V8 Supercars Set To Sizzle At The SMSP 400.

James Courtney, HRT. (C)

    V8 Supercar co-drivers must certainly be rubbing their hands together with anticipation at the prospect of the endurance season, the Pirtek Enduro Cup, looming ever so large. Sandown 500, Bathurst 1000, Gold Coast 600; awesome. The long wait is almost over. Being embedded in a team is not quite the same as racing, but what it does provide is a learning curve as to how a team operate. Could be immeasurable around a circuit such as Mt Panorama.
    But wait! Are we getting ahead of ourselves? Sydneysiders must also be rubbing their hands together, as there's the not too small matter of the Sydney Motorsport Park 400 to contest. The last SuperSprint format event before the endurance season commences.
    Red Bull Racing's Jamie Whincup's recent resurgence has given the defending champ a slender 15 point lead over FPR's Mark Winterbottom. Will this be an old fashioned Holden vs Ford stoush that runs all the way to the Sydney 500 at Homebush? Craig Lowndes' consistent podium places at last round's Queensland Raceway has placed him firmly back in contention, plus James Courtney's stunning win for HRT in the Sunday race has resulted in blowing the championship wide open. Points acquired at the SMSP 400 before the unpredictability of the Pirtek Enduro Cup could proved invaluable in the grand scheme of things.
    A bumper program is scheduled for the SMSP 400. V8 Supercars excite our senses with 2 x 100km races on Saturday and a 200km feature race on Sunday. Ably supporting the V8's is a absolute plethora of tin-tops to entertain the fans. Porsche Carrera Cup, Touring Car Masters, Australian GT; and making their debut as a V8 Supercar support, Radical Australia Cup. Any of our friends that frequent this site will know how much we love the exotic marques of GT, not to mention the very nimble Radicals. These light weight open cockpit sports cars will run comparable if not quicker times than the V8's. This year there's a designated Park + BBQ area. So grab your cameras (Nikons we hope), pack the barbie  and esky, bring the family, and don't forget your earplugs. 
                                             See you at the SMSP 400. Ciao....  

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