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{{Short description|Australian motor racing title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox motorsport championship
{{Infobox motorsport championship
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| champion team =
| champion team =
| manufacturer =
| manufacturer =
| current_season = 2018 Skye Sands National Sports Sedans
| current_season = 2023 National Sports Sedans Series
| website = [http://www.sportssedans.com.au/index.html National Australian Sports Sedan Association]
| website = [http://sportssedansnational.com.au/ National Sports Sedan Series]
}}
}}


The '''National Series for Sports Sedans ''', formerly the '''Australian Sports Sedan Championship''', is a [[Confederation of Australian Motor Sport|CAMS]] sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars complying with Australian Sports Sedan regulations. This class, essentially a [[Silhouette racing car|silhouette racing car class]], caters for cars of essentially free construction but utilising some of the bodywork of a closed, series production vehicle.
The '''National Sports Sedans Series''', formerly the '''Australian Sports Sedan Championship''', is a [[Motorsport Australia]]-sanctioned national [[motor racing]] title for drivers of cars complying with Australian Sports Sedan regulations. This class, essentially a [[Silhouette racing car|silhouette racing car class]], permits three types of cars:


* Purpose-built steel [[spaceframe]] racing cars with bodywork resembling a production car sold in Australia
⚫
The category emerged following the replacement of [[Appendix J Touring Cars]] by the more restricted [[Group C Improved Production Touring Cars]] at the end of 1964.<ref name=Cockington>James Cockington, Evolution of the Sports Sedan, Musclemania magazine, 2012, pages 40 & 41</ref> Promoters of circuits such as [[Winton Raceway|Winton]] and [[Oran Park Raceway|Oran Park]] then allowed the redundant Appendix J cars to run with [[Group A Sports Cars|Sports Cars]] under the name Sports Racing Closed.<ref name=Cockington/> By 1966 cars were competing with extensive modifications, often including engine swaps.<ref name=Cockington/> By 1971 restrictions were placed on bodywork modifications ensuring that the original silhouette of the car had to be maintained.<ref>Mark Oastler, A New Direction, Australian Muscle Car magazine, Issue 25, page 43</ref> The term Sports Sedans had been in common usage for the cars <ref name=Wilson>Stewart Wilson, Holden Racing History, 1988, page 130</ref> and in 1973 [[Confederation of Australian Motor Sport|CAMS]] gave the name official recognition <ref name=Wilson/> when it introduced '''Group B Sports Sedans''' as a new racing classification.<ref>Pedr Davis, The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, page 452</ref> The category officially became '''Group 2D Sports Sedans''' in 1988,<ref>1988 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 5</ref> and '''Group 3D Sports Sedans''' in 2000.<ref>2000 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 7 - 1</ref>
* Cars based on production street car bodies.
* Purpose-built race cars constructed for the American [[Trans-Am Series]].


Beyond these basic requirements, there are relatively few restrictions on engines, drivetrains, aerodynamics, or other performance-enhancing components.
⚫
An Australia-wide championship was run each year from 1976 to 1981. It was discontinued for 1982 with the introduction of an [[Australian GT Championship]], although Sports Sedans were invited to compete in this new series, which many did as it was the only national series their cars were eligible for, but the older Sports Sedans were generally un-competitive against the new GT cars such as the [[Porsche 935]] or the converted [[Chevrolet Monza]]'s. While the power of the top Sports Sedans, which generally ran 5.0L or 6.0L [[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]] [[V8 engine]]s, was not far shy of the GT cars, the Sports Sedans were restricted to running 10" wheels while the GT cars such as the 935's were allowed up to 18" of rubber. This gave the GT cars far greater stability and enabled them to go much faster through turns. The Sports Sedan category itself was retained for state level racing. The Australian Sports Sedan Championship title was revived in 1991 and was contested annually through to 2003. Each championship was decided over a series of races, with the exception of the 1994 title, which was contested over two races at one meeting at [[Sandown Raceway]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]].
The relatively relaxed regulations mean that Sports Sedans are the fastest domestic "tin-top" racing series in Australia. At circuits such as [[Mount Panorama Circuit|Mount Panorama]], [[Queensland Raceway]], [[Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit|Phillip Island]], the Sports Sedan lap record is at least a second, and usually several seconds, faster than [[Supercars Championship|Supercars]], despite the latter being a fully professional series generally regarded as featuring Australia's best local drivers.


⚫
The category emerged following the replacement of [[Appendix J Touring Cars]] by the more restricted [[Group C Improved Production Touring Cars]] at the end of 1964.<ref name=Cockington>James Cockington, Evolution of the Sports Sedan, Musclemania magazine, 2012, pages 40 & 41</ref> Promoters of circuits such as [[Winton Raceway|Winton]] and [[Oran Park Raceway|Oran Park]] then allowed the redundant Appendix J cars to run with [[Group A Sports Cars|Sports Cars]] under the name Sports Racing Closed.<ref name=Cockington/> By 1966 cars were competing with extensive modifications, often including engine swaps.<ref name=Cockington/> By 1971 restrictions were placed on bodywork modifications ensuring that the original silhouette of the car had to be maintained.<ref>Mark Oastler, A New Direction, Australian Muscle Car magazine, Issue 25, page 43</ref> The term Sports Sedans had been in common usage for the cars<ref name=Wilson>Stewart Wilson, Holden Racing History, 1988, page 130</ref> and in 1973 [[Confederation of Australian Motor Sport|CAMS]] gave the name official recognition<ref name=Wilson/> when it introduced '''Group B Sports Sedans''' as a new racing classification.<ref>Pedr Davis, The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, page 452</ref> The category officially became '''Group 2D Sports Sedans''' in 1988,<ref>1988 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 5</ref> and '''Group 3D Sports Sedans''' in 2000.<ref>2000 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 7-1</ref>
⚫
A National Series for Sports Sedans replaced the Australian Sports Sedan Championship for 2004 <ref>Sporting Regulations for the 2004 Transzam Sports Sedan Series</ref> and has been included in the CAMS Nationals Racing Championships (now known as the [[Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships]]) since its inception in 2006.<ref>Official Programme, CAMS National Racing Championships, Round 5, Mallala, 24–25 June 2006</ref>

⚫
An Australia-wide championship was run each year from 1976 to 1981. It was discontinued for 1982 with the introduction of an [[Australian GT Championship]], although Sports Sedans were invited to compete in this new series, which many did as it was the only national series their cars were eligible for, but the older Sports Sedans were generally un-competitive against the new GT cars such as the [[Porsche 935]] or the converted [[Chevrolet Monza]]s. While the power of the top Sports Sedans, which generally ran 5.0L or 6.0L [[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]] [[V8 engine]]s, was not far shy of the GT cars, the Sports Sedans were restricted to running 10" wheels while the GT cars such as the 935's were allowed up to 18" of rubber. This gave the GT cars far greater stability and enabled them to go much faster through turns. The Sports Sedan category itself was retained for state level racing. The Australian Sports Sedan Championship title was revived in 1991 and was contested annually through to 2003. Each championship was decided over a series of races, with the exception of the 1994 title, which was contested over two races at one meeting at [[Sandown Raceway]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]].

⚫
A National Series for Sports Sedans replaced the Australian Sports Sedan Championship for 2004<ref>Sporting Regulations for the 2004 Transzam Sports Sedan Series</ref> and has been included in the CAMS Nationals Racing Championships (now known as the [[Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships]]) since its inception in 2006.<ref>Official Programme, CAMS National Racing Championships, Round 5, Mallala, 24–25 June 2006</ref>


==List of champions==
==List of champions==
[[File:Alfa Romeo GTV of Tony Ricciardello.jpg|thumb|The [[Alfa Romeo GTV]] of [[Tony Ricciardello]] at [[Mallala Motor Sport Park]] for the opening round of the [[2011 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]]. Ricciardello has won the Australian Sports Sedan Championship four times and the National Sports Sedan Series five times.]]
[[File:Alfa Romeo GTV of Tony Ricciardello.jpg|thumb|The [[Alfa Romeo GTV and Spider|Alfa Romeo GTV]] of [[Tony Ricciardello]] at [[Mallala Motor Sport Park]] for the opening round of the [[2011 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]]. Ricciardello has won the Australian Sports Sedan Championship four times and the National Sports Sedan Series eight times.]]
Winners of the Australian Sports Sedan Championship are shown below.
Winners of the '''Australian Sports Sedan Championship''' are shown below.


{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
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| [[Saab 9-3]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
| [[Saab 9-3]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
|-
|-
| [[2007 Australian Sports Sedan Series|2007 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[2007 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[Tony Ricciardello]]
| [[Tony Ricciardello]]
| [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta|Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
| [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta|Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
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|-
|-
| [[2012 Australian Sports Sedan season|2012 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[2012 Australian Sports Sedan season|2012 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[Kerry Baily]]
| Kerry Baily
| [[Aston Martin DBR9]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
| [[Aston Martin DBR9]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
|-
|-
| [[2013 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[2013 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[Bruce Banks]]
| Bruce Banks
| [[Chevrolet Camaro (fourth generation)|Chevrolet Camaro]]<br> [[Mazda RX-7]] turbo<br> [[Chevrolet Corvette (C5)|Chevrolet Corvette]]
| [[Chevrolet Camaro (fourth generation)|Chevrolet Camaro]]<br> [[Mazda RX-7]] turbo<br> [[Chevrolet Corvette (C5)|Chevrolet Corvette]]
|-
|-
| [[2014 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]] <ref name=KSSS_2014>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150427031722/http://www.sportssedans.com.au/uploads/2014%20KSSS%20Round%205%20Points.pdf ''Kerrick Sports Sedan Series - 2014 Pointscore'', www.sportssedans.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org]</ref>
| [[2014 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]]<ref name=KSSS_2014>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150427031722/http://www.sportssedans.com.au/uploads/2014%20KSSS%20Round%205%20Points.pdf ''Kerrick Sports Sedan Series - 2014 Pointscore'', www.sportssedans.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org]</ref>
| [[Tony Ricciardello]] <ref name=KSSS_2014/>
| [[Tony Ricciardello]]<ref name=KSSS_2014/>
| [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta|Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
| [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta|Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
|-
|-
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| [[Tony Ricciardello]]
| [[Tony Ricciardello]]
| [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta|Alfa Romeo GTV]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
| [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta|Alfa Romeo GTV]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
|- |-
|-
| [[2015 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[2015 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[Tony Ricciardello]]
| [[Tony Ricciardello]]
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| [[Tony Ricciardello]]
| [[Tony Ricciardello]]
| [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta|Alfa Romeo GTV]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
| [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta|Alfa Romeo GTV]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
|-
|-
| [[2017 National Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[2017 National Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[Birol Cetin]]
| Birol Cetin
| [[Chevrolet Camaro]]
| [[Chevrolet Camaro]]
|-
|-
| [[2018 Skye Sands National Sports Sedans Series]]
| [[2018 National Sports Sedan Series]]
| Steven Tamasi
| [[Birol Cetin]]
| [[Chevrolet Camaro]]
| [[Holden Calibra]]
|-
| [[2019 National Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[Tony Ricciardello]]
| [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
|-
| colspan=3 align=center | ''2020–21 Not held''
|-
| [[2022 National Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[Jordan Caruso]]
| [[Audi A4]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
|-
| [[2023 National Sports Sedan Series]]
| [[Tony Ricciardello]]
| [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV]]-[[Chevrolet small-block engine|Chevrolet]]
|}
|}


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==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.webcitation.org/5gbBnv4Yj?url=http://www.camsmanual.com.au/ CAMS Manual of Motor Sport]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090503070858/http://www.camsmanual.com.au/ CAMS Manual of Motor Sport]
*[http://www.sportssedans.com.au/ Current National Sports Sedan Series]
*[http://www.sportssedans.com.au/ Current National Sports Sedan Series]


[[Category:Australian Sports Sedan Championship| ]]
[[Category:National Sports Sedan Series| ]]
[[Category:Auto racing series in Australia|Sports Sedans]]
[[Category:Auto racing series in Australia|Sports Sedans]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in Australia]]

Latest revision as of 07:52, 28 August 2024

National Sports Sedan Series
CategorySilhouette racing car
CountryAustralia
Inaugural season1976
Drivers' championTony Ricciardello
Official websiteNational Sports Sedan Series
Current season

The National Sports Sedans Series, formerly the Australian Sports Sedan Championship, is a Motorsport Australia-sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars complying with Australian Sports Sedan regulations. This class, essentially a silhouette racing car class, permits three types of cars:

  • Purpose-built steel spaceframe racing cars with bodywork resembling a production car sold in Australia
  • Cars based on production street car bodies.
  • Purpose-built race cars constructed for the American Trans-Am Series.

Beyond these basic requirements, there are relatively few restrictions on engines, drivetrains, aerodynamics, or other performance-enhancing components.

The relatively relaxed regulations mean that Sports Sedans are the fastest domestic "tin-top" racing series in Australia. At circuits such as Mount Panorama, Queensland Raceway, Phillip Island, the Sports Sedan lap record is at least a second, and usually several seconds, faster than Supercars, despite the latter being a fully professional series generally regarded as featuring Australia's best local drivers.

The category emerged following the replacement of Appendix J Touring Cars by the more restricted Group C Improved Production Touring Cars at the end of 1964.[1] Promoters of circuits such as Winton and Oran Park then allowed the redundant Appendix J cars to run with Sports Cars under the name Sports Racing Closed.[1] By 1966 cars were competing with extensive modifications, often including engine swaps.[1] By 1971 restrictions were placed on bodywork modifications ensuring that the original silhouette of the car had to be maintained.[2] The term Sports Sedans had been in common usage for the cars[3] and in 1973 CAMS gave the name official recognition[3] when it introduced Group B Sports Sedans as a new racing classification.[4] The category officially became Group 2D Sports Sedans in 1988,[5] and Group 3D Sports Sedans in 2000.[6]

An Australia-wide championship was run each year from 1976 to 1981. It was discontinued for 1982 with the introduction of an Australian GT Championship, although Sports Sedans were invited to compete in this new series, which many did as it was the only national series their cars were eligible for, but the older Sports Sedans were generally un-competitive against the new GT cars such as the Porsche 935 or the converted Chevrolet Monzas. While the power of the top Sports Sedans, which generally ran 5.0L or 6.0L Chevrolet V8 engines, was not far shy of the GT cars, the Sports Sedans were restricted to running 10" wheels while the GT cars such as the 935's were allowed up to 18" of rubber. This gave the GT cars far greater stability and enabled them to go much faster through turns. The Sports Sedan category itself was retained for state level racing. The Australian Sports Sedan Championship title was revived in 1991 and was contested annually through to 2003. Each championship was decided over a series of races, with the exception of the 1994 title, which was contested over two races at one meeting at Sandown Raceway in Victoria.

A National Series for Sports Sedans replaced the Australian Sports Sedan Championship for 2004[7] and has been included in the CAMS Nationals Racing Championships (now known as the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships) since its inception in 2006.[8]

List of champions

[edit]
The Alfa Romeo GTV of Tony Ricciardello at Mallala Motor Sport Park for the opening round of the 2011 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series. Ricciardello has won the Australian Sports Sedan Championship four times and the National Sports Sedan Series eight times.

Winners of the Australian Sports Sedan Championship are shown below.

Year Champion Vehicle
1976 Allan Moffat Chevrolet Monza
Ford Capri RS3100
1977 Frank Gardner Chevrolet Corvair
1978 Allan Grice Chevrolet Corvair
1979 Allan Grice Chevrolet Corvair
1980 Tony Edmondson Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Repco Holden
1981 Tony Edmondson Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet
Not held
1991 Greg Crick Honda Prelude-Chevrolet
1992 Kerry Baily Toyota Celica Supra-Chevrolet
1993 Kerry Baily Toyota Celica Supra-Chevrolet
1994 Brian Smith Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet
1995 Cameron McLean BMW M3
1996 John Briggs Honda Prelude-Chevrolet
1997 Kerry Baily Toyota Celica Supra-Chevrolet
1998 Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet
1999 Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet
2000 Kerry Baily Nissan 300ZX-Chevrolet
2001 Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet
2002 Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet
2003 Kerry Baily Nissan 300ZX-Chevrolet

National Sports Sedan Series

[edit]
Darren Hossack (Audi A4 Chevrolet) during 2008 season
2010 Series winner James Sera (Saab 9-3) at Mallala Motor Sport Park. This car also won the series in 2006 driven by Dean Randle.
Kerry Baily won the 2012 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series driving an Aston Martin DBRS9

A Sports Sedan series has been run each year from 2004, this being recognised by CAMS as a National Series rather than as an official Australian Championship. Each series has been open to cars built to American Transam or New Zealand TraNZam rules as well as cars complying with CAMS Group 3D Sports Sedan regulations.

Series winners have been :

Series Winner Vehicle
2004 Tranzam Sports Sedan Series Darren Hossack Saab 9-3-Chevrolet
2005 Tranzam Sports Sedan Series Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet
2006 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series Dean Randle Saab 9-3-Chevrolet
2007 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet
2008 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series Darren Hossack Audi A4-Chevrolet
2009 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series Des Wall Chevrolet Corvette-Chevrolet
2010 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series James Sera Saab 9-3-Chevrolet
2011 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet
2012 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series Kerry Baily Aston Martin DBR9-Chevrolet
2013 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series Bruce Banks Chevrolet Camaro
Mazda RX-7 turbo
Chevrolet Corvette
2014 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series[9] Tony Ricciardello[9] Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet
2015 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo GTV-Chevrolet
2015 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo GTV-Chevrolet
2016 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo GTV-Chevrolet
2017 National Sports Sedan Series Birol Cetin Chevrolet Camaro
2018 National Sports Sedan Series Steven Tamasi Holden Calibra
2019 National Sports Sedan Series Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet
2020–21 Not held
2022 National Sports Sedan Series Jordan Caruso Audi A4-Chevrolet
2023 National Sports Sedan Series Tony Ricciardello Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV-Chevrolet

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c James Cockington, Evolution of the Sports Sedan, Musclemania magazine, 2012, pages 40 & 41
  2. ^ Mark Oastler, A New Direction, Australian Muscle Car magazine, Issue 25, page 43
  3. ^ a b Stewart Wilson, Holden Racing History, 1988, page 130
  4. ^ Pedr Davis, The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, 1986, page 452
  5. ^ 1988 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 5
  6. ^ 2000 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 7-1
  7. ^ Sporting Regulations for the 2004 Transzam Sports Sedan Series
  8. ^ Official Programme, CAMS National Racing Championships, Round 5, Mallala, 24–25 June 2006
  9. ^ a b Kerrick Sports Sedan Series - 2014 Pointscore, www.sportssedans.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
[edit]
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