Just one week remains until the historic opening of The Bend Motorsport Park, with Shannons Nationals hosting the first competitive motor sport event at the world class track.
The CAMS Australian Endurance Championship, the second round in the CAMS Australian GT Championship, will headline the Nationals with a field of 21 cars lining up in the race.
The driving line up has received an added boost, with Supercars driver Shane Van Gisbergen partnering Tony Quinn in a McLaren 650S, while fellow Supercars combatant and Bathurst 1000 winner, David Reynolds, will share driving duties with current CAMS Australian GT Championship leader, Jaie Robson.
The first round of the Australian Endurance Championship will utilise the impressive 7.7km-long GT circuit – the second longest permanent circuit in the world.
An impressive variety of exotic cars, including ten world-leading manufactures well represented in both the GT3 and GT4 class, will cover a staggering 500km over two races, with a combined total of an expected 68 laps.
Robson will be looking to continue his early season form after winning on his debut at Albert Park last month and leading the Championship on 156 points.
Reigning champion Geoff Emery will be looking to make up ground on Robson as he trails in equal second place with Peter Hackett who will fancy his chances after winning the 2017 Australian Endurance Championship.
While all eyes will be on the GT Championship and the new circuit, six support categories will also provide the crowd with lots of entertainment on the 4.95km International Circuit.
The six confirmed support categories are the Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia, Australian Sports Sedans Series, Australian Prototype Series, Radical Australia Cup, Heritage Touring Cars and Group S Racing.
Fans who are unable to attend the opening of the South Australian track can watch the Sunday stream live, with veteran broadcaster Greg Rust to host.
The Australian Endurance Championship will take place at the Bend Motorsport Park as part of the Shannons Nationals on 13-15 April.
Round 2: CAMS Australian GT Championship Entry List
# – Class – Sponsor – Drivers – Car
1 – CH – Valvoline – Geoff Emery/TBA – Audi R8 LMS
3 – CH – Ah Apartments – Ash Samadi/Dylan O’Keeffe – Audi R8 LMS
4 – GT4 – BP Ultimate – TBA/TBA – BMW M4 GT4
6 – CH – Timken Zagame Motorsport – Adrian Deitz/Cameron McConville – Lamborghini Huracan GT3
7 – CH – Mariani Beef Jerky – Tony Quinn/Shane van Gisbergen – Mclaren 650S GT3
8 – CH – WM Waste Management – Max Twigg/Tony D’Alberto – Mercedes-AMG GT3
11 – CH – Objective Racing – Tony Walls/Warren Luff – McLaren 650S GT3
19 – GT4 – Hogs Breath Café / Griffith Corporation – Mark Griffith/TBA – Ginetta GT4
24 – CH – KFC/Ctech Laser/Moveitnet/B&B – Tony Bates/Daniel Gaunt – Audi R8 LMS
29 – CH – Haemokinesis / Trofeo Estate / FreeM – Jim Manolios/Dean Canto – Lamborghini Huracan GT3
48 – GT4 – Interlloy / M Motorsport – Justin McMillan/Glenn Wood – Reiter KTM X-Bow
50 – GT4 – Interlloy / M Motorsport – David Crampton/Trent Harrison – Reiter KTM X-Bow
59 – CH – Total Oil / Opti-Coat / Logitech – Fraser Ross/Duvashen Padayachee – McLaren 650S GT3
63 – CH – Eggleston Motorsport – Peter Hackett/Jake Fouracre – Mercedes-AMG GT3
67 – GT4 – JMG / Bilstein – Jeremy Gray/Andrew Miedecke – Aston Martin Vantage GT4
88 – CH – Maranello Motorsport – Peter Edwards/John Bowe – Ferrari 488 GT3
98 – CH – Aussie Driver Search – Jaie Robson/David Reynolds – Mercedes-AMG GT3
100 – CH – BMW Team SRM – Steve Richards/Dean Grant – BMW M6 GT3
222 – CH – Scott Taylor Motorsport – Scott Taylor/Craig Baird – Mercedes-AMG GT3
777 – CH – The Bend Motor Sport Park – Yasser Shahin/Luke Youlden – Mercedes-AMG GT3
911 – CH – Walkinshaw GT3 – Liam Talbot/John Martin – Porsche 911 GT3-R
