Crunchtime! Semi-Finalists Confirmed for 2013 Shannons Supercar Showdown

SYDNEY – Oct 29, 2013: There were cheers – and a few tears - when four of the eight V8 rookies were eliminated in a dramatic sixth episode of the Shannons Supercar Showdown on 7mate last Saturday.

The final round of point-scoring challenges resulted in half the contestants being sent home, leaving an intriguing mix of experience and youth to go head-to-head in next week’s semi-final.

V8 Ute racer Craig Dontas (33) and Formula Three ace Tim Macrow (31) - the oldest drivers in the competition - gained automatic entry to the finals after emerging as overall top point-scorers for their respective teams after six weeks of challenges.

The other two finalists - UK Formula Ford driver Daniel Cammish (24) and youngest contestant Todd Hazelwood (16) - relied on the ‘Captain’s Choice’ to get them through, chosen by team captains and Ford Performance Racing V8 Supercar drivers Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison.

The FPR stars agonised over which of their remaining team members deserved a shot at the finals.

Will’s decision left UK hopeful Adrian Campfield in tears after realising he had missed out.

Cammish and Hazelwood must now make the most of their golden opportunity as they chase the ultimate prize – a testing contract with FPR plus a drive in the Dunlop Series in a Shannons-sponsored V8 Supercar.

In episode six, the V8 rookies competed in a tense race simulator challenge, with the winner from each team taking on their captain in the final. A bonus series point was on offer for any rookie that could topple their mentor.

2013 Bathurst 1000 winner Mark easily defeated Daniel but rival skipper Will had a real battle on his hands with cheeky young gun Todd who led most of the way in their ‘virtual’ V8 Supercar race.

The Mental Test Challenge - the last chance to earn points - was a combined test of the rookies’ driving and memory skills aboard the Shannons Fastrack Racing Challenge Car at Calder Park Raceway.

Contestants battled for the fastest lap time and were also quizzed on how many of 10 objects placed around the circuit they could remember. Each object named resulted in one second being deducted from their lap time.

Team Davison top gun Tim Macrow proved the value of his sharp recall by slicing nine of a possible ten seconds from his time to easily win the Mental Test Challenge. Arch rival Craig Dontas also took maximum points for Team Winterbottom to join Macrow in the express lane to the finals.

So which two of the remaining four contestants will survive next week’s semi-final and go through to compete for the ultimate prize? Will Craig and Tim’s experience continue to be the winning formula or can young guns Dan and Todd cause a major upset with their youthful exuberance?