MEDIA RELEASE: A new face and new calendar has been revealed for production car racing in Australia, with the Australian Production Car Series formally locking in its 2016 calendar.
Born out of the now defunct Australian Manufacturers Championship and managed by Iain Sherrin and Ontic Sports, the Australian Production Car Series will enjoy a four round calendar in 2016.
All rounds will be run as part of the CAMS Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals, kicking off at Phillip Island (May 27-29) with what will be known as The Island 4 Hour Challenge – held on the Saturday of the race weekend.
The Series will then head to Sydney Motorsport Park across July 1-3 for the Sydney Double Trouble 500, comprising of two 250km races – increasing the racing on this weekend by 100km over previous years.
Round three will be hosted at Queensland Raceway (July 29-31), with the popular concept of night racing at the Ipswich facility to remain while the race kilometres will be increased – a 300km race will be held on Saturday night followed by a further 250km outing on the Sunday for what will be known as The Queensland Fight in the Night 550.
The fourth and final round for 2016 will be conducted at Sydney Motorsport Park, for the APCS Four Hour Grand Final (November 11-13).
In a boost for competitors, rounds two, three and four will see Friday held as an optional practice day but with no extra track costs for participation for round entrants.
APCS Category Manager Iain Sherrin said the calendar is a strong one for what will be a vital year in the production car racing scene.
“As new category managers, this year will be a building year for Ontic Sports – we have negotiated hard and done our very best to pull together a calendar that works for our competitors and supporters, and keeps costs down for our racers,” said Sherrin.
“We have been proud to be able to increase race distances at two of our events, while also presenting the optional Friday practice at three rounds for no extra cost for our racers.
“While our traditional three hour race at Sandown is missing, we do plan to return to the venue with a five-round calendar in 2017.
“This time around it was just too tight with the Bathurst 6 Hour being hugely popular within the production car ranks and just a week before the Sandown weekend, and the Shannons Nationals also unable to fit us on what is a bursting programme for that weekend at this late stage.
“Overall, we feel this is a strong calendar and we have been buoyed by the interest and support we have been receiving in these early stages from production car racers all over the country.
“To secure our position in the future of Australian motorsport we need cars on the grid, and I am looking forward to working with our racers and the production car industry at large to do what I can to help current and new entrants race with us in 2016.”
Sporting and Technical Regulations for the Australian Production Car Series are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
For more on the APCS, please visit https://www.facebook.com/
AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION CAR SERIES 2016 CALENDAR
|
Round |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
|
Round 1 Phillip Island May 27-29 |
3 x Practice 1 x 20min Qualifying |
1 x 4 Hour Race |
|
|
Round 2 Sydney Motorsport Park July 1-3 |
3 x Practice |
1 x 20min Practice 1 x 20min Qualifying 1 x 250km Race |
1 x 250km Race |
|
Round 3 Queensland Raceway July 29-31 |
3 x Practice |
1 x 20min Practice 1 x 20min Qualifying 1 x 300km Race |
1 x 250km Race |
|
Round 4 Sydney Motorsport Park November 11-13 |
3 x Practice |
1 x 20min Practice 1 x 30min Qualifying |
1 x 15min Warm-Up 1 x 4 Hour Race |
