MOTORSPORT: New Sydney prod-car enduro is go

The Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) has announced a new production-car endurance race that it hopes will become Sydney's annual "marquee event" from next year.

Set to open the 2017 motorsport year at Sydney Motor Sport Park, the inaugural '10 Hours of Sydney' will be held over January 13-15.

It will be open to production touring and production sports cars, and held over two five-hour stints – the first taking advantage of summer by starting on Saturday afternoon and running into the early twilight.

Off-track activities will be headlined by a ‘pit party’ BBQ including live music for competitors, officials and fans alike on the Saturday night, when camping will be encouraged within the SMP precinct, before racing resumes on Sunday morning.

The ARDC says a full support race program will be included, with more than 200 cars confirmed for the broad eligibility list, which includes everything from BMW M3/M4, Lotus Exige/Elise and Toyota 86 sports cars to Mitsubishi Lancer EVO rally rockets and Holden/HSV V8s.

Emphasis will be placed on class competition rather than outright victory and organisers say several "common sense" clauses in the technical regulations will "allow for some freedoms not otherwise allowed at alternate events".

All cars will be required to run a control R-Spec tyre, with the brand yet to be finalised.

ARDC CEO Glenn Matthews said the 10 Hours of Sydney, which will take place a month before the Bathurst 12 Hour, will usher in a new era of production car racing in Australia's biggest city.

“We are always working to add to our events program at Sydney Motor Sport Park and especially with something as exciting as the 10 hours of Sydney.

“This race will ensure Sydney Motor Sport Park is the starting point for the 2017 season and an enjoyable way to start the New Year for both competitors and spectators alike.

“We are certain that within a few short years the 10 Hours of Sydney will be held in the same esteem as other major events held at the venue, including the Muscle Car Masters, World Time Attack Challenge and Sydney Retro Racefest.”

Motorsport category and series administrator Curkpatrick Management Group, who will oversee event operations in conjunction with the ARDC, expects a grid of up to 50 cars for the race.

“There was a hole in the marketplace for an event of this type, which puts the focus on competitor enjoyment and an inclusive eligibility list that allows a wide range of cars to compete,” said Rob Curkpatrick.

“The ARDC had the vision to embrace the concept and do something ‘outside the box’ that offers something different for competitors and spectators alike. The rules allow for a wide range of Production Touring and Production Sports cars that can be reasonably modified to better suit this style of racing.

“The event sits on its own and isn’t designed to compete with other endurance races on the calendar. We think it’s complimentary – hence the decision to broaden the Production Car eligibility requirements without stretching to GT3 vehicles.

“Early feedback from prospective competitors has been strong and we are expecting a grid of up to 50 cars for the inaugural race.”

Among them could be former Formula Ford and Formula 4 racer Jimmy Vernon (pictured), who now races a Toolforce-sponsored Toyota 86 in the NSW Production Touring Car series.

“We are already working on 2017 and events like this are the type that we really want to contest," he said.

“It’s a different style of race to everything else on the calendar and will be held at a great circuit so it ticks a lot of boxes from a driver point of view and for when it comes to selling it to our sponsors or potential co-drivers.

“I’ll be following it very closely and we will absolutely have it on our radar when we finalise our 2017 plans.”

Entries open on September 1, when supplementary regulations will be released (further media, broadcast and event details will be confirmed in coming weeks), and more details can be found at www.10hoursofsydney.com.au.