UPDATE: The competition has now finished, and Tony Bannano will carry the Launch Helmet Cams VIO POV1.5 in his Turbo Mazda MX5 at Oran Park.

We look forward to posting some great footage on onboard.irace.net.au after the event.

If you use Facebook, and aren't a fan of iRace yet, head over now (link below) as we'll probably be offering more competitions throughout the year. And if you get the chance, join the Launch Helmet Cams group (click to view), and thank them for their support of our series.

There's been plenty of action for the Independent Race Series in the past few weeks, as everyone gets ready for the new season. In case you missed it, here is a summary of what's been happening (click any of these to read the relevant article):

• Super Hoist Plus became the naming rights sponsor of Production Racing Cars
• HDT became the naming rights sponsor of Muscle Division and HDT Cup
• McHitch Uniglide Trailer Couplings became the naming rights sponsor of the Touring Car Challenge
• Launch Helmet Cams became the Official Onboard and Helmet Camera Partner
• Toranas are now eligible for HDT Cup
• Super Hoist Plus now features a dedicated class for V8s
• Our 2009 Presentation Night was held at Marulan Driver Training Centre
• A new section was added to the website to showcase onboard camera footage
• We learned how to make our racecars a little safer
• We offered up some New Years Resolutions for racers
• Updated category regulations are now available

2010 is going to be a busy year! Strap in for an exciting ride...

Round 1 is just a week away. If you haven't gotten your entry in yet, don't delay - head to the entry form now, and don't miss your last chance to race with iRace at Oran Park!

Joe McGinness, a founding member of the iRace family, and popular Touring Car Challenge competitor, had a great idea. He turned that idea into an amazing invention - the McHitch Uniglide Trailer Coupling.

The McHitch product is set to revolutionise towing. And in 2010, to promote the product, McHitch will be the naming rights sponsor of the Touring Car Challenge. The category will be known as the McHitch Touring Car Challenge, and all racecars will bear a McHitch.com.au windscreen banner.

The McHitch really is an amazing product. It offers triple-locking safety, greater than 90 degree flexibility, and extremely quiet and smooth operation. If you spend any amount of time towing, the McHitch can make it a much more pleasurable (and safer) experience. Head over to www.mchitch.com.au to learn all about this revolutionary product, and support the company supporting our series.

The McHitch Touring Car Challenge showcases the past 20 years of Australian Touring Car history. Featuring ex-V8 Supercars, Super Tourers, V8 Giants and the more recent "Giant Killers", cars such as the Mitsubushi Evo and Subaru WRX, as well as a contingent of invited "Muscle Cars" to put the odd cat amongst the pigeons.

The first round for 2010 will be held at Sydney's Oran Park GP, 15-16 Jan 2010. Click here for more information.

HDT have enjoyed a brief but fruitful relationship with the Independent Race Series with the inception of the HDT Cup in mid 2009, and that relationship is set to grow in 2010.

HDT have now taken on naming rights sponsorship of the very popular Muscle Division, in addition to sponsoring the HDT Cup. The categories will be known as The HDT Muscle Division, and HDT Cup respectively. Vehicles in both categories will display HDT windscreen banners, and HDT will also supply a $50 gift voucher to one prizewinner per category at each round of the Independent Race Series. These vouchers will not be transferrable, but may be used cumulatively if a competitor wins more than one during the season.

HDT has a rich history in Australian motor racing, starting in 1969, competing at Bathurst and beyond. The brand is closely linked to Peter Brock, the champion racer enjoying many successes with HDT. More recently HDT have launched the amazing Blue Meanie, a fearsome Commodore, with 350kW and a specification list to match it's stunning heritage. Only 250 of each model will be available - all featuring a numbered chassis plate, and paperwork. Click here to watch a short interview with Darren Gillis regarding the Blue Meanie. Head over to the HDT website to see what they have to offer, and support that company that supports our series. www.hdt.com.au

The HDT Muscle Division caters for all types of production-based racing cars. From the venerable HQ Holdens, to V8-powered Ford and Holden Utes, to ex-Commodore Cup cars, Improved Production, Sports Sedans (non-spaceframe) and Japanese Turbos, as well as Classic Touring Cars and more. The HDT Cup offers racing for a variety of V8 and 6 cylinder Commodores, and in 2010, Toranas.

The first round of the Independent Race Series for 2010 will be held at Oran Park GP, 15-16 Jan. Click here for more information.

Holden Toranas are now eligible for the very popular HDT Cup.

The HDT Cup started in mid-2009 as part of the Independent Race Series, and quickly gained popularity and strength as an affordable way to go racing in a Commodore. With this latest announcement, Toranas including: GTR XU1, A9X, L34, and SLR5000 will all be eligible to join the fun.

The Independent Race Series offers a unique mate-againt-mate brand of fun, affordable motor racing. In 2010 the series will expand to visit more circuits, and offer even more bang for your buck. The first round will be held at Sydney's Oran Park GP circuit, 15-16 January.

For more information on the series, and the HDT Cup, visit www.irace.net.au

Super Hoist Plus have long been supporters of the Independent Race Series (since the very beginning in fact). In 2009 Super Hoist Plus awarded a 2-post hoist to the overall Series Champion (John Willmington) and a Resto-Roller rotisserie to Series Runner Up (Neil Byers).

Heading into 2010, Super Hoist Plus are ramping up their support, and taking on naming rights of the Production Racing Cars category. The category will be known as the Super Hoist Plus Production Racing Cars, and all cars will bear Super Hoist Plus windscreen banners.

As part of the deal, Super Hoist Plus will also provide a $200 voucher towards Super Hoist Plus products as a prize for one competitor in each category at each round. These vouchers may be used cumulatively (if a competitor wins more than one, they will be able to use the total value towards a Super Hoist Plus product), but they not be transferred or exchanged for cash.

Super Hoist Plus are a family-owned and -operated company who supply quality products at everyday affordable prices, making it possible for anyone to own their own Super Hoist product. The range of hoists and other workshop equipment is very impressive, and offers something to improve just about any workshop.

Check out their extensive website, and support the company that supports our series, or contact Super Hoist Plus on 1800 71 72 73. www.superhoistplus.com

The Super Hoist Plus Production Racing Cars follow the true tradition of Australian motorsport - cars that can be bought from the dealer, made safe for racing with minor modifications and then raced hard - just like they used to do at Bathurst. The category features very close racing between cars from a huge variety of manufacturers.

The first outing of the Super Hoist Plus Production Racing Cars will be at Oran Park GP, 15-16 Jan 2010. Click here for all the details.

The Production Racing Cars category has displayed excellent growth and fantastic racing in 2009. The class system within the category allowed competitors to race in a quality field, and also receive recognition and results for their performance relative to equivalent cars. It compared apples with apples. In fact, it meant that John Willmington in a Class C car was able to take out the overall Series Champion title (and a shiny Super Hoist Plus 2-post hoist with it!).

Heading into 2010, we see the announcement of a new class within the Production Racing Cars category. The new class will be known as V8 Class, and will offer competition for a variety of naturally aspirated, V8-powered production cars. (Forced-induction production V8s will be eligible to compete in Class X.)

The first round of the 2010 Independent Race Series, featuring Production Racing Cars, will be held at Sydney's Oran Park, 15-16 January.

To access the 2010 Production Racing Cars Sporting and Technical regulations, please click here.

The Independent Race Series team would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Have a great time, and if you're on the roads, please be careful and look out for each other.

See you all in 2010!

The 2009 Independent Race Series Presentation Night was held on Saturday 12 December. The event was well attended, and spirits were high as the Kangaroo Kid put on an impressive display on his various quad bikes - his successful jump over three cars a fitting finale, and mirroring the leaps and bounds the Independent Race Series has achieved over the past 18 months. From the many acceptance speeches throughout the night, the overwhelming sentiment was that 2009 proved how much fun racing can be, and that 2010 should be even better.

For a rundown of the championships presented on the night, check out our results page by clicking here.

Notable other awards presented on the night were:

• Best Presented - Rod Gurney
• Encouragement Award - James Flanagan
• Encouragement Award - Keiran Macklyn
• Rookie of the Year - Carly Black
• Sportsman of the Year - Hans Riehs

The big prizes, presented by Super Hoist Plus, went to overall Series Champion and Runner Up. The points for this were allocated based on position in Class in each race during the year, as well as the number of cars in class defeated in each race. The points rewarded consistency, superiority within class, and encouraging extra competitors to join your class.

The top prize went to John Willmington. John receives a YSJ-3000 two-post hoist from Super Hoist Plus.

Runner up went to Neil Byers. Neil receives a Resto Roller car rotisserie from Super Hoist Plus.

Super Hoist Plus also awarded a set of vehicle stands to each of the Encouragement Award recipients.

For those who were unable to attend the presentation night, below is a condensed video of the presentation proceedings:



Also, check out the pre-dinner entertainment - the awesome Kangaroo Kid, jumping his quad bike over three cars!



Round 1 of the 2010 Independent Race Series will be held at Sydney's Oran Park in just on a month's time. Mark 15-16 January down in your calendar, get your entries in, and start getting your cars ready to give Oran Park a fitting send off!