|
After 30 years of competition, the Queensland Gemini Series continues to go from strength to strength, and after a 10 year break from national level race meetings, the class will be back in the spotlight at the Shannons Nationals at Morgan Park Raceway on August 8-9.
A proven breeding ground for motorsport champions, the class still represents fantastic value for money and some of the best racing action seen from any class on the Australian motorsport scene.
The key to the success of the class has been a stable rule book for the past three decades, which still allows for freedoms in areas such as the suspension, which gives the class a competitive edge in training new racers.
Former touring car driver and class instigator Barry Nixon-Smith is still an integral part of the class to this day.
“When we started the class, we thought that it would go for three or four years, but here we are thirty years later and it is still going strong,” said Nixon-Smith.
“The Geminis are still proving their worth as an affordable entry-level class, and the rule containment has seen the class outlast a lot of other similar categories that have opened up their rules in search of more speed.
“The strength of the class is that it provides a great grounding for drivers, with some former competitors including Paul Morris, Tony Longhurst, Wayne Park and Troy Dunstan.”
The quality 17 car field set down for the Shannons Nationals contains a mix of youth and experience.
Topping the entry list is former Fujitsu V8 Supercar driver Barry Tanton, and former production car racer Brian Smallwood.
One of the hottest prospects to join the series in recent times is son of Australian motorsport legend Gregg Hansford, Ryan Hansford, who has quickly made a habit topping the results sheets.
Other regular front runners from the series include Ben Tomlin, Melissa Thompson, Tracey Whale, John L’Estrange, Jake Brackenridge and Gerry van de Linde, while newcomers to the class out to impress include Phil Redpath, Jai Tink, Jason Hore, Tim Boyle, Philip Robinson and Wayne Holyoak.
Also entering a car is Wilson Brothers Racing, who will be kept busy running their Subaru WRX Sti in the Australian Manufacturers Championship, and veteran competitor and V8 Supercar team owner Rod Dawson.
The Shannons Nationals will be making their first visit to Morgan Park Raceway, the host venue of the CAMS Queensland Gemini Series, which will continue on August 29-30.
|
