The Shannons Nationals has confirmed its nine-round calendar for 2014 and the addition of the Sports Racer Series to its roster.

As previously reported, the first and final rounds have been swapped, with Sandown now set to host the opener before the season concludes at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The remainder of the schedule is unchanged, with single visits to Mallala, Winton, Wakefield Park and Queensland Raceway, as well as two trips to Phillip Island.

The July Sydney Motorsport Park event also returns, ensuring the venue now hosts two rounds.

“We are pleased with the way the 2014 calendar has come together, it offers the usual stability and consistency for our competitors but offers a few strategic changes to the start and conclusion of the season,” said Shannons Nationals director Rob Curkpatrick.

“We will start the year in Melbourne to capitalise on the fact that Victoria is the motor sport capital of Australia for most of March.

“We have several ideas planned to make Sandown a major event and a major kick-off for the new season.

“Ending the year in Sydney will be a boost for our competitors and works well with our friends at Sydney Motorsport Park, who are increasing their efforts in promoting Shannons Nationals rounds at their circuit.”

While no Shannons rounds clash with V8 Supoercars events this year, next season will see the Sandown and Mallala Shannons events run on the same dates as V8 Supercars’ Symmons Plains and Pukekohe meetings respectively.

“The clashes with two V8 Supercars rounds were basically unavoidable given the fact they now have 15 of their 16 events in Australia,” said Curkpatrick.

“It makes the calendar very crowded and some clashes could not be avoided – but there will be minimal impact on the series or the categories involved.”

In addition to the current line-up of categories, the reborn Australian Formula Ford Series and the Sports Racer Series will join the Shannons program next year.

For motorcycle-engined sportscars, the Sports Racer Series has been operating with modest fields since its debut season in 2010.

Unlike the Radical Cup, which also appears on the Shannons card, the Sports Racer Series features a variety of chassis manufacturers including Stohr, West and Speads.

See below for the 2014 Shannons Nationals calendar