The Australian Saloon Car Series will be rebranded in 2014 as the category undergoes its latest generational change.
The category will be known as the Super Six Touring Cars in a move that is aimed to bring it into line with the V8 Touring Car Series, which also runs on the Shannons Nationals bill.
AU Falcons and VT Commodores currently dominate the Saloon Car class, which also features the first-generation EA/EB Falcons and VN/VP Commodores.
BA Falcons and VZ Commodores will be gradually introduced into the series throughout 2014's six-round schedule.
Series manager Liam Curkpatrick says the changes have been made to future-proof the class, which was originally introduced in 2000 to take over from the venerable HQ Holden category.
“The Super Six Touring Cars represent one of the strongest ‘core' Shannons Nationals categories and that will continue well into the future,” he said.
“The change of brand is representative of the changes underway in the series as it moves into its next generation (and) with guys like Matt Palmer, Simon Tabinor, Shaun Jameson and others moving from Saloon Cars into the V8 Touring Cars, it made sense from a positioning point of view.
“The series has inadvertently become something of a feeder category for the V8s, giving people a chance to learn the cars and tracks before stepping into something more powerful.
“At the same time, though, it stands on its own as a very successful series in its own right with sensational racing and very close competition.
“With entry fees remaining the same as 2013, we see no reason why that will change in the new year.”
See below for the full round-by-round breakdown of the 2014 Shannons Nationals
Round 1 (Sandown) March 28-30
Australian Super Six Series
Australian Manufacturers Championship 3 Hour
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
Radical Australia Cup
Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship
Australian GT
Sports Racer Series
Round 2 (Mallala) April 25-27
(Includes Saturday night / Twilight Racing)
Australian Super Six Series
Kerrick Sports Sedans
Kumho V8 Touring Cars
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
Formula Ford
Sports Racer Series
Historic Group N Touring Cars
Round 3 (Phillip Island) – ENDURO EVENT – May 23-25
Great Southern 4 Hour AMChamps Race
Australian Superkart Championship
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia (2x 1 hour races)
Radical Australia Cup
Australian GT 101
Round 4 (Winton) June 13-15
Australian Saloon Car Series
Kerrick Sports Sedans
Kumho V8 Touring Cars
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
Formula Ford
Sports Racer Series
Round 5 (Sydney Motorsport Park) – ENDURO EVENT – July 11-13
Australian Manufacturers Championship 4 Hour
Radical Australia Cup First Neon 250
Sports Racer Series
Australian Superkart Championship
Round 6 (Queensland Raceway) – ‘The Fight In The Night' August 8-10
(includes Saturday night twilight / Night racing)
Australian Manufacturers Championship (2x 200km)
Australian Saloon Car Series
Kerrick Sports Sedans
Kumho V8 Touring Cars
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship
Formula Ford
Round 7 – Phillip Island September 19-21
Australian Saloon Car Series
Kerrick Sports Sedans
Kumho V8 Touring Cars
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
Radical Australia Cup
Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship
Sports Racer Series
Round 8 – Wakefield Park October 17-19
Australian Saloon Car Series
Australian Manufacturers Championship (2x200km)
Kumho V8 Touring Cars
Formula Ford
TBA
Round 9 – Sydney Motorsport Park Grand Finale October 31 – November 2
Kerrick Sports Sedans
Kumho V8 Touring Cars
Radical Australia Cup
Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship
PRB Clubman Series
Formula Ford