THE 2023 PRECISION National Sports Sedans Series will assemble at Winton Raceway on June 9-11, for the opening round of the 2023 Precision National Sports Sedan Series.
It’s a big start to the National Sports Sedan season, in a year that will see the fast and furious Sports sedans compete over a five round series including two rounds at high profile Supercars rounds, the Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 500.
Over 30 entries from across the country have entered to compete at the Nations Action Track for the Shannons Speed Series round at Winton.
The first round of the series see’s the expected return of some category legends and some new faces.
In some big news 11-time champion Tony Ricciardello in his Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet, has returned to the category since taking the 2019 championship after the record setting WA winner was forced to sit out three seasons.
The big challenger will be reigning champion Jordan Caruso is also back in the John Gourlay prepared Audi A4 after a dominant 2022, and with plenty of experience at Winton, he’ll be looking to kickstart his campaign with a victory.
His chief rival Steve Tamasi is also ready to roll in his Holden Calibra after mechanical issues brought his 2022 title challenge undone at the Sandown finale, with his father Daniel Tamasi also expected to join the grid in the coming rounds.
Entering the series this season is new young gun and multiple national TA2 race winner Josh Haynes, who’ll be taking up the charge in Phil Crompton’s Ford Mustang in place of Daniel Crompton.
Drivers from all over the nation will be heading into Victoria, with confirmed entries from NSW, Queensland, WA and Tassie, as well some entrants from SA still to be confirmed.
The group of around eight drivers from NSW includes the likes of Steve Lacey in his Chevrolet Camaro, and Mark Duggan from the Duggan Family Racing team, again competing in the slick looking Aston Martin DBR, which now carries the colours of Victoria Bitter in a great sponsorship coup.
From across the strait, another front running returnee in Alex Williams will provide a welcome comeback in his Mazda RX7 Turbo after also being waylaid by the pandemic.
From Queensland, Ashley Jarvis returns in the popular Smith Family Monaro with a new livery, as well as Tim Triton in the Honda Prelude who missed much of last year, and Anthony Cox in his SAAB.
Another solid competitor from WA is also Ryan Humphrey, retuning to Winton with his competitive Falcon XD.
The series also welcomes a new second level series sponsor, in Sydney’s Earlcore Property Developments.
After the long-awaited opening round at Winton – which perhaps has some more big national names to be confirmed – that’s followed with a round at the Queensland Raceway, then SMP (where the field will once again contest for the perpetual Des Wall trophy) in August and September.
Then comes the big support slot at the Great Race on October 5-8, followed by the Gold Coast 500 on October 27-29.
Category manager and racer Michael Robinson spoke to Auto Action, saying that it’s a huge boon for the popular series, where they will return to both tracks for the first time since 1993.
“It’s pretty unique that we’re back 30 years later to compete at both those events,” Robinson said.
“We’re very fortunate to be on those grids, and the talk all around the country in Sports Sedan circles is that they’re both pretty impressive opportunities.
“After the difficulties we’ve worked through this year to get the series going, it’s very motivating to have a five-round series with two Supercars events, it’s fantastic for everybody with our field coming from all over the country.
“None of us have actually raced at Surfers Paradise because it’s been 30 years since the categories were there.
“And of course, the Bathurst 1000 is going to be special for us, and we’ll have a 38-grid capacity for that with six on-track sessions.
The Duggan Family racing team - Mark Duggan drives the VB backed Aston Martin, while Scott Cameron will be aboard the Pendle Inn backed Commodore.
