With everything from a pair of 1958 classics to the latest racing machines, over 70 Porsches will hit Victoria’s Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend, in Round Three of the Shannons Nationals. From Australian motorsport legend Jim Richards to Melbourne young gun Kane Rose, the German machines will be raced by a diverse group of drivers in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Australian GT Championship and a Porsche Club Regularity.

A seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner, Richards will be one of 11 Porsches lining up amongst the Australian GT Championship’s multi-million dollar array of sports cars.

Richards, whose diverse and decorated career spans over 30 years, sits ninth in the championship after two rounds in his Shannons Insurance-sponsored Porsche GT3 997 Cup Car.

Entering this weekend’s two, one-hour races, Porsches are first, second and third in the points, with rising star David Wall (GT3 Cup S) leading the way over James Koundouris (GT3 997 Cup Car) and Max Twigg (GT3 997 Cup Car).

At the other end of the experience spectrum to Richards, Melbourne mechanic Kane Rose will be a driver to watch in the second round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge.

Rose will contest just his second national-level event this weekend, running amongst a strong field of 26 Porsches in the growing, second-year series.

Last year, Rose made a sensational national debut in the GT3 Cup Challenge at Phillip Island.

Stepping up from state racing, he took pole position and victory in Race One, before he was caught out by changeable weather in Race Two and finished eighth.

Even with his weather woes, Rose’s efforts were good enough to take third for the weekend.

“I was really pleased with how it went last year,” Rose said.

“We qualified fastest, won a race and finished third for the weekend even though the weather in Race Two didn’t work for us, you can do a lot worse.

“I’m looking forward to getting back into the GT3 Cup Challenge this weekend.

“The series has grown a lot and there’s more competition this year, but we’re looking to be up at the pointy end again.”

Melbourne lawyer and GT3 Cup Challenge co-founder Sven Burchartz won the inaugural crown in 2008 and looks poised for another title battle this year with the likes of Bill Pye, Matt Kingsley, Brad Rankin and Jeff Bobik.

In another exclusively-Porsche affair, a 34-car Porsche Club Regularity will feature Porsches of every vintage, including the 356 - the manufacturer’s first production sports car.

In what’s set to be a stunning sight, models from 1958 to 2009 will tackle the fast and flowing circuit.

The massive fleet of Porsches will be joined by the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship, Commodore Cup and Kumho Saloon Cars at Phillip Island this weekend.

On-track action starts at 9am on Saturday, with two races on Saturday afternoon before a full program of races from 9am on Sunday.

Tickets for the big weekend of racing are just $20 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday, while a weekend pass is available for $30 and kids under 16 are free.

For more information about the 2009 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships, visit http://www.thenationals.com.au.