Dual national champion Darren Hossack will be the busiest driver in this weekend’s fourth round of the Shannons Nationals at Adelaide’s Mallala Motor Sport Park, doing double duty in a Sports Sedan and a Superkart.

In 2008, Hossack joined an elite group of drivers to win two Australian titles in the same year with his Kerrick Sports Sedan Series and Australian Superkart Championship success, with both classes featuring on Mallala’s six-category program this weekend.

With six-litre, V8 engines, Sports Sedans produce in excess of 700hp and have space frame chassis with composite bodywork, while Superkarts are powered by 250cc, 80hp engines and weigh just 215kg.

Despite the massive differences, the two classes lap the 2.2km Mallala layout in similar times, in the 65-67 second bracket.

Hossack did double duty at Eastern Creek last year, winning both classes.

“Eastern Creek last year was probably the most successful day of my career, but I slept like a baby afterwards,” Hossack said.

“This weekend is going to be tough as well.

“I’ll be doing over 50 racing laps on Sunday, jumping between two very demanding machines, with some back-to-back races as well.

“If we can be competitive in both classes this weekend, I’ll be really happy.”

Round Two of the Kerrick Sports Sedans will feature the Clem Smith Cup, a tribute to South Australian motorsport icon and Mallala circuit owner Clem Smith.

Smith will lead the field on the Race Two warm-up lap in his historic Valiant Charger Sports Sedan, while $5,000 of prize money will be on the line in the 15-lap race.

Fierce rivals, Hossack (Audi) and five-time champion Tony Ricciardello (Alfa) are set to slug it out at the head of the 15-car field.

“The Clem Smith Cup is a highlight on our calendar, we finished second last year from the rear of grid - we want to go one better,” Hossack said.

“With this car, we’ve never had a trouble-free weekend at Mallala, so we aren’t 100% happy with the setup yet.

“Tony will definitely be quick and we’ve had some great dices recently.

“We had a puncture in the last race at Wakefield Park which let Tony build a little lead in the standings, so we’ll be looking to claw some points back.”

Hossack secured the Australian Superkart Championship at Mallala last year, recovering from a slow start to the final race to finish third and clinch the crown.

He’ll be part of a big, 34-Superkart field for the 2009 season opener, with V8 Supercar regular Shane Price joining the championship.

“There’s a massive difference in driving the two cars,” Hossack said.

“You brake twice as deep in the Superkart and carry plenty of corner speed, whereas the Sports Sedan is about throttle control to maximise your corner exit.

“We weren’t the fastest Superkart at Mallala last year, but we’ll be running a new chassis and new tyre, so there are more variables, but lots of potential.”

The Shannons V8 Touring Car Series, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Kumho Saloon Cars and Dover Madison Formula Vees will also feature at Mallala this weekend. On track action in Round Four of the Shannons Nationals kicks off at 8:30am on Saturday.