Can David Sera Win A Bathurst Seat Via Reality TV Show?
Current and former karters will be competing for a seat in this year's Bathurst 1000 via a new reality TV show.
The show, titled 'Shannons Supercar Showdown', features 10 contestants, all young racing drivers from Australia and around the world, competing in a series of elimination challenges.
The winning contestant will race at the 2011 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 alongside the show's host, Grant Denyer, for ‘Shannons-Mars Racing’, prepared by Kelly Racing.
Ten local and international hopefuls, including three females, will take part in this unique event.
David Sera is the only current karter in the ten, but virtually all the others have significant karting experience. Unfortunately for Sera, some of them also have significant car racing experience.
In addition to Sera, the other contestants are Nick Foster, Ben Small, Cameron Waters, Samantha Reid, Amber Anderson, Andrew Jordan, Hayley Swanson, Nick Cassidy and Shae Davies.
- Who do you think will win? Cast a vote on the Pirtek Poll on speedcafe.com HERE.
The contestants will eat, sleep and train with Kelly Racing and learn everything there is to know about becoming a champion driver as they compete for the coveted spot. During the series they will be eliminated one by one until only the best of the best is left standing.
Todd and Rick Kelly will be the judges of the show, which airs on 7mate on Saturday afternoons from July 23.
More details on the Jack Daniel's Racing site HERE.
Above: Grant Denyer on Sunrise talking about the reality show to find him a co-driver for Bathurst, though we're not so sure about his statement regarding this as an opportunity for 'an everyday Australian'. Anyway, let's hope the contestant's driving talent is rated more important than their PR and 'drool' factor...
Details of the 10 contestants:
AMBER ANDERSON (Female - 26 years old)
Amber Anderson is the regular leader of the pack in V8 Supercars Championship as the driver of the series Safety Car. She has degrees in Commerce and Law and is a qualified pilot and SCUBA diver. Has competed in Fujitsu V8 Supercars Development Series previously.
ANDREW JORDAN (Male - 21 years old)
All the way from Britain, Andrew Jordan adds international flavour. A three-time race winner in the British Touring Car Championship. Former rally cross and Renault Clio Cup driver who has highlighted V8 Supercars as the next step in his career.
BEN SMALL (Male – 23 years old)
Ben Small comes out of retirement for one last shot at a V8 Supercars career. After a decorated career in karting and Formula Ford he stepped away from racing several seasons ago to be a snowboard instructor in Colorado, USA. His father Les and older brother James are both experienced racing engineers.
CAMERON WATERS (Male - 16 years old)
From Mildura, Victoria – also the hometown of Todd and Rick Kelly – Cameron Waters has been touted as one of the next big things in Australian motorsport. While only 16 and still in high school, he currently leads the Australian Formula Ford Championship and has already tested a V8 Supercar.
DAVID SERA (Male – 22 years old)
One of the most successful drivers in Australian karting history, David Sera has dominated karting events in Europe, Australia, the Middle East and the United States for the last decade, having starting racing at the tender age of seven. An 11-time Australian karting champion, has earned the nickname ‘Deadly’ as a result of his domination of the sport.
HAYLEY SWANSON (Female - 23 years old)
Some time race driver, some time model, Hayley Swanson has the same combination of speed and glamour that has made Danica Patrick a household name in the United States. Having raced in production cars and Aussie Racing Cars she now turns her attention to the big time with a shot at V8 Supercars.
NICK CASSIDY (Male – 16 years old)
Following in the legendary footsteps of New Zealand racing greats such as Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon and Scott Dixon, Nick Cassidy is flying the Kiwi flag. A race winner in Formula Ford, Formula Toyota and even Speedway competition in his homeland, Cassidy has set his sights on following countrymen Greg Murphy and Shane Van Gisbergen into V8 Supercars.
NICK FOSTER (Male – 19 years old)
The Queenslander eats and sleeps motorsport, working for a race team when not racing himself in the Australian Formula Ford Championship. Nick Foster is a multiple race winner in Formula Ford and karting and also studies Civil Engineering at university.
SAMANTHA REID (Female – 24 years old)
Samantha Reid started racing karts in her hometown of Adelaide as an eight year old and since then has tried her hand at Formula Ford, Formula 3 and was a part of an all-female production car team that raced in the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2007. Studied Mechatronic Engineering at university and is one of the youngest fully qualified driver trainers in Australia.
SHAE DAVIES (Male – 21 years old)
When he is not on the race track Shae Davies can be found working on heavy machinery such as cranes, drill rigs and excavators in his home state of Queensland. Another contestant from the highly competitive Australian Formula Ford Championship with a background in karting.
