Semi-Final Knockout sets up Thrilling Finale for 2013 Shannons Supercar Showdown
Grand finalists Todd Hazelwood and Tim Macrow are poised for the ultimate clash of youth and experience after their rivals were eliminated in the semi-final of the Shannons Supercar Showdown on 7mate last Saturday.
17 year old Hazelwood and 31 year old Macrow emerged as the winners of an intense four-way duel with UK Formula Ford star Daniel Cammish and V8 Ute racer Craig Dontas.
Each of the semi-finalists was given five laps on a shortened Calder Park circuit to show what they could do behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar prepared by 2013 Bathurst 1000 winners Ford Performance Racing.
The two rookies to emerge with the fastest aggregate times went through to the grand final while the two slowest contestants were sent home by team captains and FPR V8 Supercar drivers Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison.
South Australian teenager Todd was the real surprise of the semi-final, having relied on the Captain’s Choice from Will Davison to get him there and then displaying remarkable speed and control during the five-lap shootout in his first drive of a V8 Supercar.
Hazelwood’s team captain Davison thought his protégée had blown his chances after locking a front brake and running off the circuit, only to discover that Todd had already completed his timed run and would not be penalised for the mistake.
Victorian Tim Macrow - more than a decade older than his teenage opponent – proved his consistently high point scores in the challenge rounds were no fluke as he again put in a fast and disciplined performance to book the other grand final seat.
Craig Dontas - the oldest contestant in the series – was “gutted” to get knocked out of the competition, after winning the highest number of point challenges and impressing rivals and
judges with his consistency and cool head under pressure.
UK open wheeler specialist Daniel Cammish had the odds stacked against him in the semi-final having also never driven a V8 Supercar but the Englishman impressed with how quickly he came to terms with the brutish 650 bhp sedan.
Hazelwood and Macrow will now face off in the winner-takes-all grand final as they compete for the one prize that money cannot buy - a testing contract with FPR plus a drive in the Dunlop Series in a Shannons-sponsored V8 Supercar.
Will Todd’s prodigious speed and youthful aggression give him the winning edge? Or will the older and wiser Tim exploit his experience and cunning to psyche out his younger opponent? Don’t miss the final episode of the 2013 Shannons Supercar Showdown next Saturday to find out.
Plus there’s your last chance to WIN a Ford Falcons XR6 Ute valued at more than $42,000 including 12 months of Shannons Insurance. To enter this great competition log onto: shannons supercarshowdown.com.au
