC Production Cup round in what was a

welcome return to Australia, having spent most of the year in Europe as part of the FIA Rally Star program. Also making a grand return to the ARC in addition to Gill was Richie Dalton and Dale Moscatt, who finished ninth overall, and claimed the Motorsport Australia New South Wales Rally Championship win and title earlier in the weekend. In other classes, Tom Clarke and Ryan Preston steered their Datsun Stanza to 17th place outright to win the ARC Classic Cup for the second consecutive round, while rising stars Josh Wiedman and Nick Reid edged out Ben and Cathy Hayes by just over a minute to win the ARC 2WD Cup.

View the full event results and final championship standings via the Subaru Results Hub

MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 27

BOSCH MOTORSPORT TO GO AROUND AGAIN IN 2024 Bosch Motorsport will once again be the naming rights partner of the Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) in 2024. Having originally signed on for the championship’s 2023 season, a buoyant year for the ARC saw the renowned manufacturer opt to extend its sponsorship for another year. Bosch Motorsport Australia’s Matt Turner was looking forward to going around again with the ARC in 2024.

to have the title fight go right down to the wire in Canberra just added to the spectacle.

part of the championship, which highlights their commitment to the growth and success of the ARC.

“The momentum of the series continues to build and the Bosch Motorsport team is excited to be able to be part of that trajectory.

“Bosch Motorsport's decision to extend for a year is a testament to the strength of the championship and reinforces the stability of the competition.

“We are thrilled to be able to be involved for another year,”

“To see the ARC’s growth this year has been fantastic and we are thrilled to be able to be involved for another year,” Turner said.

“The ARC is one the most demanding tests of car, driver and team and

“We first partnered with the ARC because of the exciting prospect of re-joining with Australia’s premier rally competition for the first time in more than a decade, and are invested in the future of this impressive championship.

“It’s been great working with Motorsport Australia and the ARC in 2023 and I can’t wait to go again.” Motorsport Australia CEO Sunil Vohra was pleased to have Bosch Motorsport sign on for another year. "We are absolutely thrilled with Bosch Motorsport's decision to extend their partnership as the naming rights sponsor for the Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship in 2024,” Vohra said.

Photo: Gears and Wheels Photography

28 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

“It's truly fantastic to see valued partners like Bosch Motorsport recognising the worth of being a

“I’d like to thank Bosch Motorsport for its continued support of the ARC and we look forward to another year together in 2024.” The six-round 2024 Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship season will begin with the Rally of Canberra on 5-7 April.

ABOUT BOSCH MOTORSPORT Bosch Motorsport is a division of the global Bosch Group, a leading supplier of technology and services worldwide. From weekend enthusiasts to Formula 1, Bosch has been providing advanced electronics, components and service for motorsport and high-performance applications internationally since 1901. Bosch is known for its historic innovations including the world’s first mass-produced electronic fuel injection control and more recent developments such as its award-winning Motorsport ABS system. Bosch Motorsport Australia also directly supports customers in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

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MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 29

GILL TO RUN JUNIOR WRC IN 2024

Taylor Gill will compete in the Junior FIA World Rally Championship next year after being selected for the FIA Rally Star Program’s second year. Gill was one of six young talents from around the world chosen to take part in the program’s training season this year before being selected for the second stage next year. The New South Welshman will now contest the five-round junior component of the world’s premier rally competition next year, with the hopes of securing a third year in the program for 2025. Joining the 20-year-old in the 2024 program will be Peruvian Jose Caparó, Estonian Romet Jürgenson and South African Max Smart. “Being selected for the next stage is incredible,” Gill said. “Honestly, it didn’t come as too much of a surprise because I feel like I had a strong campaign, but this moment is a reward for 12 years of hard work. “Working my way up from karting to rallysprints to the Australian Rally Championship and now being selected for the Junior WRC – when I look at the timeline, it puts a big smile on my face. It’s just cool to know the hard work is paying off. 30 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

“I remember reading about the Junior WRC when I was 15-yearsold and thinking about how it was a good stepping-stone into the WRC and how awesome it could be to compete in one day. “Being from Australia, it is so out of touch and expensive to go rallying in Europe, the thought of now being on the Junior WRC start line in 2024 is an awesome feeling. “I am so grateful for this FIA Rally Star program and the amazing opportunity – without it, I would have never been able to compete in Europe.”

Gill’s selection will certainly come as no surprise to those who followed the Rally Star training season this year, which saw the six competitors complete six rallies around Europe. With fellow Australian Daniel Brkic calling the notes for Gill, the duo managed to go fastest in three different rallies, while also being the only crew of the six to finish every rally. He also ended the season with the equal most number of wins, with Jürgenson also taking out three victories.

“We were extremely pleased with the season. Some rallies were easier than others, but it all worked out in the end,” Gill added. “The first result in San Marino was surprising in a sense as I didn’t expect to go to Europe and win straight away, especially against people we didn’t know - although it was the easiest rally we did because the roads are very similar to what we have in Australia.

“We had a solid second half of year, but dealing with sandy surfaces and the ruts was the hardest thing for me and I struggled to adapt initially – in fact I am still adapting.

“I believe the FIA will run a bit of a mini training camp to get us acclimatised to driving on the snow. I imagine it can be quite foreign to someone who hasn’t done it before.

“I had never come across these deep ruts and particular conditions in Australia, and to the European guys, it was almost a second nature – so that is something that surprised me a lot.

“Coming back to Australia and getting a good result in Canberra, where I was under no pressure, was a good confidence booster and while it is still a dream to win the ARC one day, I am fully focused on next year and getting through to 2025.”

“We have come a long way from that San Marino Rally and I am hopeful I can continue improving”

“Then we had a difficult time with the tarmac rallies and how different it was to gravel. The tyres, general suspension and car set up certainly took some getting used to as well as the tough nature of these European tarmac rallies.” “We struggled early on, but I was happy with how we came to grips to tarmac and by the second tarmac event, we were winning stages.

“Looking back at it now, we have come a long way from that San Marino Rally and I am hopeful I can continue improving.” As for his future, Gill had his sights set on 2024 with a busy off season in the works. “I have never had to prepare for a WRC event so I am not too sure what to expect, but we will make sure we get a good mix of preparation,” Gill explained.

The 2024 Junior WRC season begins with Rally Sweden in Umeå, Västerbotten on 15-18 February.

2024 FIA JUNIOR WRC CALENDAR Round 1: Sweden Rally Sweden - 15-18 February Round 2: Croatia Rally - 18-21 April Round 3: Rally Italia Sardegna - 30 May-2 June Round 4: Rally Finland - 1-4 August Round 5: Rally Greece - 5-8 September

MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 31

GEELONG REVIVAL PROVES BIG HIT AGAIN

Photos: Caprice Photography Automotive Art

More than 1000 vehicles took part in the iconic Geelong Revival Motoring Festival last month, with thousands of spectators treated to an entertaining spectacle along the picturesque Geelong waterfront. Held across three days, the popular event saw a vast mix of cars, motorbikes, trucks, caravans take over the Victorian town to celebrate vintage motorsport via competition, display and parades. The major highlight of the event was undoubtedly the quarter-mile sprint where around 100 cars over two days battled it to post the fastest time over a handful of runs on two days. Enjoying the fastest time overall was Saturday’s winner Jarred Farrell after he was the only driver to go under 10 seconds – the Ford Territory Turbo driver went sub 10 seconds in all three of his runs with his best time being his second effort of 9.88 seconds.

Finishing behind Farrell on Saturday was Kevin Mackrell, who steered his Datsun 260Z hill climb special to a best time of 10.11 seconds, which like Farrell, came on his second of the day. Making up the day’s top three was Scott Innes in a Sabre Buick after he wrapped up his day with his fastest run of 10.23 seconds, beating the fourth placed Patrick Malanaphy by half a second, while Dean Fava rounded out the top five six tenths off Innes. Although Innes fell short of the victory on Saturday, he would enjoy success on Sunday by taking out top honours with a time of 10.11 seconds. With neither Farrell or Mackrell taking part in the second day of action, Innes set the tone early with a run of 10.59 seconds before producing his best run of the day on his third attempt. Taking out second place was Malanaphy in his Yacar Crosskart with a time of 10.55 seconds to

32 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

better his Saturday time by just under two tenths, while Fava steered his Audi R8 V10 Plus to third place, courtesy of a 10.85 second run – which was just two hundredths faster than his best Saturday run. Sunday also saw a special top 10 shootout occur with Innes' Indy car, a cross-kart, an EV, two touring cars and five motorbikes, with one of the two-wheeled vehicles taking out top spot at the end of it. Outside of the competition aspect of the event, there were plenty of activations taking place across the weekend, which included the Vintage Fashion Awards and the Shannons Classic Motorshow, where thousands of vehicles were on display. One of the highlights of the display was “The Spirit of the Revival” category winning 1966 Morris Cooper S and the Audi RS3 LMS TCR of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series star Zac Soutar.

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FEBRUARY LOCKED IN FOR MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA NATIONAL AWARDS The next Motorsport Australia National Awards Gala Dinner, presented by Shannons Insurance, will be held on Sunday, 11 February 2024 in Melbourne.

Motorsport Australia CEO Sunil Vohra encouraged people to save the date in their diaries as the sport comes together for the important annual gala.

Coinciding with the scheduled Shannons SpeedSeries opening round at Sandown International Raceway also in Victoria, the event will again be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on the Sunday night (MCEC) allowing those attending the opening round of the SpeedSeries, along with the greater motorsport community, to celebrate the 2023 season together.

“I’m certainly looking forward to attending my first Motorsport Australia National Awards Gala

Tickets for the event will go on sale shortly, while invites to award winners will also be sent directly to recipients in the coming weeks. As per previous years, outright national Championship and Series winners will be invited to the awards to accept their 2023 trophies, along with those receiving meritbased awards, such as Service Awards and Life Membership.

34 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

with many teams, drivers and fans already in Melbourne for the event. “This night is also a great opportunity for us to celebrate those who have dedicated their lives to motorsport, whether as officials, competitors or team members. It’s an honour for so many of us to be in attendance for such a momentous evening.” Dinner as CEO and am keen to share in the many success stories from 2023,” Vohra said. “The opportunity to host these awards in conjunction with the opening round of the Shannons SpeedSeries is also a fantastic opportunity for those attending the event to join us in the room,

The Motorsport Australia National Awards Gala Dinner, presented by Shannons Insurance will take place at MCEC on Sunday, 11 February 2024 at 7pm AEDT.

MEDIA AWARDS OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS Nominations for the 2023 Motorsport Australia Media Awards are now being accepted.

CRITERIA FOR 2023 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA MEDIA AWARDS

There are a mix of categories for media professionals to apply for, with another year of strong nominations accepted from those working hard to deliver content from across the sport.

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

In 2023, Motorsport Australia will award winners in the following categories at the annual gala awards dinner in Melbourne next year.

•

All photos should have limited editing/filtering

•

All photos must be from Motorsport Australia events in the 2023 calendar year (including Australian Grand Prix)

• • • • •

Photographer of the Year Photograph of the Year

•

A submission of up to five photos

•

Photos should include a mix of styles for the judges to include (eg. on stage/track, crowd, portrait, news (action) photographs)

Submission of up to two photos

Best use of Digital Media

•

Best Breaking News Story of the Year

All photos should have limited editing/filtering

•

All photos must be from Motorsport Australia events in the 2023 calendar year (including Australian Grand Prix)

Updated criteria for each category is also available as part of the application process to assist media in their applications. The 2023 Motorsport Australia Media Awards nominations are now open, closing on 15 December.

Nominate for a media award at motorsport.org.au

•

A broader category, submissions should outline how nominators are a strong performer in the digital space

•

Examples include, but not limited to, podcasts, digital platforms (eg. news sites with various media offerings)

•

Nominations should include details about digital reach and impact as well as content provided across each platform

•

Nominators must be based in Australia and/or be covering Australian motorsport events, drivers and issues

PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR •

Journalist of the Year

BEST USE OF DIGITAL MEDIA

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR •

Submission of up to four news/feature items

•

Submission should include links to or copies of pieces of content as published in media outlets during the 2023 calendar year

•

Submissions should include a mix of breaking news and a minimum of one feature story

•

Journalists must be based in Australia and/or be covering Australian motorsport events, drivers and issues

BEST BREAKING NEWS STORY OF THE YEAR •

Submission of up to two breaking news stories

•

Submissions will be considered on their impact on the Australian motorsport landscape and the significance of the story at the time it was published

•

Submissions will be considered on the impact of the story on the wider sporting landscape and its reach, along with its ability to generate significant follow up coverage from other outlets

MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 35

Photo: Daniel Kalisz Photographer

SHANNONS CONTINUES LONGSTANDING SUPPORT OF SPEEDSERIES Shannons Insurance will once again Alongside its longstanding naming support the Shannons SpeedSeries rights partnership of the SpeedSeries, until at least the end of 2025, with Shannons will again be the Official Motorsport Australia Pit Lane Partner confirming the each event in “This renewal will at leading insurance 2024 and 2025. provider for motoring see the partnership Motorsport Australia enthusiasts has CEO Sunil Vohra with Shannons extended its naming the team at rights partnership. extend to near-on thanked Shannons for their Having been the ongoing support. two decades” key partner for the “To have Shannons popular national continue its longstanding partnership level race meeting since 2007, this with Motorsport Australia and the renewal further cements Shannons’ Shannons SpeedSeries is something support of Australian motorsport. really special and a huge vote 36 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

of confidence in the direction of these events,” Vohra said. “This renewal will see the partnership with Shannons extend to near-on two decades which clearly highlights our shared values and the broader strength of our relationship. “The Shannons SpeedSeries is growing year-on-year, with big crowds throughout 2023 culminating in the two final international level events, with Race Sydney and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International rounding out the year on a high.

Photo: Speed Shots Photography

“Across TV and digital platforms the viewership remains high, with big growth in our digital platforms in particular. “With a 10-round calendar already announced for next year, excitement is certainly high ahead of the opening round of the Shannons SpeedSeries at Sandown International Raceway in February next year.” Shannons Insurance National Manager Business Development Simon Jreige said his organisation was eager to continue its support of the series it has been part of for so many years. “We’re delighted to be renewing our partnership with the team at Motorsport Australia and are very excited in the strength and further growth that lies ahead for the Shannons SpeedSeries in 2024 and beyond,” Jreige said.

“Motorsport is certainly one of our passions and the Shannons SpeedSeries provides an important platform for national level racing across the country.

“Motorsport is certainly one of our passions and the Shannons SpeedSeries provides an important platform for national level racing across the country”

that is one to remember, as well as plenty of off-track activations and colour throughout the paddock. “Shannons SpeedSeries events are very accessible for fans, with free grid walks and paddock access a key part of that – and working with Motorsport Australia we look forward to be supporting those initiatives at all the Shannons SpeedSeries events.” Shannons' support of the SpeedSeries began in 2007, with the then CAMS National Racing Championships events, before it was rebranded into the Shannons Nationals along with the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships in more recent times.

“The mix of categories, the exciting racing and the non-stop back-toback on track sessions provide motorsport fans with an experience

MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 37

Photo: Sporting Car Club of SA

SA CAR CLUB PROGRAM OPENS FOR ROUND TWO The South Australian Government’s SA Car Club Program is now accepting applications for the second round of funding. The four-year SA Car Club Program was introduced in 2022 as a way for the State Government to

contribute funding to car clubs, who play pivotal role in the South Australian community.

assessed in January and February next year, with successful clubs to be notified from March onwards.

The SA Car Club Program offers grants funding up a value as high as $500,000 through three streams - Events and activities, Infrastructure and Program, equipment and operations.

Three clubs received a combined $135,000 for the first round of the program, with each club putting the money towards integral projects such as track resurfacing, upgrades to IT software and the purchasing of event-related equipment.

The intention of the funding is to help these clubs increase club participation, host events, improve facilities and/or streamline operations.

Photo: Bob Taylor

38 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

The applications for the round will remain open until 12pm ACDT on Friday 22 December and will be

Get more information on the SA Car Club Program at dit.sa.gov.au

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The Shannons SpeedSeries wrote the final chapter of a captivating season last month as the star-studded Supercheap Auto Bathurst International took over Mount Panorama Circuit.

Thousands of fans flooded through the gates at the world-famous circuit across the action-packed days, with six national categories

taking centre stage and wrapping up their respective campaigns. The round was the second of two Kumho TCR World Tour meetings down under, serving as the penultimate round of its season whilst sharing the field with the local Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, with its title battle unfolding in dramatic style.

It was the reigning champion, Tony D’Alberto who would take round honours after an emphatic pole position set up impressive results, but the weekend would belong to Josh Buchan, who secured the 2023 TCR Australia title after a back-and-forth battle with Hyundai teammate, Bailey Sweeny. As for the internationals, it was Frenchman Yann Ehrlacher who

40 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

took the round win after taking victory in race three on Sunday afternoon and finishing ahead of fellow Lynk & Co entry, Thed Bjork and the consistent Rob Huff. The National Trans Am Series saw a similar outcome, with seasonlong leader James Moffat securing the trophy after a 14th place finish

Photos: Daniel Kalisz Photographer

FIVE CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN CLASSIC SHANNONS SPEEDSERIES FINALE

Photos: Speed Shots Photography

in race three followed a series of dramatic incidents throughout.

only needed a 17th place in race one to take top honours.

another newcomer, Adam Garwood rounded out the top three.

Taking out victory in that final race was Tom Hayman, who claimed round honours ahead of Elliott Cleary and Moffat’s closest title rival, Lochie Dalton as a result.

The pressure was immediately lifted on the Friday afternoon when the Kiwi sealed the deal, but the weekend still belonged to Nash Morris after a clean sweep of race wins in his return to the one-make Porsche category.

Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters was the only category to not crown a champion this round, but still put on a fantastic show throughout with Marcus Zukanovic picking up a maiden race and round win.

The other category to crown a champion was the Mobil 1 Australian production Cars, with Iain Sherrin taking honours in a thrilling weekend of action.

The Shannons SpeedSeries will return in 2024, with the first round of the season to take place at Sandown International Raceway on 9-11 February.

The story couldn’t have been more different for Kumho V8 Touring Car Series’ Jude Bargwanna, who wrapped up the title with three second place finishes behind series newcomer, Cameron McLeod. His closest title rivals, Jamie Tilley and Jim Pollicina couldn’t finish the year on a high as another newcomer in Ryan Simpson and series veteran, Ray Hislop impressed with third and fourth respectively. It was much the same in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia, where Marco Giltrap

Sherrin won three of the four category races, with Simon Hodges the only other winner while Grant Sherrin settled for third after consistent top three finishes. Meanwhile, Tim Leahey dominated his debut in the Invited class behind the wheel of his new BMW, finishing ahead of Karl Begg while

Tickets for Shannons SpeedSeries Race Sandown are available at motorsporttickets.com.au

MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 41

The Shell V Power Motorsport Park (The Bend) hosted the South Australian Motorsport Series last month with six categories forming part of the weekend.

While all categories produced entertaining racing, it was the Circuit Excels that was the standout, as 37 teams made up of 74 drivers contested two one-hour enduros. In what was the most entertaining battle of the weekend, two teams ended up sharing the spoils with a race win each, as the dynamic duo of Brad Vereker and Jay Robotham claimed race one victory ahead Glenn McKenzie and Ashton Cattach. Their battle started off in Qualifying, with the two teams both inside the top three for the opening session behind polesitters Ryan Casha and Rylan Gray, before Vereker and Robotham sealed pole for the second session. It then didn’t take long for the Excel of Vereker and Robotham to replace Casha and Gray at the front of the field, with the move on lap three seeing the entry in top spot, where they would remain for

the rest of the race – the only drop being during their mandatory stop.

with the 250cc and 125cc & Rotax classes getting amongst the action.

The top crews’ positions were then reversed in race two after the McKenzie and Cattach entry made a move stick on lap 22 and held their position until the chequered flag.

In the 125cc, it was consistency and patience that took out top honours, with Brad Stebbing finishing the first two races in second behind Gary Pegoraro, before capitalising on the leader’s poor race three to win the race.

Although Vereker and Robotham secured a pole position, race win, runner-up and two fastest laps for the weekend, it was McKenzie and Cattach who were crowned as eventual winners on countback. There was plenty of drama to occur in the other categories, with the Miniature Race Cars category holding five sprints across the weekend, which were comprehensively dominated, start to finish, by Lee Stibbs. Stibbs won all five sprints by an average of four seconds each race, taking the fastest lap in each one too. Similarly, in the SA Prototype’s class, it was a clean sweep for Mark Laucke who won both races one and two, also taking the fastest laps for himself as well. There were also two classes of Superkarts tearing up the track

42 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

A win in the final race of the round saw him claim top honours, despite Pegoraro showing far more pace – a reward for his consistent finishing. It was a similar story in 250cc as Ilya Harpas was good enough to take three out of the four sprint races, but it was race two winner Russell Jamieson who emerged victorious with three second place finishes to go with his win. Harpas’ seventh place finish in race two proved costly, giving up crucial points to Jamieson for his round crown.

View full results at speedhive.com

Photos: Dennis Allen

THE BEND HOSTS SUCCESSFUL ROUND OF SA MOTORSPORT SERIES

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SUPERCARS RELEASES 2024 CALENDAR

Photos: Edge Photographics

The calendar for the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship has been announced with 12 rounds to make up next year’s schedule. Running between February and November, the 2024 calendar consists of a similar list of events to this year’s schedule, while also celebrating a number of significant milestones and two visits to the iconic Mount Panorama. The first of those two rounds will kick off the season in February, with the previously announced Bathurst 500 to follow the highly popular Bathurst 12 Hour in what will be the “Bathurst Superfest”. The second visit to the mountain will be for the season’s crown jewel, the Repco Bathurst 1000, which will once again sit in its traditional October timeslot over the second weekend of the month. Either side of the iconic race will be events reaching major milestones, with the preceding Sandown 500 to celebrate the 60th anniversary since the Victorian circuit first hosted an international six-hour race, which later evolved into the Sandown 500.

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It will also be the 50th anniversary of the first Sandown endurance event for the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars. Like this year, the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 will once again run after the Bathurst 1000, with the popular Queensland event to celebrate 25 years since Supercars first raced on the iconic Surfers Paradise street circuit. The season will then wrap up with another 25th anniversary, as the VAILO Adelaide 500 reaches its quarter century milestone midway through November. Sydney Motorsport Park and Hidden Valley will enjoy a big milestone of their own, as the

circuits will see Australia’s premiere racing category race there for the 75th time in its history. Both the betr Darwin Triple Crown and Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight will take place towards in winter and either side of the NTI Townsville 500, which will host a Supercars race for the 40th time. On the flip side, Taupō International Motorsport Park in New Zealand will be hosting its first-ever Supercars race after being added to the calendar and will slot in between the Melbourne SuperSprint at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix in March and May’s Perth SuperSprint. The ITM Taupō Super400 was one of two new events added for 2024,

alongside the Bathurst 500, and the two events come in at the expense of the cancelled Newcastle 500 and the OTR Supersprint, which will return in 2025. The New Zealand based event will run with a new Supercars racing format, with a 200km race to run on either day, with refuelling mandatory for each race.

allotted races, with Perth and Darwin being the others. Supercars CEO Shane Howard was thrilled with the calendar and was looking forward to a big year. “2024 is already shaping up as one of the biggest in our sport’s history. The celebrations at Sandown will be unique and pay homage to some of the greatest races ever seen in Australian motorsport,” Howard said.

“Next year we will see a new crop of drivers taking to some of the toughest circuits to race on in the world”

The Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight will also take on the same format, with the first of two 200km races to run under the lights of Sydney Motorsport Park, while also being the sole night race of the year.

Following Sydney will be the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint, which will be one of three events to take on the new-look Supersprint format of two 60-minute time

“The Bathurst SuperFest will give fans close to twoweeks to celebrate some of the best drivers in the world, taking on Mount Panorama. We thank the NSW Government and Bathurst Regional Council for supporting our vision to bring something new to fans. “Following discussions with management at The Bend, both

parties have agreed that the best outcome is to focus on 2025, where the South Australian venue will host an endurance event for the first time. “The circuit has produced incredible moments on track since 2018 and is well-suited for Supercars endurance racing. We’re all excited to see what happens on track when endurance racing debuts at The Bend in 2025. “Next year we will see a new crop of drivers taking to some of the toughest circuits to race on in the world, with all states and the Northern Territory once again represented on the calendar, maintaining our national footprint. “We cannot wait to begin a new chapter of racing in New Zealand in April. Our debut at Taupō will be one of the highlights of the year and already teams are planning their own celebrations for our trip across the Tasman.” The 2024 Supercars season returns with the Bathurst SuperFest on 16-25 February.

Photo: Edge Photographics

MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 45

Photo: Edge Photographics

SUPERCARS TO RECYCLE USED RACE TYRES Supercars has taken another major step towards a sustainable future partnering with Queensland-based clean conversion company Entyr. The partnership will see the two organisations come together for a program that aims to recycle used race tyres efficiently instead of them going to be buried underground or burned. In what will be a trial of the new program, Entyr has received 400 Dunlop tyres from October’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, and will look to convert them into raw materials.

having already introduced a lower carbon race fuel earlier this year.

partnership with Entyr is another key step we are taking to achieve that.”

Supercars Chief Innovation and Sustainability Officer Tim Watsford was pleased to form the partnership that will allow the Championship to tackle a significant problem around the world.

Entyr CEO David Wheeley echoed Watsford’s comments and was excited to get Supercars behind the company’s goal.

“Supercars’ alignment with Entyr is a really important part of our journey going forward,” Watsford said.

“Sustainability “From a broader sport perspective, and looking sustainability and looking our planet after our planet after are incredibly and are incredibly important, Supercars is now on our journey. important” “Seeing our race-

Should the trial be successful, Entyr and Supercars intend on recycling all old tyres used by Supercars, Super2 and Super3 throughout a season, which equates to around 14,000 tyres. The new partnership continues Australian motorsport’s journey into an environmentally sustainable future,

46 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

used Dunlop tyres converted into materials that can be used again is very gratifying and a great step for our championship. “As a sport with a huge and passionate audience, we have a great platform to try and make change and drive a greener future, and our

“We are excited to partner with Supercars and Dunlop who support our commitment to solving the global waste tyre problem,” Entyr CEO David Wheeley said. “Excitingly, we’re at the forefront of a solution to this problem. “We have an internationally patented, low-emissions thermal baking process for end-of-life tyres. Our process avoids the burning of toxic waste and is controlled within an atmospherically sealed vessel, repurposing almost 100 per cent of the tyre. “By recycling with us, the life of Dunlop’s racing tyres’ will extend beyond playing a critical role in racing safety but will continue by contributing to a decarbonised and safe solution for sustainable road infrastructure.”

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Photo: Daniel Kalisz Photographer

ARC AND SPEEDSERIES UPDATE 2024 CALENDARS The recently released Repco Supercars Championship calendar has seen both the Shannons SpeedSeries and Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) make multiple changes to their 2024 calendars to avoid clashes with Supercars.

Photo: Bob Taylor

The Shannons SpeedSeries' two changes saw rounds at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park and Queensland Raceway move rounds to later dates.

2024 SHANNONS SPEEDSERIES CALENDAR

The South Australian fourth round will now run one week later than first announced, with the new date to take place at The Bend on 31 May - 2 June, while Queensland Raceway's event has been pushed back two weeks to 2-4 August.

Round 2: Race Tasmania – 15-17 March

As for the ARC, the final two events of 2024 will now be held on new dates with the Adelaide Hills Rally to take place on 13-15 September, before the season finale in Tasmania is held one week later on 22-24 November.

Round 6: Queensland Raceway 2 – 2-4 August*

Rally Launceston will now run as the final national level event of the motorsport season.

Round 10: Supercheap Auto Bathurst International – 8-10 November

48 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

Round 1: Sandown International Raceway – 9-11 February

Round 3: Phillip Island – 12-14 April Round 4: Shell V-Power Motorsport Park (The Bend) – 31 May – 2 June* Round 5: Queensland Raceway 1 – 12-14 July

Round 7: Venue TBC – 30 August – 1 September Round 8: Sydney Motorsport Park 1 – 18-20 October Round 9: Race Sydney (Sydney Motorsport Park 2) – 1-3 November

Photo: Oz Sport Photos

2024 BOSCH MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR Round 1: Rally of Canberra – 5-7 April Round 2: Forest Rally – 17-19 May Round 3: Rally Queensland – 28-30 June Round 4: Gippsland Rally – 9-11 August Round 5: Adelaide Hills Rally – 13-15 September* Round 6: Rally Launceston – 22-24 November*

Photo: Speed Shots Photography

2024 SUPERCHEAP AUTO TCR AUSTRALIA CALENDAR ANNOUNCED The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series has confirmed a seven-round 2024 calendar that will see the series compete at a host of Australia’s best permanent circuits next year. The announcement was made on the grid at Mount Panorama ahead of the first joint Supercheap Auto TCR Australia and Kumho TCR World Tour race to be held at the iconic circuit. TCR Australia will continue to race exclusively with the Shannons SpeedSeries in 2024. The SpeedSeries program will be bigger and better than ever next year, coming off the back of a season with strong attendance and broadcast growth this year, capped off by the remarkable Kumho TCR World Tour double header which has shown the strength of the local series against the best in the world.

The 2024 schedule includes both familiar circuits and some returning to the tour for the first time in several seasons. Commencing at Sandown International Raceway in Melbourne in early February, the series will then return to the Apple Isle for Race Tasmania in March. A stop at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit will follow in April that year before TCR returns to Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at The Bend at the end of May. TCR has competed at the South Australian circuit twice previously, both times in TCRs 2019 debut season. The second visit that year also doubling as the season finale’. A trip to Queensland Raceway in July follows, before a mid-season break to

prepare for the back-to-back Kumho TCR World Tour rounds in November. That double act will see Race Sydney followed by the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International in the first two weeks of November.

2024 SUPERCHEAP AUTO TCR AUSTRALIA CALENDAR Round 1: Sandown International Raceway – 9-11 February Round 2: Race Tasmania – 15-17 March Round 3: Phillip Island – 12-14 April Round 4: Shell V-Power Motorsport Park (The Bend) – 31 May – 2 June Round 5: Queensland Raceway – 12-14 July Round 6: Race Sydney (Sydney Motorsport Park) – 1-3 November Round 7: Supercheap Auto Bathurst International – 8-10 November MOTORSPORT.ORG.AU 49

Photos: Autocraft Baskerville 1000

SUCCESSFUL SYMMONS 6-HOUR REGULARITY PROVES BIG HIT The Hobart Sporting Car Club hosted the popular Symmons 6-hour Regularity in late November, with a field of 26 cars completing more than 2500 laps of the iconic circuit. Taking place over one day, each entered vehicle started off with a score of zero and received five points for laps within one second of their nominated time, while also losing points for every lap outside of a second. After completing 242 laps, it was 7.62 Racing Division that claimed the overall victory after Paul Giddings, Nigel Clark, and Owen Clark steered their Mitsubishi Lancer to a strong score of 995.

In what proved a fierce battle for top honours, 7.62 Racing Division managed to edge out Team Newie by just five points at the conclusion of the day, with the runner-up outfit ending the day with 990 points.

With Glen Newman, Lachlan Newman, and Daniel Newman behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Magna, the second-place getters were highly consistent across the day but fell short when it mattered, as they completed eight more laps than the winners. While the battle for the outright win was close, the fight for the final podium position was even closer, with two teams eventually drawing for the place. Ending the weekend on 935 points was the Storm Racing Hyundai FX Coupe of Neville Rattray, Anthony Viney, and Scott Grant, and the Hiroshima Screamer Racing Mazda 323 of Jeremy O'Neill, Shane O'Neill, and Stephen Boustea. Although the two entries were equal on points at the conclusion of the event, the Hyundai FX Coupe was initially awarded the victory due to having completed

50 MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA SPEED READ

242 laps – four fewer than the Mazda. However, the organizing committee opted to award both crews with the podium post-event. Rounding out the top five was another Mazda 323 – this time, it was the Madaz Racing entry of Jamie Bayles, Robby Bayles, and Luke Bishop – the trio ending the event with a solid score of 885 after 250 laps.

Monochrome GT4 Australia will run as a standalone category in 2024 with six rounds to make up next year’s calendar.

After a successful inaugural season alongside Australian Production Cars in 2023, the series will now be integrated into the SRO Motorsports Australia GT4 operation from next year onwards, resulting in a fully aligned GT4 category.

Monochrome GT4 Australia Series Category Manager Troy Williams was looking forward to what would be a big year for the category’s first solo season.

“It’s exciting to see our new series coming together,” Williams said. “Alongside SRO Motorsport and Motorsport Australia, we have come up with an exciting calendar with circuits that suit GT4 cars, the broadcasting and most importantly, the competitors.

“It’s exciting to see our new For Monochrome GT4 Australia’s official series coming solo debut season, a mix of sprint and together” endurance racing “One of the things formats spread over six official rounds and one invited round will make up the schedule – all of which will feature as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries bill. The opening round of the season will take place at Phillip Island, which will coincide with the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS. Other circuits in the calendar include Shell-V Power Motorsport Park, Queensland Raceway, Sydney Motorsport Park and Mount Panorama, which will be the season finale at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International. The series will also adopt the FIA driver categorisation system, with silver-licenced drivers being the highest permitted competitors to participate in the series.

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that we wanted was endurance events and suitable race formats. Our competitors want access to some longer races. These cars are built for endurance racing, and we feel that we have struck a great balance, with a mix of 4 Hour races, 3 Hour races and short sprints that will include compulsory pit stops. “I am pleased that all parties have been able to come to an agreement and that in joining SRO as the GT4 Category Manager, we can now really showcase GT4 racing at its best.” With up to 20 cars expected to line up on the 2024 grid, SRO Motorsports Australia CEO Ben McMellan echoed William’s sentiments and believed the series going solo was an important step in the right direction.

"Being able to deliver a fully aligned GT4 offer in Australia is important for the sport and sponsors," McMellan added.

"The support from Karl Begg and Troy Williams from APC has underpinned being able to achieve this outcome. As part of maintaining the current momentum, it is great that Troy will now join SRO as the Category Manager for the SRO Monochrome GT4 Australia Series." The Monochrome GT4 Australia Series will run a non-series round at Sandown Raceway on 9-11 February, before the official season kicks off at Phillip Island on 12-14 April.

2024 MONOCHROME GT4 AUSTRALIA CALENDAR Non-series: Sandown International Raceway – 9-11 February 3 hour Enduro Round 1: Phillip Island - 12-14 April 2 x 60 min Sprints Round 2: Shell V-Power Motorsport Park (The Bend) - 31 May - 2 June 2 x 60 min Sprints Round 3: Queensland Raceway - 2-4 August 4 hour Enduro Round 4: Venue TBC - 30 August - 1 September 4 hour Enduro Round 5: Sydney Motorsport Park – 18-20 October 2 x 60 min Sprints Round 6: Supercheap Auto Bathurst International - 8-10 November 2 x 60 min Sprints

Photo: Speed Shots Photography

MONOCHROME GT4 AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES STANDALONE SERIES IN 2024

CONTACT US The Motorsport Australia member hotline is open from 9am to 5pm AEST So for all your motorsport needs call the Motorsport Australia Hotline on 1300 883 959, or visit the website at motorsport.org.au Email memberservices@motorsport.org.au

l Hit up Motorsport Australia on social media for photos from events, news, videos and other great motorsport content.

SEND US YOUR STORIES If you have a motorsport story which you think should be told, get in touch with us and it could appear in Speed Read. If you have pictures or videos of motorsport you would like to share with us, we encourage you to do so. They could appear on our website, social media platforms or in Speed Read. Please email communications@motorsport.org.au We look forward to hearing from you.

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