Australian Saloon Car Series

(Redirected from Group 3K Saloon Cars)

The Australian Super Six Touring Car Series, known originally as the Australian Saloon Car Series, is an Australian motor racing series for drivers of Group 3K Saloon Cars.[1] The Saloon Car category was devised as a low cost amateur sedan racing formula which would potentially replace the ageing HQ Holden category. The original regulations were focused around large Australian sedans of early 1990s vintage with eligibility limited to VN and VP series Holden Commodores and the EA and EB series Ford Falcons.[2] The regulations limited the cars to six cylinder versions rather than the V8 engined models, as the latter might make the category too similar to Commodore Cup. The cars are slightly modified from their road going versions, with an emphasis on safety for racing.[2]

Australian Saloon Car Series
CategoryTouring Car Racing
CountryAustralia
Inaugural season2000
ConstructorsHolden
Ford
Tyre suppliersBridgestone
Drivers' championDamian mitchell (A class)Justin Chaffey (b class)
Official website[1]

The Saloon Car category made its debut at the 2000 Adelaide 500 meeting in what was the first round of a three round series.[2] The annual series was officially sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport from 2002[2] and state level series have also evolved in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. The category has been particularly successful in Western Australia.

The first major change in the category regulations saw an update in vehicle eligibility for the 2006 season with the Holden VT Commodore and the Ford AU Falcon models added to the field.[2] The newer models proved instantly more competitive and the older cars soon slipped down the field and were relegated to class results or state level series.

In the same year the series was granted “National Championship” status by the CAMS and officially became the Australian Saloon Car Championship.[2][3] After a second year as a Championship in 2007[4] it reverted to its “National Series” status for 2008.[5] In 2014 the series was rebranded under the title of Australian Super Six Touring Car Series.

The category’s most successful driver has been Bruce Heinrich who has won the national series five times, including the two Australian Saloon Car Championship titles.[2]

Series winners

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Bruce Heinrich won both Australian Saloon Car Championships in a Ford AU Falcon
Year Winner Car
2000 Shane Beikoff Holden VN Commodore
2001 Tony Evangelou Holden VN Commodore
2002 Bruce Heinrich Ford EA Falcon
2003 Bruce Heinrich Ford EA Falcon
2004 Clint Harvey Holden VN Commodore
2005 Bruce Heinrich Ford EA Falcon
2006 # Bruce Heinrich Ford AU Falcon
2007 # Bruce Heinrich Ford AU Falcon
2008 Steve Kwiatkowski Ford AU Falcon
2009 Shawn Jamieson Holden VT Commodore
2010 Tim Rowse Holden VT Commodore
2011 Matt Lovell Ford AU Falcon
2012 Simon Tabinor Holden VT Commodore
2013 Simon Tabinor Holden VT Commodore
2014 Gavin Ross Holden VT Commodore
2015 Gavin Ross Holden VT Commodore
2016 Grant Johnson Holden VT Commodore
  1. Note: In 2006 & 2007 only, the series had National Championship status and was officially known as the Australian Saloon Car Championship.

References

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  1. ^ 2010 Australian Saloon Car Series – Sporting Regulations
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Saloon Car Racing – A Brief History
  3. ^ 2006 Australian Saloon Car Championship – Sporting Regulations
  4. ^ 2007 Supaloc Australian Saloon Car Championship – Sporting Regulations
  5. ^ 2008 Australian Saloon Car Series – Sporting Regulations