THERE is good and bad news when it comes to the Shannons SpeedSeries season-opener next week at Sandown.
The good news? The free-to-air coverage of the February 9-11 event will include four hours on 7mate plus plenty more on 7plus.
The broadcast windows for 7mate will be 12:30-2:30pm AEDT on Saturday February 10, and 2-4pm AEDT on Sunday February 11.
Beyond that, 7plus will air Saturday action from 9:55am AEDT until close, and from 11:50am AEDT on Sunday until close.
TICKETS: Buy your tickets to Race Tasmania, Shannons SpeedSeries
The bad news? The new standalone Monochrome GT4 Australia Series has been withdrawn from the schedule due to shipping delays, which have seen several vehicles not arrive in time.
“We’re excited to be kicking off the Australian motorsport season with a bang at Race Sandown for this year’s opening round of the Shannons SpeedSeries,” said Michael Smith of Motorsport Australia.
“We’re also thrilled to be broadcasting this event live and free across 7mate and 7plus, with free-to-air and streaming coverage across both Saturday and Sunday.
“While it’s a shame to not have GT4 racing at Sandown, they will be a key part of the Shannons SpeedSeries throughout the year and will certainly be a category to watch in 2024.
“This year’s Shannons SpeedSeries is certainly shaping up to be one of the best and we look forward to getting Race Sandown underway next week.”
Sandown had only been set to be a pre-season exhibition round for GT4, with the category now turning its focus to Round 1 at Phillip Island on April 12-14.
“It is a shame that we have been forced to make the tough call not to attend the Shannons SpeedSeries event at Sandown,” said SRO Motorsports Australia CEO Ben McMellan.
“The shipping issues that are causing major frustrations right across the world have cost us a number of cars that, otherwise, would have already been here.
“The interest in GT4 has been very encouraging. Naturally, we are frustrated not to be at Sandown, but it was important to us that all those that had planned to be there could be.
“We are confident that the same issues will not affect the start of our season proper in April.”
TCR Australia, National Trans Am, Formula Open and Australian Production Cars remain on the Sandown bill.
Meanwhile, the final composition of the SpeedSeries broadcast team is yet to be announced.
