The CAMS Australian GT Championship has unveiled its seven-round calendar for 2019, touring four states around the country.
The calendar is made up of four sprint races and three endurance races, with two sprint rounds both opening and closing the championship. Within the calendar, the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship will hold three consecutive rounds in between.
The popular category also welcomes back the GT4 Championship and the CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series – both classes are expected to coincide within the seven round calendar.
All three Endurance rounds will be in conjunction with the Shannons Nationals, with Phillip Island, The Bend Motorsport Park and Sandown all hosting a round.
The Shannons Nationals will host the three endurance rounds throughout the middle of the year, meaning the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship will be run and won by September. The final two rounds will then determine the outright champion.
For the fourth consecutive year, the season will commence at Albert Park on the billing of Australia’s biggest motor sport event, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
Australian GT manager Ken Collier was thrilled with the calendar’s release, highlighting the diversity of the formats and events to take place in 2019.
“We’re excited by the calendar we’ve put together for next season,” Collier said.
“It offers an interesting blend of formats and events which play to the strengths of what these cars can do.
“The Grand Prix is the perfect way to start our season because so many of the brands represented in Australian GT are also on the Formula 1 grid.
“It’s also one of the biggest events of the year, and one we’re proud to have been part of for the last few years.”
The GTs will then visit the west to Barbagallo to join up with the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship for their first of three appearances.
Following September’s final endurance round at Sandown, the category will move north to the Gold Coast for the first time in seven years and re-join Supercars for the Vodafone Gold Coast 500.
The Sandown 500 event will then curtail the CAMS Australian GT Championship season in November.
“Having three endurance events was important to us as we felt that offered a really good balance in 2018, and made for a fantastic Australian Endurance Championship battle that went to the final round,” Collier added.
“And to return to the streets of Surfers Paradise is a fabulous opportunity. It’s been a few years since we’ve been there, so we’re looking forward to showcasing these fabulous cars, teams and drivers at that event.
“Off the back of what was a thrilling end to the 2018 season last weekend, we’re very much looking forward to next year with this exciting calendar.”
The calendar news comes off the back of the 2018 CAMS Australian GT Championship season finale in New Zealand, which saw 2017 champion Geoff Emery claim a sensational comeback and win the championship for the second year running.
