Shannons Supercar Showdown Starts Today

The final Starting Grid has firmed for Shannons Supercar Showdown as the Series returns on 7mate ahead of the V8 Supercar Endurance season.

With a new team, new format and a massive new prize on offer, the Internationally Awarded Series now returns for the 3rd year, having debuted the youngest ever drivers in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 over the past two years.

In 2013, the Series has teamed up with Ford Performance Racing, with V8 Supercar stars Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison searching for the best young rookie, who will join FPR as the team’s Testing Rookie and have their name added to the Shannons Insurance Rookie Trophy.

Both Winterbottom and Davison have joined the Series as Team Captains and each driver is just as keen to see their rookies progress through to the final.

“We are pretty competitive on the race track as we compete for the Championship points, but the TV Series has meant that Frosty and I have been going hard at it during the week as well. We both really want to see our drivers take it as far as they can. The Shannons Supercar Showdown is a fantastic opportunity for race fans to see what it’s like behind the garage door at FPR and really showcase our sport as well," Davison said. 

The Castrol Edge Rookies will be Aussies Tim Macrow, Chelsea Angelo, Todd Hazelwood, Craig Dontas, Macauley Jones and James Goldin, with UK competitors Daniel Cammish and Adrian Campfield.

The Series will also provide an opportunity for motoring enthusiasts to interact with the TV Series.

Mark Behr, Shannons Marketing Manager, explained that the Series continued to grow and looked for new ways to give the contestants more opportunities.

“We really wanted to continue to give young race drivers the opportunity to kick-start their careers, just as we have done so with Cameron Waters and Jesse Dixon with their historic V8 Supercar debuts at Bathurst," he said. 

Both were competitors on previous seasons of the show, which were developed in association with Kelly Racing, now Nissan Motorsport. 

"We have now had over 30 drivers who have travelled from the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand and right across Australia to enter the TV Series. Series three will include a diverse range of motoring racing disciplines including Formula Ford, Karting and V8 Supercars," explained Behr.

Based at Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway over eight eventful weeks, the Castrol Edge Rookie drivers will face off in a series of challenges that will test their mental and physical skills.

Team Principal of Ford Performance Racing Tim Edwards said the team was keen to be involved in the series and had enjoyed watching the first two seasons.

“The TV Series is a great way to allow our fans to connect with us and see our Drivers in a different light to the race telecasts," Edwards said.  

"It’s been fantastic to be able to showcase our teams facilities, what we do away from the track and give viewers an insight into V8 Supercars that they usually don’t get to see. Both Will and Frosty have loved the opportunity to be part of finding and developing the rookie drivers. Dave Reynolds and Alex Davison also feature in the Series, so it’s been a complete FPR team line up."

Shannons Supercar Showdown returns on Saturday September 14 at 5pm on 7mate and Episode 1 will be repeated is replayed on Sunday at 11am.