Watch Episode 3 of the Shannons Supercar Showdown 2013.
Points Gap Tightens as Young Guns Find Form in 2013 Shannons Supercar Showdown
School age V8 rookies came out firing in a thrilling third episode of the Shannons Supercar Showdown on 7mate last Saturday, closing the points gap to their older and more experienced peers,who now have a real fight on their hands.
16-year-old Todd Hazelwood - the youngest contestant in the series - and 17-year-old ‘wild child’ James Golding were two of the four top points scorers to emerge from another crucial pair of challenges.
The teenagers overcame early nerves to score maximum points for their respective teams, each comprising four rookies headed by Ford Performance Racing’s V8 Supercar drivers and team captains Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison.
The eight contestants face increasingly tough challenges in the weeks ahead as they compete for the ultimate prize – a testing contract with FPR plus a drive in the Dunlop Development Series in a Shannons-sponsored V8 Supercar.
The first challenge in week three was to get behind the wheel of a 125 hp Formula Ford single seater racing car capable of 250 km/h top speeds. Each V8 rookie was allowed two flying laps of the test track against the clock – the driver with the fastest time earned the most points.
Formula Three racer Todd Hazelwood (16) top scored for Team Davison with an impressive display of his open wheeler driving skills while the UK’s Daniel Cammish (24) proved his British Formula Ford championship pedigree by scoring maximum points for Team Winterbottom.
Overly aggressive driving by teenage tearaway James Golding led to instant disqualification from the Formula Ford Challenge when he came to a smoking halt during his timed run after causing serious gearbox damage.
Next up was the V8 Hot Lap Challenge which required each of the eight contestants to climb aboard the booming ShannonsFastrack Racing V8 Challenge Car for two more flying laps of Calder Park against the stopwatch.
The V8 rookies were not only competing for the fastest time and top points but also trying to impress Ford Performance Racing Team Principal Tim Edwards, who was in attendance and will be making the final decision on who wins the coveted FPR testing contract.
The raw speed of 17-year-old James Golding helped make amends for his disqualification from the Formula Ford Challenge by setting the fastest time for Team Winterbottom. Overall points leader Tim Macrow (31) made sure the young guns didn’t take a clean sweep of the rich points on offer though by setting fastest time in the V8 Hot Lap Challenge for Team Davison.
Macrow now holds a slender three-point lead over Team Winterbottom’s Craig Dontas (33) but their younger rivals are starting to pile on the pressure approaching the series’ half-way point.
Make sure you don’t miss the Shannons Supercar Showdown next Saturday on 7mate (check local guides for times). Plus there’s the chance to WIN a Ford Falcon XR6 Ute valued at more than $42,000 including 12 months of Shannons comprehensive insurance.
To enter this great competition, go to: Shannonssupercarshowdown.com.au