1999 Schedule Announced

1999 SATCC Shell Championship Series Calendar Announced!

Prize Pool Doubles to $3 Million

V8 SUPERCARS will compete for double the '98 prize pool, with a fund of $3 million on offer for the new look, 13 round, 1999 Shell Championship Series. Featuring two new circuits, Adelaide's modified F1 street circuit and Ipswich's Willowbank, the new season Shell Championship calendar was announced today in Melbourne by AVESCO chairman, Tony Cochrane and Ross Brodie, motorsport manager for the Shell Company of Australia. The big V8 SUPERCAR pay rise comes after a 24 month restructure by category organiser, AVESCO, including a rework of sponsorship, funding sources and the race calendar; and a move to television broadcaster, Network Ten. The 13 round 1999 Shell Championship Series features ten sprint rounds and three endurance races. It kicks off late March at Sydney's Eastern Creek and concludes mid November with the V8 grand final, the FAI 1000 Classic at Bathurst's Mount Panorama. For the first time, each of the rounds will count towards the year's Shell Championship title, with the enduros carrying double points. Round 2 launches the inaugural Sensational Adelaide 500 endurance race in April; with May's calendar travelling to Perth's Barbagallo and Melbourne's Sandown. June sees the V8's head north to Darwin's Hidden Valley and south to Victoria's Phillip Island; before July visits to the new Willowbank circuit at Ipswich and Melbourne's Calder Park. August rounds will be hosted by Launceston's Symmons Plains and the Winton circuit in central Victoria. September sees the Ford v's Holden battle head at Sydney's Oran Park; before switching to endurance set ups for the final run home - the 500 Endurance event in October (venue TBA) and Mount Panorama in November. "This is truly a Shell calendar for our fans. V8 Supercars is the only Australian motorsport category to compete in every state of Australia and Northern Territory. There's new circuits, new races and burgeoning fields and we at Shell are thrilled to be an integral part of the V8 SUPERCARS," said Ross Brodie, when announcing the dates. Taking V8 SUPERCAR racing to more street circuits and city based fans, the category plays star support at showcase, non championship events at Melbourne's Formula One Grand Prix (March) and Indy Car on the Gold Coast (October). V8 SUPERCAR is the only category to hold long term contracts for both prestigious international meets. AVESCO chairman, Tony Cochrane claimed fans are set for the most exciting season of V8 SUPERCAR racing. "What V8 SUPERCARS is now was only a dream two or three years ago. With the introduction of the control tyre, an expanding grid and the leading drivers and teams in the country, we are set for a fantastic season," said Cochrane. "With the commitment of Shell Australia, new races like the Sensational Adelaide 500, V8 SUPERCARS will become one of the world's greatest motorsport categories." Cochrane said the V8 SUPERCARS will race for cash rewards in excess of $3 million - double the 1998 fund - and said the increased pool is a true reflection of the marketing success V8 SUPERCARS has become. In addition, AVESCO has been able to reduce entry fees for drivers and teams and negotiate reductions in the cost from CAMS. "We have been working very hard to increase the revenues to teams, reduce costs in entering races and at the same time, with our extensive Ten television coverage, gain sponsorship opportunities that were lacking in the past." "The category has never been in better shape and the teams can now look forward with confidence to the future," said Cochrane. Further strengthening V8 SUPERCARS, is the continuing commitment from Network Ten. In a first for Australian motorsport, every round of the championship including Perth, will be broadcast via same day coverage throughout Australia. Points

The championship tally will see single points credited for the ten sprint rounds with the top 20 placegetters receiving from 40 points (1st) down to one point (20th). The sprint rounds will feature three, 20 minute races. Double points will be give for the three endurance races and where there is a co-driver, each driver will receive the same allocation of points. Apart from deciding the Championship Driver, points will count towards the Championship Team and Rookie of the Years. The Shell presentation will take place at a gala dinner in early December, at the conclusion of the championship. AVESCO will also run the first public vote exclusively for the V8 SUPERCAR category, where fans can vote for their favourite V8 SUPERCAR driver and team in a "People's Choice" style pole. 1999 1999 SATCC 1999

Special Event Albert Park - Melbourne Vic - 4-7 March Qantas Australian Formula One Grand Prix (Showcase)

Round 1 Eastern Creek Raceway - Sydney NSW - 27- 28 March Shell Championship Series (*)

Round 2 Adelaide Street Circuit - Adelaide SA - 9-11 April Sensational Adelaide 500

Round 3 Barbagallo Raceway - Perth WA - 1-2 May Shell Championship Series (*)

Round 4 Phillip Island - Cowes Vic - 15-16 May Shell Championship Series

Round 5 Hidden Valley - Darwin NT - 5-6 June Shell Championship Series

Round 6 Sandown International Raceway - Melbourne Vic 26-27 June Shell Championship Series

Round 7 Queensland Raceway - Ipswich Qld - 10 -11 July Shell Championship Series

Round 8 Calder Park - Melbourne Vic - 24-25 July Shell Championship Series

Round 9 Symmons Plains Raceway - Launceston Tas - 7-8 August Shell Championship Series (*)

Round 10 Winton Raceway - Benalla Vic - 21-22 August Shell Championship Series (*)

Round 11 Oran Park Raceway - Sydney NSW - 4-5 September Shell Championship Series (*)

Round 12 TBA 17-19 September The 500 Endurance (*) (#)

Special Event Indycar Australia - Gold Coast Qld - 14-17 October FedEX CART World Championships (showcase) (*)

Round 13 Mt Panorama - Bathurst NSW - 11-14 November FAI 1000 - Bathurst