All you need to know about the Sydney Sunset Showdown
The Sydney Sunset Showdown, Round 3 of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series kicks off this Friday and will be packed to the rafters with 162 entries across eight categories.
Image: MPix
After a break of a couple of months, teams and drivers will be keen to get back into things at one of the nation’s most popular circuits, Sydney Motorsport Park.
One of the highlights of the two-day Sydney Sunset Showdown is the amount of nighttime racing action, with on track activities running from 8.00am until 10.30pm on both days.
The eight categories on the bill are all highly quality categories, headlined by the TA2 Muscle Car Series.
The remaining categories are the Yokohama AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship, Game Over Australian Endurance Championship, Australian IRC Series, Formula RX8, TFH Hire Legend Cars Australia, Hankook Australian Drivers’ Championship and Sports Compact.
The TA2 Muscle Car Series is incredibly competitive this season with Alice Buckley holding a slender four-point margin over Tyler Cheney in the championship.
However, with the likes of Super2 drivers Ben Gomersall and Tommy Smith, Aussie Racing Car and Touring Car Masters series winner Joel Heinrich, as well as the experienced Jackson Rice, it is all to play for.
This round contains 22 TA2 entries and encompasses some new and returning names. The most notable is Nash Morris, the Super2 Series driver returns after making a cameo appearance alongside Brodie Kostecki in Round 2.
Aussie Racing Car race winner Scott Dornan will be making his debut in the series, while Kiara Zabatakis and Hayden Hume return after missing the previous round.
The Yokohama AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship entry list is as strong as ever, with all of the established front runners returning to do battle once more.
Former TGR 86 Series winner Oli Wickham leads the championship, however young Isaac Demellweek and the consistent Seth Burchartz are hot on his heels. Other race winners on the grid are Jamie Rowe and Lachie Mineeff.
The Game Over Australian Endurance Championship’s Sydney 3 Hour takes place on Saturday and will see many notable names take part once again.
Names include 13-time Supercars race winner Fabian Coulthard, TV star and multiple-time Bathurst 1000 starter Grant Denyer, GT4 ace Tom Hayman and ex-TGR 86 Series front-runners, Luke King and Luke van Herwaarde.
Image: Mpix
The Australian built IRC machines are back with a big field for the round at SMP, notably with multiple-time race winner Geoff Taunton making his return.
A huge field of GT cars will be joining them on track, from a McLaren 650s, Lamborghini Gallardo and a whole host of Porsche Cup Cars.
As always, the TFH Hire Legend Cars Australia Championship boasts a huge field of entries, this round will see 35 of the pocket rockets, and includes all the usual suspects.
Ruben Dan, Chais Tippett, Dylan Thomas, Riley Skinner, Josh Craig, Maverick Kemenyvary and Ryan Pring are just some of the regular front runners entered.
The one-make Mazda RX8 series, Formula RX8 visits Sydney Motorsport Park off the back of their National title at One Raceway.
That weekend was dominated by championship leader Stiaan Kriel, and there is no doubt he is the one to beat in Sydney. But Justin Lewis, reigning champion Matthew Boylett and Antonio Cafiso will be keen to stop him.
Image: MPix
The Hankook Australian Drivers’ Championship is more open than ever, Bradley Smith continues to lead the series, however Lucas Stasi closed the gap at One Raceway.
At the most recent round both Zac Catlin and Harry Strik broke through to take their maiden wins in the series, with the latter also winning his first round.
Sports Compact Neon Lights Powered by Exedy will make its debut with the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series on Friday. The category contains loud, pint-sized rockets from a John Cooper Works Mini, to a Renault Clio Cup Car and even an old-school Toyota Corolla AE71.
For more information on Sports Compact click the link here.
The full entry list of all categories can be found here.
From 5pm-9pm AEST on Friday and Saturday nights, the racing action will be broadcast live on SBS Viceland/SBS on Demand, Fox Sports 507, and streamed through Kayo Sports.
Additional races will be streamed on the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series YouTube Channel. Friday will features over three hours of livestreaming coverage, from 2.55pm–4.25pm AEST, and from 9.00pm–10.30pm.
Saturday features a four-hour livestream before the TV coverage commences, running from 12.30pm–4.30pm AEST.
The Hi-Tec Oils Super Series YouTube Channel can be viewed by clicking the link here.
The full track schedule can be found here.
A simple general admission pass gives you free access to the pit straight grandstand and paddock.
A full-day Friday ticket costs $20, however a pass purchased after 3pm is just $15. A Saturday pass costs $30, with the two-day ticket at just $40. Kids under 16 can enter the venue for free. Click here to purchase your passes.