The opening day of the Shannons Nationals 100th round is complete, with competitors getting in their practice before official races begin tomorrow.
CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship
CAMS Foundation Rising Star Ryan Suhle shone in the Phillip Island sun, setting the fastest time in today’s CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Qualifying session.
The rookie set the fastest time in the 20-minute session with a 1:33.5757, just .06s from the current championship leader Liam Lawson.
Lawson led South Australian Josh Denton, who will start on the second-row alongside Cameron Shields for tomorrow’s opening race.
Aaron Love finished fifth for the session, ahead of Tyler Everingham, Simon Fallon and Nick Rowe.
Rowe was fastest in Practice 2, while Suhle topped the opening practice.
The CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship will contest two races tomorrow.
Radical Australia Cup
Michael Shaw showed the Radical Australia Cup field today, with the New South Welshmen topping both of today’s practice sessions.
Three-tenths of a second separated Shaw from current series leader Peter Paddon, who has currently won every race in the 2017 season.
Oliver Smith crossed the line in both sessions with the third fastest time.
Combined practice times saw Peter Johnston with fourth quickest lap for the day, ahead of Rowan Ross.
Radical Australia Cup returns to the Island tomorrow, fronting up for Qualifying and their opening race for the weekend.
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
Returning to the Shannons Nationals for the first time in two years today was Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, and it was returning star Nick Foster who posted today’s quickest lap.
Foster, who currently competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship, posted the fastest lap of 1:30.3846, Foster’s time was only 0.3s slower than Matt Campbell’s qualifying lap record at the circuit and comfortably under the race lap record – currently held by Scott McLaughlin.
Current series leader Andre Heimgartner and co-driver Aaron Ireland were second overall, just .08s behind Foster’s flyer today.
Nick McBride and Dylan Thomas set the third quickest time overall for the day, while Jaxon Evans and Tim Miles crossed the line with their fastest lap .01s behind McBride’s best.
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia will have their Qualifying and opening endurance race tomorrow.
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Pirelli
West Australian Jordan Love has continued to impress in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, claiming the fastest times in both of today’s practice sessions.
Love, who won the Formula 4 round here in 2016, was five-tenths of a second fastest to Brenton Grove in second.
Anthony Gilbertson was fastest of the Elite class drivers, setting the third quickest lap in today’s combined session times.
South Australian John Karytinos was fourth fastest, ahead of John Morris and Zagame Autosport’s John Steffensen.
The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge series will be back tomorrow, featuring their qualifying session and opening race for the round.
The CAMS Australian Endurance Championship will be on track tomorrow to begin their race weekend.
The Nationals TV livestream will also return on Sunday, featuring the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Pro-Am race and the 500km CAMS Australian Endurance Championship season opening race.
