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Porsche Legend Flies In For Shannons Spectacular


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SYDNEY – June 21, 2010: Living Porsche legend Klaus Bischof, who worked on the factory’s team cars for 15 of the marque’s 16 Le Mans victories, is flying out from Germany to drive in the Shannons Sports & Muscle Car Spectacular at Queensland Raceway on June 26-27.

Bischof, who now heads Porsche’s Rolling Museum and is the custodian of its priceless collection of more than 400 special road and racing cars, will demonstrate the famous Porsche 935 coupe that in the hands of Belgian Jacky Ickx and German Jochen Mass brought the German sports car maker the 1976 Manufacturers Championship.

Powered by a turbocharged, 2.8-litre, boxer engine producing 434 kW (590hp) at 7,900 rpm, the 935 has a top speed of 340 km/h depending on its gearing and having worked on its development, Bischof has the experience with the car to exploit its full potential.

Bischof and the 935 will be on track at Willowbank alongside former V8 Supercar driver Wayne Park, who will be at the wheel of the ISEKI Porsche 956 that Australian Vern Schuppan drove to victory in the 1983 Japanese National Sports Car Championship.

Other famous Porsches being demonstrated at the meeting include the turbocharged 934 coupe that twice won the Australian Sports Car Championship in 1976 (Alan Hamilton) and 1980 (Allan Moffat), the 911TR that came within a whisker of winning the 1969 Australian Touring Car Championship in Hamilton’s hands and a rare 1959 Porsche RSK sports car – one of just two in Australia.

However the Porsche expected to draw the largest crowd at the Shannons Sports & Muscle Car Spectacular – both on and off the track – is the prototype road-going version of the Porsche GT1, which in race form brought Porsche its 16th and most recent victory at Le Mans in 1998.

The Porsche invitation race will see 17 factory-built 996 and 997-series GT3 Cup cars battle it out on the 3.12km Ipswich circuit, with a late entry coming from Queensland’s Tony Quinn, who has entered his 357kW 997-series Porsche 911 RSR. Meanwhile there will be separate events for thundering Trans-Am racers, Historic Group N Touring cars and a special Cobra Challenge.

A highlight of the Cobra Challenge will be the first appearance in Queensland of Ian Ross’s recently arrived CSX4000 Shelby Cobra – a factory tribute car built by Carroll Shelby in 2003 and recognised by the Cobra/GT40 Register.

Visitors to the meeting will also find more than 250 sports and muscle cars in the Shannons Show & Shine, with all vehicles seen on track in the Sunday Track Cruise.

Another expected track highlight will be the handicap match-race of a pocket bike against the Shannons Goggomobil Dart and Jim Richards in his Porsche GT3 RS. With top speeds of 50km/h, 75km/h and 310km/h respectively, the handicappers will have their work cut out!

Entry to the Shannons Sports & Muscle Car Spectacular for adults costs $20 each day for qualifying and racing on Saturday June 26 and all-day racing and demonstrations on Sunday June 27, with a weekend pass $30. Entry for students 13-16 years and pensioners is $10 each day.

Eligible enthusiasts who get an insurance quote from Shannons at the meeting will go into the draw to win hot laps with Jim Richards in his Porsche 911 GT3 RS at Queensland’s Lakeside circuit on August 9.