Shannons Supercar Showdown chases V8 talent

Grant Denyer’s latest television adventure will see him join forces with Kelly Racing in the hunt for a new V8 Supercar driver. The program, titled Shannons Supercar Showdown, will run on 7mate and premieres on Saturday 23 July.

There will be 10 drivers—including three females, one Kiwi and one Briton—fighting for the chance to drive with Denyer at this year’s Bathurst 1000.

The show promises a true behind the scenes look at a top line V8 Supercar team. As well as showcasing the on-track action it will bring viewers closer to the engineers and mechanics, designers, dieticians and personal trainers.

We’re not sure if this will be a hit or a total flop, but it’s sure to be fun finding out. Read more in the official press release after the break.

Shannons Supercar Showdown Coming on 7Mate

• A revolution in motorsport television will launch on 7Mate on July 23.

One of Australia’s hottest race teams – Kelly Racing – is throwing open its doors to allow TV cameras behind the scenes, while also embarking on a global search to find the next young gun driver to join their ranks.

And the rookie’s first assignment? To compete for the team in the country’s most famous motorsport event, The Bathurst 1000!

For the first time in V8 Supercar history, the cameras will enter the inner sanctum of a race team for a full season. Supercar fans will follow all the drama and excitement as the team chases vital championship points.

Hosted by Grant Denyer, Shannons Supercar Showdown joins Kelly Racing as Rick & Todd Kelly, Greg Murphy and David Reynolds battle the 2011 V8 Supercar Series. Race fans will meet the people behind the scenes critical to the success of a motorsport race team from engineers and mechanics to designers, dieticians and personal trainers.

Local and International hopefuls, including three female drivers, will also descend on Kelly Racing’s HQ to take part in this world-first event. For the winner, a seat on the starting grid at the legendary Bathurst 1000 beckons, where they will co-drive a Kelly Racing prepared V8 Supercar with Series host, Grant Denyer.

Ten of the hottest up-and-coming drivers from Australia and across the globe will compete for the coveted spot, as they eat, sleep and train with Kelly Racing and learn everything there is to know about becoming a champion driver.

Over the Series they will be eliminated one by one until only the best of the best is left standing.

Announcing the initiative, Shannons National Marketing Manager, Mark Behr, said the Supercar Showdown was the perfect platform to demonstrate Shannons commitment to motoring enthusiasts.

“In addition to supporting over 800 motoring enthusiast events Australia-wide, Shannons is proud to be a part of a pioneering endeavour that will showcase driving talent and potentially, discover a future V8 Supercar star,” he said.

Each of the 10 contestants will drive a track-prepared Renault RS Megane 250 hot-hatch, before graduating to the Shannons V8 Supercar as part of the Series format.

Team Owner, Rick Kelly said: the series would showcase Kelly Racing as the benchmark team on and off the track.

“We take our role as Team Owners seriously and are keen to encourage the development of new talent into our sport through marketing innovation, he said.

“The scale of this project has been enormous and we are proud to be working with Shannons to make it happen.”

The Shannons Supercar Showdown will launch Saturday afternoon, July 23 on 7 Mate.

About the contestants

AMBER ANDERSON (Female – 26 years old)
Amber Anderson is the regular leader of the pack in V8 Supercars Championship as the driver of the series Safety Car. She has degrees in Commerce and Law and is a qualified pilot and SCUBA diver. Has competed in Fujitsu V8 Supercars Development Series previously.

ANDREW JORDAN (Male – 21 years old)
All the way from Britain, Andrew Jordan adds international flavour. A three-time race winner in the British Touring Car Championship. Former rally cross and Renault Clio Cup driver who has highlighted V8 Supercars as the next step in his career.

BEN SMALL (Male – 23 years old)
Ben Small comes out of retirement for one last shot at a V8 Supercars career. After a decorated career in karting and Formula Ford he stepped away from racing several seasons ago to be a snowboard instructor in Colorado, USA. His father Les and older brother James both experienced racing engineers.

CAMERON WATERS (Male – 16 years old)
From Mildura, Victoria – also the hometown of Todd and Rick Kelly – Cameron Waters has been touted as one of the next big things in Australian motorsport. While only 16 and still in high school, he currently leads the Australian Formula Ford Championship and has already tested a V8 Supercar.

DAVID SERA (Male – 22 years old)
One of the most successful drivers in Australian karting history, David Sera has dominated karting events in Europe, Australia, the Middle East and the United States for the last decade, having starting racing at the tender age of seven. An 11-time Australian karting champion, has earned the nickname ‘Deadly’ as a result of his domination of the sport.

HAYLEY SWANSON (Female – 23 years old)
Some time race driver, some time model, Hayley Swanson has the same combination of speed and glamour that has made Danica Patrick a household name in the United States. Having raced in production cars and Aussie Racing Cars she now turns her attention to the big time with a shot at V8 Supercars.

NICK CASSIDY (Male – 16 years old)
Following in the legendary footsteps of New Zealand racing greats such as Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon and Scott Dixon, Nick Cassidy is flying the Kiwi flag. A race winner in Formula Ford, Formula Toyota and even Speedway competition in his homeland, Cassidy has set his sights on following countrymen Greg Murphy and Shane Van Gisbergen into V8 Supercars.

NICK FOSTER (Male – 19 years old)
The Queenslander eats and sleeps motorsport, working for a race team when not racing himself in the Australian Formula Ford Championship. Nick Foster is a multiple race winner in Formula Ford and karting and also studies Civil Engineering at university.

SAMANTHA REID (Female – 24 years old)
Samantha Reid started racing karts in her hometown of Adelaide as an eight year old and since then has tried her hand at Formula Ford, Formula 3 and was a part of an all-female production car team that raced in the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2007. Studied Mechatronic Engineering at university and is one of the youngest fully qualified driver trainers in Australia.

SHAE DAVIES (Male – 21 years old)
When he is not on the race track Shae Davies can be found working on heavy machinery such as cranes, drill rigs and excavators in his home state of Queensland. Another contestant from the highly competitive Australian Formula Ford Championship with a background in karting.