A three-hour NSW Production Sports CUE Super Endurance Series race has been added to the program for the opening round of the 2023 Hi-Tec Oils Super Series at Winton Motor Raceway.
The race will be divided into classes for GT3, GT4, MARC Cars, 2B/2F Production Sports and Invited Production Cars.
The Production Sports category is no stranger to the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series program, having run four-hour endurance races at Sydney Motorsport Park the last two years. In 2021, the four-hour was won by the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Vince Muriti/Luke Youlden in a last-lap thriller, while last year’s race was taken out by Andrew Macpherson and Ben Porter after some smart pit strategy played into the hands of the Lamborghini pilots.
At Winton, the three-hour Production Sports race will be held from 4pm until 7pm on the Saturday evening, setting up the prospect of the exotic machines racing in twilight conditions.
Production Sports spokesperson Anthony Soole said the race is a collaboration between the Production Sports bodies in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
“The committees in all three states have spoken to their competitor bases, and the feedback we’re getting is that our drivers see value in longer-distance races, where there’s a generous amount of track time as well as the opportunity to divide the cost between multiple drivers,” Soole said.
“We’re conscious of not adding any unnecessary complexity. For example, we’re going to have minimum five-minute compulsory pit stops for refuelling, so that competitors won’t have to go to the expense of installing dry break fuel systems in their cars.
“We’ll also be placing an emphasis on the different classes, and presenting trophies to the top three in each class.
“There are a lot of sports cars throughout eastern Australia, and our goal this year is to get them out of sheds and onto the track by delivering a format that provides competitors with fun racing and excellent value for money.”
Benalla Auto Club General Manager Stephen Whyte said the Production Sports CUE Super Enduro is an exciting addition to the Winton program.
“The sight of sports racing into the sunset will be spectacular, and something for all the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series trackside spectators to enjoy,” Whyte said.
“In the past, these Production Sports endurance races have produced some spectacular moments and Winton has a history of exciting finishes in endurance races, so it will be interesting to see what this race has in store for us.”
The Production Sports CUE Super Endurance Three Hour will join the TA2 Muscle Car Series, Yellow Express Mazda RX8 Cup, Australian Super TT Championship, Stock Cars and Invited Muscle Cars and Victorian Excel Series on the program for the Winton Hi-Tec Oils Super Series round on 17-19 March.