AMRS WELCOMES RECORD FIELDS FOR SYDNEY ROUND

MEDIA RELEASE/AMRS-Australian Motor Racing Series – Photos: supplied

The Australian Motor Racing Series heads to Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend for its fourth round of 2019, with two of the categories on the program – the TA2 Muscle Car Series and Mazda RX8 Cup – producing their largest-ever fields.

With its loud and spectacular US-derived V8 Ford Mustangs, Chev Camaros and Dodge Challengers, the TA2 series has gone from strength to strength this season, and with two rounds to go, the title contest is shaping up as fight to the death between Aaron Seton and George Miedecke. Seton held the early ascendancy, but Miedecke has won the two most recent rounds to close the points margin to 16 heading into the penultimate round.

Another driver to watch in the 30-car field will be 17-year-old Nathan Herne, who has arguably been the fastest driver over the last two events, but missed out on round victories due to mechanical problems.

Round 4 of the Mazda RX8 Cup will feature a 27-car field, including no less than five series rookies. All of the debutants come into the category with impressive credentials in other categories: Daniel Reynolds is a multiple Formula Vee champion and successful production car racer, Adam Dodd has vast experience in Mazda race cars, Matt Chick was a race winner in the old Commodore Cup series, Nandi Kiss has raced in Dunlop Super2 Series and V8 Utes, and Shannon McLaine has a solid karting background.

While the fight for unofficial “rookie of the round” honours will be intense, the competition for the outright series win is alive as well, with only a handful of points separating Will Harris and Aaron Prosser. The likes of Terry Lewis, Nick Dunkley and Ben Silvestro are also close enough to be in with a shot.

He has started the season with a perfect record of nine wins from nine races, and if John Magro can keep up his winning form in the Australian Formula 3 Championship, he has a chance of equalling Ben Clucas’ 2006 record of 12 consecutive race wins. While Magro’s advantage in the Championship Class standings is substantial, the battle for National Class honours is much closer, just five points separating Gerrit Ruff and Roman Krumins.

This weekend’s GT-1 Australia round will be a battle between Australia and the rest of the world, with nine Aussie-designed and built MARC Cars taking on some of the finest GT cars from Germany and Italy.

The absence of points leader Keith Kassulke opens up the championship contest, with the likes of John Morriss (Porsche GT3-R) and Audi drivers Rod Salmon and Matt Stoupas well-placed to fight to the top of the points table.

The Stock Car Series, which features cars from the American NASCAR category, has undergone a resurgence in 2019 under the ownership of Goulburn mechanic Zac O’Hara. This weekend’s 14-car field is one of the biggest in recent times, and features a combination of regulars like David Hender and Trevor Crisp, along with the returning Ian McAlister and newcomers such as Legend Car drivers James Burge and Stephen Chilby. The Stock Cars will be combined with Aussie Racing Utes, Saloon Cars and Production Cars.

Rounding out the program for this weekend’s round will be the Super Mini category, which includes a mixture of old and new Minis.

Spectator admission is $15 for Saturday, $20 for Sunday and $30 for a two-day pass; kids under 16 are free when accompanied by a paying adult.

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