Major racing series for sale

It‘s business as usual for two of Australia's biggest racing series, despite being for sale. The Porsche Carrera Cup and the Mini Challenge are on the market after current owner Ian Sherrin decided he was too busy to run them.

Sherrin's company, Motorsport Event Management (MEM), owns the category management rights for both series.

After a rapid expansion into motorsport in recent years, including running cars in both series and Targa Tasmania, Sherrin says he has too much on his plate.

He runs six cars in the Mini Challenge and two in the Carrera Cup.

“After owning a category and a multiple-car race team in the same category for the past two years, it's time to concentrate on one or the other. I think this is the right decision to make,” he says.

MEM will run both series for the rest of the year while a buyer is found.

Porsche Cars Australia managing director Michael Winkler will help.

“We'll work with Ian to have an arrangement in place by the end of this season to ensure a seamless and smooth transition into 2009. Until then, it's racing and business as usual,” Winkler says.

The news is abrupt for Mini, with the series only three rounds old. But the company confirmed it remains committed.

“Mini is confident that any sale of MEM will be to a suitable purchaser who will continue to manage the increasingly popular Mini Challenge series exactly in line with the arrangements Mini put in place with MEM,” Mini national manager Justin Hocevar says.