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THE GWS Personnel Motorsport Team faces an uphill battle to see the squad's three cars on the grid this weekend for the fourth round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship at Sydney's Oran Park Raceway.
Following on from an unfortunate practice accident at Eastern Creek Raceway in July, Allan Shephard's BMW 130i has been undergoing a complete rebuild at Briffa Smash Repairs and at On Track Motorsport, with a parts supply problem from Europe providing a possible final stumbling block.
Regardless, Shephard will be on the grid in the team's Toyota Celica if the BMW is unavailable, with Peter O'Donnell's BMW also backing up after a solid run at Morgan Park for round three.
If parts can be sourced in time for Shephard's BMW, the spare Celica seat will be filled by a driver to be announced.
The meeting will be the final time that production cars run at Oran Park, with both O'Donnell and Shephard looking to enjoy a final hit out around the classic circuit.
"It will be great to have Allan back on track at Oran Park, we are really looking forward to the weekend," said O'Donnell.
"The BMW 130i really proved its worth at Morgan Park a few weeks ago, we have done more development work to the car, and I think Oran Park will suit the car once again.
"We will have our work cut out for us keeping the Fords and Holdens behind us on the straights, but I think in the longer races we can wear them down with better braking performance and tyre life.
"Jeremy Gray will be quick in his Falcon, and Jake Camilleri won there last year in his Mazda, so the fight for class honours will be interesting.
"When Oran Park closes, New South Wales will go back to only two tracks outside of Bathurst, so that will be a bit disappointing."
Shephard, who has had a long association with Oran Park, is excited to be back behind the wheel after spending the last round on the sidelines.
"It's a bit of a fight against time to get the BMW fixed in time, but in the worst case scenario the Celica will be ready to go," said Shephard.
"On Track Motorsport are pulling out all stops to get the car prepared, but we are still waiting on some suspension components to turn up.
"Oran Park is a sensational circuit, I've been going there since I was a kid watching the action, and in recent years supplying the circuit vehicles and racing there myself.
"It will be sad to see the track go, so I want to be the last man standing there on the weekend!"
A strong field of contenders is entered for the weekend, with qualifying and race one to be held on Saturday followed by another pair of races on Sunday.
GWS Personnel and True Blue Motorsport would like to thank The Shire Conveyancer, Spinifex Australia, Rogue Lager and Briffa Smash Repairs for their continued support in the Australian Manufacturers Championship.
Shannons Nationals- Australian Manufacturers Championship Timetable
Friday 28 August
9:00am Practice 20 minutes
11:40am Practice 20 minutes
1:45pm Practice 20 minutes
Saturday 29 August
9:30am Practice 15 minutes
12:55pm Qualifying 20 minutes
4:40pm Race 1- 8 laps
Sunday 30 August
8:50am Race 2- 12 laps
12:25pm Race 3- 10 laps
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