02 Feb SHERRIN RACING READY TO LEAD APC TO SANDOWN
After a markedly successful 2023 season which saw them learn more than ever while taking out the outright and Class X championship, Sherrin Racing is champing at the bit to get their title defence underway at Race Sandown across February 9-11.
2023 was the first time that Sherrin Racing had lined up two Class X cars in the APC, pitting brothers Iain and Grant Sherrin against each other for the first time since the Mini Challenge in 2008. Previously the Sherrin brothers had shared an entry, claiming multiple class and outright titles together.
On track were the already championship-winning #72 Sherrin Racing BMW M4 for now defending outright and class X champion Iain Sherrin, and the brand-new #27 Sherrin Racing BMW M4 for Grant Sherrin, in which he went on to claim runner-up in class X and third outright for 2023.
“Defending the championship for myself and the team is definitely a priority, and we are looking forward to that challenge getting underway at Sandown,” Iain said.
“To have two cars on-track again will be awesome, and I am really loving this new approach where we are part of a team but also competing against each other, it is a lot of fun.
“I think last year we learnt more in a single season than we have ever. Running two cars of the same type and in the same class is quite different, as you can set the cars up in different directions and very quickly work out which is the better approach.
“Now that we have our cars in this really tight window, we are going to be able to take what we learned in 2023 and push that even further across 2024, which is really exciting.
“We spent a lot of time and hard work last year finding that window, so to be there as the starting point for the start of this season sees us feeling very confident that we can hit the ground running at Sandown and get good results out of the gate for both cars – and hopefully the win for me!” he laughed.
So sure is the team of its car set-up, that no major changes have been made over the off-season.
Photo at top and above credit to Speed Shots Photography
“We did a sponsor day and some testing in December and of course have gone over the cars over the break, but other than that we are heading to Race Sandown pretty much how we finished at Bathurst, in the window and well set-up ready for the season opener,” Iain explained.
“The team dynamic is really important too and we are so pleased to have all the guys back again for this year – having that continuity in the team is excellent and will serve us well.
“I am really looking forward to working with all the guys again and of course with Michael (Sherrin, team principal and Iain and Grant’s father) and Grant. Having the support of your family in doing what you love is definitely a big bonus and makes this all that bit more special.
“The big change for us is moving from Hankook tyres to Yokohama tyres with the category moving back to a series tyre. We were hoping to do some testing in that regard, but we won’t have time with the early start, so we will just go to Sandown and go for it!” he grinned. “I am sure we will get up to speed pretty quickly.”
The APC is enjoying a return to a standalone grid in 2024 after sharing its track time with the new Monochrome GT4 Australia category last year.
“We definitely have a large soft spot for APC, I think that much is obvious with our long involvement not only as competitors, but also on the administration side in the past as well. We are excited to be back on the grid once again,” Iain said.
“APC offers great value for money as far as track time, awesome people to compete against, and it is just overall a great form of racing where you can go away with family and friends and enjoy yourself over the weekend – we love it,” Iain concluded, while thanking the team’s sponsors for their support: Wirtgen Group, Sherrin Rentals, Hi-Tec Oils, Industrial Protective Coatings Qld, Custom Plastic Fabrication, Action Mechanical Specialists, Symmetry Engineering, Hydraulink Brisbane North, Welding Solutions, Great Whites Lighting, Sherrin Equipment, Construction Equipment Australia and Brisbane Isuzu.
In 2024 the APC is enjoying a five-round calendar, commencing at Sandown Raceway across February 9-11 (four 30-minute races), before heading to The Bend for four 1 hour races across May 31 – June 2.
Round three will be held at Queensland Raceway (July 12-14, two 2 hour races), before the penultimate round of the APC calendar for 2024 will then be held at Sydney Motorsport Park (October 18-20, four 1 hour races).
The Bathurst International will then provide a thrilling finale across November 8-10, with four 30-minute races to close out the year.
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2024 AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION CARS CHAMPIONSHIP DATES:
- Round 1 – Sandown Raceway – February 9-11, 2024 – Four 30-minute races
- Round 2 – The Bend – May 31-June 2 – Four 1 hour races
- Round 3 – Queensland Raceway – July 12-14 – Two 2 hour races
- Round 4 – Sydney Motorsport Park – 18-20 October – Four 1 hour races
- Round 5 – Bathurst International – 8-10 November – Four 30-minute races