Classic Porsches to Debut at Shannons Nationals

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The nation’s action track, Winton Motor Raceway, will welcome Australia’s newest heritage motorsport category, the IROC Challenge, as part of a blockbuster Shannons Nationals event next weekend, 13-14 June.

Modelled on the inaugural International Race of Champions (IROC) series held in the United States in 1973-74, the IROC Challenge will pit classic Porsche 911 RS cars head to head in their own racing category.

True to the spirit of the original IROC, the cars will feature fat tyres, aggressive body kits and Porsche’s famous “whale tail” rear wing.

IROC 1 was held across the 1973-74 period in the USA and pitted the best from Formula 1, Indy Car, Sports Car and NASCAR drivers head to head in identical Porsche 911s.

Australia’s IROC Challenge will race within the spirit of the original rules with a fleet of 3.6-litre, flat-six powered 911s from the mid-1970s.

“The build up to the opening round has been fantastic and we’re happy to be on the grid at Winton,” series founder and Category Administrator Rowan Harman said.

“There has been a lot of talk but we are at the point where we just need to get the cars on the track and show people the product we (think we’re going to) have. That will be the best possible motivation for others to get their cars out of sheds and onto the track.

“The cars look great, sound even better and the racing should be very competitive.”

The inaugural round at Winton has attracted a strong field that includes several well-known motorsport identities.

Former Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge series winner Sven Burchartz and noted Porsche racers Greg Keene and Graeme Cook are expected to be amongst the early contenders.

Victorian Burchartz came to prominence by winning the 2008 GT3 Cup Challenge title before switching to historic racing in a Group S Porsche 911.

Other entrants include South Australian husband and wife Greg Keene and Amanda Sparks, former V8 Supercars Privateer Mark Poole and Prodrive Racing Australia co-owner Rusty French.

Three races will make up the opening round of the IROC Challenge series, competing as part of Round 3 of the 2015 Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals.

Apart from the IROC Challenge, six other categories will tackle Winton Motor Raceway across the June 12-14 weekend including the Kumho V8 Touring Cars, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Formula 3, Formula Ford,  Super Six Touring Cars and Sports Racers.

All the action on Sunday will be streamed live via thenationals.com.au, and tickets will be available at the gate on both Saturday and Sunday.

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