Four sets of fathers and sons and three pairs of brothers will be on the grid for the Commodore Cup Endurance Challenge, taking place during Round Five of the Shannons Nationals at Winton Motor Raceway on 27-28 June.One of six categories running in the Shannons Nationals’ first visit to the circuit in North Eastern Victoria, the Commodore Cup Endurance Challenge has attracted a strong, 23-car field.
The centrepiece of the Commodore Cup calendar, Winton will feature a pair of 45-minute races, with two drivers per car.
The winning combination will receive the Ashley Cooper Memorial Trophy, a tribute to series alumni Cooper, who tragically lost his life in a Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series accident at the 2008 Clipsal 500.
A diverse range of co-drivers have been recruited, including V8 Supercar regulars Steve Owen and Shane Price who will join Tony Bates and series leader Nick Parker respectively.
Inter and intra-family pride will be on the line, though, with the Holdsworth, Stevenson, Ling, Pilkington, Tancredi, Domaschenz and Orr families all set to have two drivers on the grid.
Glen Holdsworth and David Stevenson will join forces in an older-model VH Commodore, taking on their sons - Brett Holdsworth, who will race with Ryan McLeod and Chris Stevenson, who is joined by Kane Millier.
“With David and I taking on our sons, it’ll be a bit like the tortoise and the hare!” Glen, who is also the father of V8 Supercar star and Commodore Cup graduate Lee Holdsworth, remarked.
“Neither of us race regularly, so we’re really in it for a bit of fun, but hopefully we’ll get a chance to show the young lads a thing or two.
“The cars are enjoyable to drive and a big field at Winton should put on plenty of good racing.”
David and Stephen Ling are among the competitors travelling from the Northern Territory to race next weekend.
Doing battle to be the best of the ‘Territorians’, David will partner Michael Fitzgerald, while his son Stephen will race with Richard Whyte.
Unlike the Holdsworth, Stevenson and Ling families, Kieren and Garry Pilkington will present a united front.
Former National and New South Wales HQ Racing champion, Kieren will make his debut in Commodore Cup, joined by father Garry.
Reigning series champion, Michael Tancredi from Geelong will defend his Endurance Challenge crown with co-driver Dean Croswell in a brand-new car.
Tancredi’s title-winning car will remain on the grid and in the family, though, with his brother Anthony joining Commodore Cup, sharing the car with Adam Beechey at Winton.
“It’ll be great having Anthony out there racing as well,” Michael said.
“My new car looks absolutely fantastic, we’ve shaken it down and it’s ready to go.
“The competition is a lot tougher this year, but Dean and I are looking forward to the Endurance Challenge and hopefully going back-to-back.”
Completing the family line-ups, Jason Domaschenz, third in the standings, will be joined by his brother Craig, while Victorian brothers Daniel and Dean Orr will also team up.
Commodore Cup will be joined by Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship, Aussie Racing Cars, Shannons V8 Touring Car Series, Kumho Saloon Cars and Formula Vee in Round Five of the Shannons Nationals.
On-track activity starts at 8:30am on Saturday 27 June, with racing from 2:30pm, before a full day of racing on Sunday.
Tickets are great value at $20 on Saturday, $35 on Sunday or $45 for the weekend, with kids under 14 and pit paddock access free.
For more information about the 2009 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships
source: http://autosports.com
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