The Shannons Nationals this weekend celebrates its 100th round and, fittingly, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Pirelli will be present for its second event of the 2017 season.
GT3 Cup Challenge has been a key component of the Shannons Nationals race schedule since the all-Porsche series first started at Mallala Motor Sport Park in 2008. Since then, GT3 Cup Challenge has held 51 of its total 53 rounds at Shannons Nationals events on race tracks across the country.
This weekend’s Porsche field will again predominantly feature Elite Class competitors, led by Sam Shahin, who was the outright and class winner from the opening Sandown round.
Shahin returns this weekend with substantial driving duties; in addition to racing in GT3 Cup Challenge the South Australian, along with Anthony Gilbertson and Rob Woods, will take part in the two one-hour, two-driver Pro-Am races as part of the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship.
Shahin holds a 15 point lead in the Elite Class from the most experience Porsche competitor in the field, John Morriss, and Gilbertson in third.
The Professional Class is set for another exciting weekend as former Olympic sprinter John Steffensen returns for his second round in the series having won the class on debut at Sandown. Steffensen had an impressive weekend to score strong outright results and also capitalised on DNFs from his class rivals Jordan Love and Brenton Grove to take the class victory.
Michael Tsigeridis enters the round as the Class B leader after a successful Sandown opener, closely followed by David Greig.
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Pirelli will hold three 11-lap races across the Phillip Island round.
To watch the two Sunday races of GT3 Cup Challenge from Phillip Island, link to the live stream, available at the Shannons Nationals website at www.thenationals.com.au.
Entry List – Round 2
#13 Sam Shahin (Elite Class) HTFU
#16 John Karytinos (Elite Class) Richmonds Automotive
#19 Anthony Gilbertson (Elite Class) Hallmark Homes
#23 Brenton Grove (Professional Class) Grove Hire
#25 Nick Karnaros (Elite Class) Porsche Centre Brighton
#29 Rob Woods (Elite Class) Platinum Nightclub
#34 John Morriss (Elite Class) Motorsport Leasing P/L
#65 Ben Stack (Elite Class) DNA Racing
#68 Michael O’Donnell (Elite Class) SHOAL/Thomson Geer
#78 John Steffensen (Professional Class) Zagame Autosport
#79 Jordan Love (Professional Class) Sonic Motor Racing / Quintis
#81 Michael Tsigeridis (Class B) Hunter French Real Estate
#84 Brett Boulton (Elite Class) Bold Living
#87 David Greig (Class B)
#88 Phil Morriss (Elite Class) Morriss Racing Services
#99 Ross McGregor (Elite Class) Southern Star Windows
Race Schedule
Friday May 26, 2017
11:15am Practice 1 (30 minutes)
1:20pm Practice 2 (30 minutes)
Saturday May 27, 2017
11:05am Qualifying (20 minutes)
1:30pm Race 1 (11 laps)
Sunday May 28, 2017
9:20am Race 2 (11 laps)
11:20am Race 3 (11 laps)
