Round | Event | Date |
---|---|---|
Round 1 | Phillip Island | Apr 12 - 14 |
Round 2 | Shell V-Power Motorsport Park | May 30 - Jun 2 |
Round 3 | Townsville 500 | Jul 5 - 7 |
Round 4 | Queensland Raceway | Aug 2 - 4 |
Round 5 | Tasmania SuperSprint | Aug 16 - 18 |
Round 6 | Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW | Oct 18 - 20 |
Standings
Pro
Position | Driver | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | Caleb Sumich | 132 |
2 | Brock Gilchrist | 132 |
3 | Oscar Targett | 132 |
4 | Hamish Fitzsimmons | 114 |
5 | Aron Shields | 112 |
Pro-Am
Position | Driver | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | Danny Stutterd | 168 |
2 | Ramu Farrell | 151 |
3 | Lachy Harburg | 132 |
4 | Brett Boulton | 120 |
5 | Andrew Georgiadis | 100 |
Class B
Position | Driver | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | Jacque Jarjo | 180 |
2 | Bradley Carr | 1 |
3 | Stephen Moylan | 1 |
4 | ||
5 |
Endurance Cup
Position | Driver | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | Hamish Fitzsimmons | 60 |
2 | Clay Osborne | 54 |
3 | Oscar Targett | 48 |
4 | Brock Gilchrist | 42 |
5 | Caleb Sumich | 36 |
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Sumich claims Round 1 following dramatic Sprint Challenge opener
Danny Stutterd, Jacque Jarjo win Pro-Am and Class B trophies in Round 1
WEST AUSTRALIAN junior star Caleb Sumich has claimed a dramatic opening round of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series in a sensational conclusion to the first round of the new season.
The Perth-based teenager had run fourth in the final race of the weekend at Phillip Island before a remarkable turn of events saw him claim not only his maiden race victory – but the overall round win as well.
Sumich, who is in his second Porsche season, took advantage of a collision between the drivers in third and second – and then a post-race penalty to the leader – to claim the big trophy in a dramatic conclusion to an incredible Sprint Challenge season opener.
Sumich won on a countback by virtue of claiming the final race of the weekend, while Team Porsche New Zealand’s Brock Gilchrist was second.
Race one winner Oscar Targett finished third overall after a post-race penalty in the final race dropped him from the top step of the podium.
Danny Stutterd won the Pro-Am class for the round over Ramu Farrell and Lachlan Harburg, while Jacque Jarjo claimed the Class B trophy.
The scene was set for a thrilling showdown following the Enduro Cup race earlier on Sunday, won by Hamish Fitzsimmons in his maiden Sprint Challenge race victory.
Clay Osborne finished second and Oscar Targett third meaning any one of the three could claim the round should they win the finale.
The young trio swapped the lead between them multiple times to set up the three-way battle for the round in the sprint race decider.
Click here for the full Jim Richards Enduro race wrap
That turned into a frenetic affair with Osborne taking an early lead after running side by side on the outside of turn one at the start.
He and Fitzsimmons battled for the race lead on the opening lap, before Targett then assumed the attack from lap two.
Targett raced to the lead four laps into the race, following a restart from a Safety Car period, however his move on Osborne came as the pair crossed the control line – race control deeming that the young Queenslander had overlap prior to the line.
He was assessed a five second time penalty as a result, meaning the battle was then on between Hamish Fitzsimmons and Osborne.
Lap five would be the turning point when Fitzsimmons made contact with Osborne after dropping two wheels off the circuit on the run into MG corner, his TekworkX entry making contact with Osborne’s McElrea car and forcing both out of the race.
That brought the Safety Car out for a second time with Targett crossing the line in first position with Sumich in second.
Targett’s five-second penalty, however, dropped him to 12th in the final order; Sumich becoming the third winner from three races and also sweeping to the round win.
Aron Shields completed his remarkable comeback to second place with Brock Gilchrist’s third seeing him tied on points with Sumich, the latter claiming the win by virtue of finishing higher in the final race.
In the battle for Pro-Am, Brett Boulton claimed both races on Sunday at Phillip Island in a stout recovery from his race one non-finish.
That DNF would prove costly however, Danny Stutterd’s win and pair of second place finishes delivering him the round result.
Ramu Farrell was second overall with Lachy Harburg third – Boulton fourth in points for the round to commence his title quest.
The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia field takes a short break before their next round at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia this May 31-June 2.
Prior to that the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns to action this week at the ITM Taupo Super400 event in New Zealand – the second ever international event for an Australian one-make Porsche category.
Fitzsimmons takes enduro epic at Phillip Island
Three-way fight delivers incredible race as Michelin Juniors put on a thriller
HAMISH FITZSIMMONS has stormed to a thrilling maiden Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series race victory, claiming the 45-minute Jim Richards Endurance Trophy race in style at Phillip Island.
The 18-year-old from Queensland engaged in an epic battle with Race 1 winner Oscar Targett in the early stages of the Sunday morning race, the pair of teenagers swapping positions on two occasions before Fitzsimmons was able to complete a pass at turn four.
Kiwi Clay Osborne then raced his way into the fight, catching the two leaders and passing Targett on lap 14 to move to second position.
The trio, representing three different teams, then raced nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race in an intense one-make Porsche fight.
Osborne stole the lead from Fitzsimmons with five minutes remaining after a bold move at the hairpin and led for a lap – only for Hamish to re-take the lead with three laps remaining.
The trio then battled in an intense final lap with Targett re-asserting his position in second with a bold move down the inside of MG within sight of the flag, grabbing second position back on the last lap.
After an intense race that featured five lead changes between the three Porsche Michelin Juniors, Fitzsimmons won from Targett and Osborne, in third.
Targett did claim a new Phillip Island lap record, however, his 1m31.1036s best on lap 5 finally unseating Matt Campbell’s 10-year-old Phillip Island benchmark.
While the leading three battled, Brock Gilchrist and Caleb Sumich completed the top five, with Tyler Greenbury making waves and moving to sixth position, overhauling Aron Shields late in the race.
Jake Santalucia was eighth – surviving a wild moment at turn 12 late in the race that claimed his Sonic Motor Racing teammate Conor Somers – with Slade Orsmond and Ayrton Hodson rounding out the top-10.
Brett Boulton claimed the Pro-Am class after starting from the back, overhauling early leader and race one winner Danny Stutterd in the closing stages, with Ramu Farrell third.
Jacque Jarjo recorded his second win of the weekend by taking out the Class B battle.
A third and final race will complete the opening Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series round at 12:55pm on Sunday, with the race to be shown live and free on 7plus.
Targett takes season opener in short Island shootout
Danny Stutterd takes Pro-Am win while Jacque Jarjo seals Class B
OSCAR TARGETT has opened his 2024 account in style, fending off a spirited challenge from Hamish Fitzsimmons to claim the opening race in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia season at Phillip Island.
Targett held off his TekworkX Racing rival throughout the race distance to take the win, with Clay Osborne finishing third.
RACE 1 – Full Race Results
Ramu Farrell scored victory in the Pro-Am class while Jacque Jarjo took the Class B win in Race 1 of the new season.
The Grove Racing Junior / Earl Bamber Motorsport teenager started from pole and converted his start into an early lead, fending off Fitzsimmons on the opening lap before a Safety Car was called early.
He then judged the restart to perfection and led his Porsche Michelin Junior rival home to record a third career Sprint Challenge race win.
Fitzsimmons challenged Targett on the race start and then the restart before managing his race to finish second, while Clay Osborne was strong to record his best ever Sprint Challenge finish, in just his third round start.
EBM, TekworkX and McElrea completed the podium sweep today.
Brock Gilchrist charged his way to fourth position in the Team Porsche NZ entry, making a late move on Conor Somers’ Sonic Entry late in the race.
He was followed through by Caleb Sumich, who capitalised on a superb start to charge his way to fifth and his best ever Sprint Challenge race finish.
Somers finished sixth on his Porsche debut, finishing ahead of his teammate Jake Santalucia who was seventh.
Ninth was Aron Shields, who was stuck in the bottom half of the top 10 after his team was forced to change engines aboard his DNA Autosport entry overnight.
Ramu Farrell crossed the line first in the Pro-Am Class and finished an outstanding eighth outright in his Jones Motorsport #888 entry.
Farrell had struggled with niggling mechanical issues aboard his car in the leadup to the race however ran in the top 10 consistently throughout the 8-lap distance.
However, he was penalised five seconds post race and dropped to second, elevating Daniel Stutterd to the class win. Lachy Harburg finished third in his Pro-Am debut.
Class B went the way of Jacque Jarjo, who finished 14th outright.
The race was not drama-free with a start-line incident claiming two of McElrea Racing’s chargers, including Ayrton Hodson and Brett Boulton, both cars forced out of the race.
Later on the opening lap, Brad Carr was clipped after spinning at turn four, the hit damaging his radiator and forcing a recovery.
All four cars failed to finish however are expected to race tomorrow.
Sunday’s busy program will see the Jim Richards Endurance Championship commence with a 45-mintue enduro in the morning, to be followed by a second sprint race later in the Shannons SpeedSeries program at Phillip Island – the latter race to be shown live on 7plus.
FULL RACE REPLAY: Race1, Round 1 – Phillip Island
Gerry Murphy shows support for Australia Zoo
Gerry Murphy tells us about his unique livery and support of the Australia Zoo.
Round 1, 2023 – Phillip Island gallery
Image Gallery
Targett flies to Phillip Island pole to open 2024 account
Ramu Farrell on pole in Pro-Am, Brad Carr in Class B
OSCAR TARGETT has slammed home the quickest lap in qualifying to score the first pole position of the 2024 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia season, at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
The Queensland teenager set a Sprint Challenge-record 1m30.3286s flyer to top a competitive session held in overcast conditions on a Friday afternoon.
RESULTS: Qualifying, Round 1, Phillip Island
In the Pro-Am battle, Ramu Farrell put his Jones Motorsport-prepared car on pole position and 11th outright, pipping former Pro-Am winner Brett Boulton to the top spot by just one-tenth of a second, while Brad Carr took the top spot in Class B.
Targett’s lap was set mid-way through the session and stood for more than ten minutes as the time for rivals to beat – only for them all to fall short.
Having topped practice earlier in the day, Fitzsimmons nibbled away at Targett’s flyer however couldn’t beat the Earl Bamber Motorsport-run Porsche, despite improving on his tenth and final flying lap of the session.
Targett’s pole was the third of the Grove Racing Junior’s brief Porsche career – now just six rounds old – and came by 0.27s over Fitzsimmons.
Clay Osborne qualified third aboard his McElrea Racing-run entry while Conor Somers was fourth on his debut for Sonic Motor Racing, making it four teams in the top four.
Team Porsche NZ’s Brock Gilchrist was fifth on his debut in the championship, missing a spot on the second row of the grid by only 0.08s.
He’ll line up alongside another rookie in the form of Australian Formula Ford graduate, Jake Santalucia, who qualified his Sonic Porsche sixth.
Caleb Sumich ended his session in seventh with Tyler Greenbury eighth.
The former Australian Karting Champion is making a racing return this year having not competed at a national level since racing V8 Touring Cars more than six years ago.
Aron Shields was ninth aboard his DNA Autosport car with another rookie, Kiwi teenager Ayrton Hodson, completing the top 10.
Farrell and Boulton will line up side by side on the sixth row of the grid as they commence their battle for the Pro-Am title.
Brad Carr’s flyer was not only good enough for the Class B pole but also 13th outright and ahead of all bar two of the Pro-Am contenders in their later-model cars.
Jacque Jarjo was next in Class B with Stephen Moylan third in class.
26 cars will take the starter for Race 1 of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia season on Saturday at Phillip Island, as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries Ford Mustang 60th anniversary Race Phillip Island event.
The Porsche field will race once on Saturday with the season opener to be shown live on 7plus and 7mate around Australia.
Sunday morning will see the first race in the Jim Richards’ Endurance Trophy season followed by a final sprint race, also to be shown on 7plus.
Sonic duo make progression to Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge
Jake Santalucia and Conor Somers step up to Sprint Challenge fight
Last year’s Australian Formula Ford Series runner-up Jake Santalucia and rising talent Conor Somers form a twin Sonic attack on the Australia’s second-tier Porsche title, kicking off at Phillip Island this weekend.
Sonic is the most successful team in the history of Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge in Australia, having won the inaugural series with Sven Burchartz in 2008 and later scoring an Australian Porsche Motorsport record four titles in a row between 2015 and 2018.
In what was Santalucia’s maiden national Formula Ford season in 2023 and he came of age by securing second in the standings as he broke through to secure a maiden round win at Symmons Plains, before a repeat success at The Bend finale.
Joining Sonic at the start of the 2023 season after running as a privateer, Somers was sixth in the standings after finishing multiple times on the podium. As part of Sonic’s crew at Carrera Cup events, Somers is experienced with Porsches and will be one to watch this season.
The duo have completed testing already in preparation for the season ahead.
The pathway through Sonic is one of prestige as the likes of Jamie Whincup, Will Davison, David Reynolds and Nick Percat have emerged to become Supercars race winners. This remains relevant this year as Marcos Flack won on debut in Carrera Cup following his graduation from Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge together with Harrison Goodman.
The opening round for the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge is at Phillip Island on April 12-14 as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries to be broadcast live on 7mate and 7plus.
Jake Santalucia
#777 Sonic/Vision One, Porsche 991 Cup Car Type 991.2
“I went through Formula Ford, because I thought that was the best pathway I could take and after we completed that season getting into Porsches was the best way to go,” Santalucia said.
“Going Porsche racing opens up opportunities all over the world and is something I want to do as I eventually want to compete against the best GT drivers in the world. Sonic has what I’m looking for in my progression and it was a simple choice to stay.
“I’ve spent four test days in the Porsche and I’m feeling comfortable in it. We’ve had some quick lap times, which is always a good thing, but racing is a different challenge and you can’t really test for that. It’s just going to be down to my ability to take on what’s coming and adapt the best that I can.
“I’m using this year as a building season, but also I want to go out and do the best that I can. Results-wise, I don’t know what’s coming, but as long as I start the year off solid and end the season well I might be able to progress in 2025.”
Conor Somers
#71 Sonic/Hi Tech Field Services, Porsche 991 Cup Car Type 991.2
“The Porsche is definitely a different car to drive compared to Formula Ford, but it has been good to have the experience of all the crew at Sonic to help us along the way,” said Somers.
“It’s definitely very different to go from a light car weighing 500kg to a 1.3 tonne sports car that moves around a bit and rolls, but the adaption has been really good.
“It was good to get a couple of test days done at a fast track like Phillip Island and we’ve got some great learnings from those runs, which will hopefully put us in a good position for the race weekend.
“I’m prepping the Sonic Porsches in the workshop. I’ve been learning about how these cars work the best through listening to the mechanics and engineers. This will help me when I jump into the driver’s seat because I’ll know a little bit more about how they all go together and what makes them tick.
“I’m in the right team, there’s no better place to do it. For us there are no expectations, we’re just going to try to do the best we can with what we have and see where we end up.”
Michael Ritter
Team owner, Sonic Motor Racing Services
“We’ve seen many of our Formula Ford drivers do this, and many with great success. We have every confidence that Jake and Conor will be perform very well in this class.
“Our career development pathways that we have at Sonic are something that we are very proud of and we are hoping, like last year in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, we will be fighting for race wins every race weekend.”
Profile: Brett Boulton
Brett tells us about his life away from the track and his relationship with the McElrea Racing team
We catch-up with Porsche #Michelin Sprint Challenge Morris Finance Pro-Am, Brett Boulton, on his life away from the track and his relationship with the McElrea Racing team
Profile: Richard Cowen
We catch up with Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Pro-Am
We catch up with Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Pro-Am, Richard Cowen on his life away from the track as part of the McElrea Racing team
Profile: Jonathan Gliksten
The Morris Pro-Am tells us about his life away from the track and support of Friedreich Ataxia
Record Michelin Sprint Challenge junior field heads to Phillip Island
26 cars locked in for season opener with battles in Pro, Pro-Am and Class B competition set
THE youngest Pro field in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia history will headline the start of an intense battle for the 2024 series at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend.
The first of six rounds set for the new season commences this weekend at Race Phillip Island with the Shannons SpeedSeries, with eleven Porsche Michelin Juniors – average age, 20 – set to headline the three-race program.
They’re part of a broader 26-strong field that includes competition throughout Pro-Am and Class B with intense battles expected throughout the field.
At an outright level returning drivers Aron Shields – last year’s runner-up to champion Marco Giltrap – 18-year-old Grove Racing junior Oscar Targett, who finished third last year, fellow teenager Hamish Fitzsimmons (fourth in 2023) and West Aussie Caleb Sumich all return looking for a title this year.
They’ll be joined by an incredible rookie pack that includes Australian Formula Ford series runner-up, 16-year-old Jake Santalucia and current New Zealand GT4 Champion, Brock Gilchrist.
Gilchrist will be joined by fellow New Zealanders Clay Osborne – who made an impressive debut in the final two rounds last year – and Speedway ace / NZ GT Porsche racer Ayrton Hodson.
Australia will be well-represented with 17-year-old Slade Orsmond, who made his debut in the Mount Panorama season finale’ last year, young Victorian Formula 3 racer Ben Taylor and Formula Ford graduate Conor Somers.
Of the 12 Pro class entrants only one is not a Michelin Junior: Tyler Greenbury to make a welcome return to full-time circuit racing this weekend aboard a 991.2 GT3 Cup Car entered by his own team.
Greenbury, a multiple Australian Karting Champion, finished runner-up in the 2016 V8 Touring Cars series before focussing on his own successful Karting team however will return to the drivers’ seat this weekend.
The Pro-Am class fight is expected to be as lively as ever with 2022 Pro-Am champion Brett Boulton leading the charge as the most successful driver in the class entered this weekend.
Competition is expected to be tight, however, with former Class B champ Lachy Harburg stepping up to the Pro-Am fight in the later 991.2 model GT3 Cup Car.
Meanwhile, Class B champion Phil Morriss will return to defend his title this year with 10-time race winner Brad Carr expected to challenge as well.
Six drivers will be on debut this weekend as the series’ heads to a venue noted for producing wildly competitive racing.
Phillip Island was also the scene of the 2023 season opener, with Marco Giltrap claiming two of the three races and the round win to anchor his eventual championship challenge.
Aron Shields won the other race, while Sam Shahin led home Brett Boulton to win the Pro-Am class in a clean sweep. Lachy Harburg swept Class B at the Island last year.
Of note to competitors will be the recent resurfacing efforts having given the iconic 4.46km circuit a brand new surface ahead of the 2024 season.
Phillip Island’s Michelin Sprint Challenge lap record is the oldest among active circuits on the calendar, set at 1m31.1140s by Matt Campbell back in his debut Porsche season in 2014.
Action commences on Friday with practice and qualifying, ahead of the first race in the brand-new season commencing at 2:45pm on Saturday afternoon.
The first race in the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy campaign kicks off Sunday’s program at 9:20am, followed by the finale’ at 12:55pm.
The Shannons SpeedSeries event will be shown live and free on the Seven Network this Saturday and Sunday from Phillip Island.
ENTRY LIST: Round 1
No | Car # | C/L | SPONSOR | DRIVER | SURNAME | STATE | MAKE | MODEL |
1 | 3 | Pro-Am | Racing To Beat FA | Jonathan | Gliksten | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
2 | 4 | Pro | Grove Racing / EBM | Oscar | Targett | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
3 | 5 | Class B | Jacque Fine Jewellery | Jacque | Jarjo | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
4 | 6 | Pro | Tyler Greenbury Racing | Tyler | Greenbury | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
5 | 7 | Pro | AeroAscent / InnovationTANK / EBM | Slade | Orsmond | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
6 | 8 | Class B | Car Mods Australia | Bradley | Carr | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
7 | 10 | Pro | Team Porsche NZ / EBM | Brock | Gilchrist | NZ | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
8 | 11 | Pro-Am | Aera Cloud & Cyber Security Group | Eric | Constantinidis | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
9 | 14 | Pro | McElrea Racing | Caleb | Sumich | WA | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
10 | 15 | Pro | Power and Earth . Com | Clay | Osborne | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
11 | 16 | Pro | TekworkX Motorsport | Hamish | Fitzsimmons | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
12 | 25 | Pro | auticon / Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport | Ben | Taylor | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
13 | 28 | Pro | McElrea Racing | Ayrton | Hodson | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
14 | 35 | Pro-Am | Rentcorp Hyundai Forklift | Indiran | Padayachee | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
15 | 37 | Pro-Am | Bondi Carpets / Team DNA | Andrew | Georgiadis | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
16 | 47 | Class B | Effect Buuilding Projects | Stephen | Moylan | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
17 | 71 | Pro | Sonic / Hi Tech Field Services | Conor | Somers | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
18 | 84 | Pro-Am | Bold Living | Brett | Boulton | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
19 | 86 | Class B | Morriss Racing Service | Phil | Morriss | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
20 | 87 | Pro-Am | DW Motorsport | David | Greig | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
21 | 91 | Pro-Am | The Cover Shop / EBM | Lachlan | Harburg | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
22 | 99 | Pro-Am | Westcoast Windows / Southern Star Windows | Ross | McGregor | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
23 | 116 | Pro | Astrontech / DNA Autosport | Aron | Shields | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
24 | 702 | Pro-Am | TekworkX Motorsport | Daniel | Stutterd | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
25 | 777 | Pro | Sonic / Vision One | Jake | Santalucia | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
26 | 888 | Pro-Am | Kaldewelg Auto | Ramu | Farrell | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
Shields returns for title tilt amidst three-car DNA Sprint Challenge debut
Title contender leads new squad into 2024 season
A RUNNER-UP finish in last year’s series has Aron Shields fired up for a tilt at this year’s Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia title – and he’s doing it in a new team and with a hot new livery and sponsor.
Shields, a Porsche Michelin Junior, joins forces with Sydney-based DNA Autosport this year as part of a three-car team locked in to contest the ultra-competitive one-make Porsche championship which this week commences its 18th season.
The new year launches at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend, a track where Shields was a race winner in 2023.
He’ll be joined at the squad by teammates, Jacque Jarjo – who will race the #5 Jacque Fine Jewellery entry in Class B, and Andrew Georgiadis, who enters the Pro-Am class in his Bondi Carpets 991.2 GT3 Cup Car.
Shields, meanwhile, will shoot for outright honours with the new backing of Astrontech, Paragon Group Services and Jacque fine Jewellery aboard his Orange GT3 Cup Car.
The young Sydneysider scored several wins across the 2023 season on his way to second in the standings behind only Marco Giltrap, who has stepped into Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia this season.
The team has shown off their new colours for the season with all three cars unlikely to be missed amidst a strong Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia grid this year.
The opening round will be held alongside the Shannons SpeedSeries ‘Race Phillip Island’ this weekend at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in the state’s South.
Sprint Challenge will race three times across the weekend with live broadcast coverage on the screens of the Seven network this weekend.
ARON SHIELDS:
“I’m super excited to come back to Sprint Challenge again this season! This year, I will be joining up with DNA Autosport, a Sydney-based team new to Porsche racing that have put together an exciting and competitive program.
“Although it will be my first time with DNA running the car, I’ve previously worked with team owner/race engineer, Andre Nader. We have already shared success together with a pole and multiple race wins last year and will be looking to add to that tally as the season progresses.
“Obviously, I’m very aware of how competitive this series is and have been working extremely hard in the offseason to improve my level.
“I’m very honoured to welcome Astrontech, Paragon Group Services and Jacque Fine Jewellery as new partners and to have Kyles Hire Services and Bondi Carpets back onboard this racing season.
The car looks incredible thanks to Ben Mackenzie from BPM livery & design and won’t be missed out on track. Looking forward to representing all my partners this Season and going for the championship win that I just missed out on last year.”
JACQUE JARJO:
“I’ve been a Porsche enthusiast for a number of years and after being a regular at track days I’m looking forward to a new challenge. I hope to be competitive throughout the series, even at the tracks I haven’t been to, but most importantly I want to have an enjoyable year in the car.
“The Team at DNA have really helped me progress in my driving and have enjoyed actually being part of a team. We’ve all become good mates with similar interests and looking forward to race with likeminded people. It’s great to race at the level created by Porsche Motorsport Australia. The team at Porsche have created a very professional series that is well organised.”
ANDREW GEORGIADIS:
“After a lot of peer pressure from my buddy Jacque, I figured it’s time to join Sprint Challenge. There was an opportunity to join a growing team and figured there was no better time.
“I want to have the most fun of anyone in the whole field. I really enjoy the camaraderie at Team DNA and the opportunity to race at various tracks throughout the year.”
ANDRE NADER – Team owner
“This year, DNA Autosport is honoured to enter Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge with 2 Pro-Am contenders and 1 Pro class contender.
“This is a great opportunity for our team to step up and race at the national level, giving our staff access to another facet of the great racing that is available in Australia.
“The Porsche categories are so well put together and the teams that commonly enter them are veterans of the sport. Both I, and the dedicated team behind me look forward to the challenge ahead.”
Porsche Michelin Junior Program applications now open
APPLICATIONS are now open for the 2024 Porsche Motorsport Australia Michelin Junior Program.
The leading young driver development program in Australia returns bigger and better than ever this year, supporting young talent emerging through the ranks of the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid for those competing in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia and Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia.
The program includes significant prizes, opportunities and skills growth for young talent and has helped prepare a host of young drivers for top-level competition, both in Australia and around the world, since its inception.
A record 20 drivers were involved in the Michelin Junior Program in 2023.
Participation in the program offers a range of benefits to young drivers – born between 30 November 2000 and 1 March 2007 – including significant support from major partner, Michelin.
Each driver who tops the Michelin Junior standings at each round of Carrera Cup or Sprint Challenge will receive as a prize free entry to a subsequent round, plus a set of brand new Michelin Pilot Sport Carrera Cup tyres.
Second and third-placed juniors in each category at each round will also receive a set of Michelin tyres for use that season.
Additionally, the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Junior Champion will receive Porsche Cars Australia’s only nomination to contest the Porsche Junior Shootout in Europe at the conclusion of the 2024 season, the winner of which receives a significant funding scholarship towards a season in Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
Young New Zealander Callum Hedge was Australia’s nomination in 2023, while former Carrera Cup Australia nominees Matt Campbell and Jaxon Evans each won the scholarship to kickstart their European racing careers.
Finally, a pre-season Junior training camp to be held on the Gold Coast to commence the season.
To be held over three days between February 27-29, the training camp is provided for free by Porsche Cars Australia to all nominated Juniors and encompasses all aspects required to be a successful professional driver, including physical and mental training, engineering input and media training – and more.
The training program has been designed by leading industry High Performance coach Leigh Stamation and his Reaction Performance business.
Nominations are open to those drivers planning to compete in Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia, and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia, in the 2024 season.
Applications must be received by close of business on Friday, 02 February to be considered for the program.
Round 2 – Sydney – Race 3 Highlights
Highlights of the final race from Round 2 at Sydney Motorsport Park
Round 2 – Sydney – Race 2 Highlights
Highlights of the 45-minute endurance race from Sydney Motorsport Park
Sumich claims Round 1 following dramatic Sprint Challenge opener
Danny Stutterd, Jacque Jarjo win Pro-Am and Class B trophies in Round 1
WEST AUSTRALIAN junior star Caleb Sumich has claimed a dramatic opening round of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series in a sensational conclusion to the first round of the new season.
The Perth-based teenager had run fourth in the final race of the weekend at Phillip Island before a remarkable turn of events saw him claim not only his maiden race victory – but the overall round win as well.
Sumich, who is in his second Porsche season, took advantage of a collision between the drivers in third and second – and then a post-race penalty to the leader – to claim the big trophy in a dramatic conclusion to an incredible Sprint Challenge season opener.
Sumich won on a countback by virtue of claiming the final race of the weekend, while Team Porsche New Zealand’s Brock Gilchrist was second.
Race one winner Oscar Targett finished third overall after a post-race penalty in the final race dropped him from the top step of the podium.
Danny Stutterd won the Pro-Am class for the round over Ramu Farrell and Lachlan Harburg, while Jacque Jarjo claimed the Class B trophy.
The scene was set for a thrilling showdown following the Enduro Cup race earlier on Sunday, won by Hamish Fitzsimmons in his maiden Sprint Challenge race victory.
Clay Osborne finished second and Oscar Targett third meaning any one of the three could claim the round should they win the finale.
The young trio swapped the lead between them multiple times to set up the three-way battle for the round in the sprint race decider.
Click here for the full Jim Richards Enduro race wrap
That turned into a frenetic affair with Osborne taking an early lead after running side by side on the outside of turn one at the start.
He and Fitzsimmons battled for the race lead on the opening lap, before Targett then assumed the attack from lap two.
Targett raced to the lead four laps into the race, following a restart from a Safety Car period, however his move on Osborne came as the pair crossed the control line – race control deeming that the young Queenslander had overlap prior to the line.
He was assessed a five second time penalty as a result, meaning the battle was then on between Hamish Fitzsimmons and Osborne.
Lap five would be the turning point when Fitzsimmons made contact with Osborne after dropping two wheels off the circuit on the run into MG corner, his TekworkX entry making contact with Osborne’s McElrea car and forcing both out of the race.
That brought the Safety Car out for a second time with Targett crossing the line in first position with Sumich in second.
Targett’s five-second penalty, however, dropped him to 12th in the final order; Sumich becoming the third winner from three races and also sweeping to the round win.
Aron Shields completed his remarkable comeback to second place with Brock Gilchrist’s third seeing him tied on points with Sumich, the latter claiming the win by virtue of finishing higher in the final race.
In the battle for Pro-Am, Brett Boulton claimed both races on Sunday at Phillip Island in a stout recovery from his race one non-finish.
That DNF would prove costly however, Danny Stutterd’s win and pair of second place finishes delivering him the round result.
Ramu Farrell was second overall with Lachy Harburg third – Boulton fourth in points for the round to commence his title quest.
The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia field takes a short break before their next round at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia this May 31-June 2.
Prior to that the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns to action this week at the ITM Taupo Super400 event in New Zealand – the second ever international event for an Australian one-make Porsche category.
Fitzsimmons takes enduro epic at Phillip Island
Three-way fight delivers incredible race as Michelin Juniors put on a thriller
HAMISH FITZSIMMONS has stormed to a thrilling maiden Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series race victory, claiming the 45-minute Jim Richards Endurance Trophy race in style at Phillip Island.
The 18-year-old from Queensland engaged in an epic battle with Race 1 winner Oscar Targett in the early stages of the Sunday morning race, the pair of teenagers swapping positions on two occasions before Fitzsimmons was able to complete a pass at turn four.
Kiwi Clay Osborne then raced his way into the fight, catching the two leaders and passing Targett on lap 14 to move to second position.
The trio, representing three different teams, then raced nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race in an intense one-make Porsche fight.
Osborne stole the lead from Fitzsimmons with five minutes remaining after a bold move at the hairpin and led for a lap – only for Hamish to re-take the lead with three laps remaining.
The trio then battled in an intense final lap with Targett re-asserting his position in second with a bold move down the inside of MG within sight of the flag, grabbing second position back on the last lap.
After an intense race that featured five lead changes between the three Porsche Michelin Juniors, Fitzsimmons won from Targett and Osborne, in third.
Targett did claim a new Phillip Island lap record, however, his 1m31.1036s best on lap 5 finally unseating Matt Campbell’s 10-year-old Phillip Island benchmark.
While the leading three battled, Brock Gilchrist and Caleb Sumich completed the top five, with Tyler Greenbury making waves and moving to sixth position, overhauling Aron Shields late in the race.
Jake Santalucia was eighth – surviving a wild moment at turn 12 late in the race that claimed his Sonic Motor Racing teammate Conor Somers – with Slade Orsmond and Ayrton Hodson rounding out the top-10.
Brett Boulton claimed the Pro-Am class after starting from the back, overhauling early leader and race one winner Danny Stutterd in the closing stages, with Ramu Farrell third.
Jacque Jarjo recorded his second win of the weekend by taking out the Class B battle.
A third and final race will complete the opening Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series round at 12:55pm on Sunday, with the race to be shown live and free on 7plus.
Targett takes season opener in short Island shootout
Danny Stutterd takes Pro-Am win while Jacque Jarjo seals Class B
OSCAR TARGETT has opened his 2024 account in style, fending off a spirited challenge from Hamish Fitzsimmons to claim the opening race in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia season at Phillip Island.
Targett held off his TekworkX Racing rival throughout the race distance to take the win, with Clay Osborne finishing third.
RACE 1 – Full Race Results
Ramu Farrell scored victory in the Pro-Am class while Jacque Jarjo took the Class B win in Race 1 of the new season.
The Grove Racing Junior / Earl Bamber Motorsport teenager started from pole and converted his start into an early lead, fending off Fitzsimmons on the opening lap before a Safety Car was called early.
He then judged the restart to perfection and led his Porsche Michelin Junior rival home to record a third career Sprint Challenge race win.
Fitzsimmons challenged Targett on the race start and then the restart before managing his race to finish second, while Clay Osborne was strong to record his best ever Sprint Challenge finish, in just his third round start.
EBM, TekworkX and McElrea completed the podium sweep today.
Brock Gilchrist charged his way to fourth position in the Team Porsche NZ entry, making a late move on Conor Somers’ Sonic Entry late in the race.
He was followed through by Caleb Sumich, who capitalised on a superb start to charge his way to fifth and his best ever Sprint Challenge race finish.
Somers finished sixth on his Porsche debut, finishing ahead of his teammate Jake Santalucia who was seventh.
Ninth was Aron Shields, who was stuck in the bottom half of the top 10 after his team was forced to change engines aboard his DNA Autosport entry overnight.
Ramu Farrell crossed the line first in the Pro-Am Class and finished an outstanding eighth outright in his Jones Motorsport #888 entry.
Farrell had struggled with niggling mechanical issues aboard his car in the leadup to the race however ran in the top 10 consistently throughout the 8-lap distance.
However, he was penalised five seconds post race and dropped to second, elevating Daniel Stutterd to the class win. Lachy Harburg finished third in his Pro-Am debut.
Class B went the way of Jacque Jarjo, who finished 14th outright.
The race was not drama-free with a start-line incident claiming two of McElrea Racing’s chargers, including Ayrton Hodson and Brett Boulton, both cars forced out of the race.
Later on the opening lap, Brad Carr was clipped after spinning at turn four, the hit damaging his radiator and forcing a recovery.
All four cars failed to finish however are expected to race tomorrow.
Sunday’s busy program will see the Jim Richards Endurance Championship commence with a 45-mintue enduro in the morning, to be followed by a second sprint race later in the Shannons SpeedSeries program at Phillip Island – the latter race to be shown live on 7plus.
Targett flies to Phillip Island pole to open 2024 account
Ramu Farrell on pole in Pro-Am, Brad Carr in Class B
OSCAR TARGETT has slammed home the quickest lap in qualifying to score the first pole position of the 2024 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia season, at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
The Queensland teenager set a Sprint Challenge-record 1m30.3286s flyer to top a competitive session held in overcast conditions on a Friday afternoon.
RESULTS: Qualifying, Round 1, Phillip Island
In the Pro-Am battle, Ramu Farrell put his Jones Motorsport-prepared car on pole position and 11th outright, pipping former Pro-Am winner Brett Boulton to the top spot by just one-tenth of a second, while Brad Carr took the top spot in Class B.
Targett’s lap was set mid-way through the session and stood for more than ten minutes as the time for rivals to beat – only for them all to fall short.
Having topped practice earlier in the day, Fitzsimmons nibbled away at Targett’s flyer however couldn’t beat the Earl Bamber Motorsport-run Porsche, despite improving on his tenth and final flying lap of the session.
Targett’s pole was the third of the Grove Racing Junior’s brief Porsche career – now just six rounds old – and came by 0.27s over Fitzsimmons.
Clay Osborne qualified third aboard his McElrea Racing-run entry while Conor Somers was fourth on his debut for Sonic Motor Racing, making it four teams in the top four.
Team Porsche NZ’s Brock Gilchrist was fifth on his debut in the championship, missing a spot on the second row of the grid by only 0.08s.
He’ll line up alongside another rookie in the form of Australian Formula Ford graduate, Jake Santalucia, who qualified his Sonic Porsche sixth.
Caleb Sumich ended his session in seventh with Tyler Greenbury eighth.
The former Australian Karting Champion is making a racing return this year having not competed at a national level since racing V8 Touring Cars more than six years ago.
Aron Shields was ninth aboard his DNA Autosport car with another rookie, Kiwi teenager Ayrton Hodson, completing the top 10.
Farrell and Boulton will line up side by side on the sixth row of the grid as they commence their battle for the Pro-Am title.
Brad Carr’s flyer was not only good enough for the Class B pole but also 13th outright and ahead of all bar two of the Pro-Am contenders in their later-model cars.
Jacque Jarjo was next in Class B with Stephen Moylan third in class.
26 cars will take the starter for Race 1 of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia season on Saturday at Phillip Island, as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries Ford Mustang 60th anniversary Race Phillip Island event.
The Porsche field will race once on Saturday with the season opener to be shown live on 7plus and 7mate around Australia.
Sunday morning will see the first race in the Jim Richards’ Endurance Trophy season followed by a final sprint race, also to be shown on 7plus.
Sonic duo make progression to Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge
Jake Santalucia and Conor Somers step up to Sprint Challenge fight
Last year’s Australian Formula Ford Series runner-up Jake Santalucia and rising talent Conor Somers form a twin Sonic attack on the Australia’s second-tier Porsche title, kicking off at Phillip Island this weekend.
Sonic is the most successful team in the history of Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge in Australia, having won the inaugural series with Sven Burchartz in 2008 and later scoring an Australian Porsche Motorsport record four titles in a row between 2015 and 2018.
In what was Santalucia’s maiden national Formula Ford season in 2023 and he came of age by securing second in the standings as he broke through to secure a maiden round win at Symmons Plains, before a repeat success at The Bend finale.
Joining Sonic at the start of the 2023 season after running as a privateer, Somers was sixth in the standings after finishing multiple times on the podium. As part of Sonic’s crew at Carrera Cup events, Somers is experienced with Porsches and will be one to watch this season.
The duo have completed testing already in preparation for the season ahead.
The pathway through Sonic is one of prestige as the likes of Jamie Whincup, Will Davison, David Reynolds and Nick Percat have emerged to become Supercars race winners. This remains relevant this year as Marcos Flack won on debut in Carrera Cup following his graduation from Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge together with Harrison Goodman.
The opening round for the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge is at Phillip Island on April 12-14 as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries to be broadcast live on 7mate and 7plus.
Jake Santalucia
#777 Sonic/Vision One, Porsche 991 Cup Car Type 991.2
“I went through Formula Ford, because I thought that was the best pathway I could take and after we completed that season getting into Porsches was the best way to go,” Santalucia said.
“Going Porsche racing opens up opportunities all over the world and is something I want to do as I eventually want to compete against the best GT drivers in the world. Sonic has what I’m looking for in my progression and it was a simple choice to stay.
“I’ve spent four test days in the Porsche and I’m feeling comfortable in it. We’ve had some quick lap times, which is always a good thing, but racing is a different challenge and you can’t really test for that. It’s just going to be down to my ability to take on what’s coming and adapt the best that I can.
“I’m using this year as a building season, but also I want to go out and do the best that I can. Results-wise, I don’t know what’s coming, but as long as I start the year off solid and end the season well I might be able to progress in 2025.”
Conor Somers
#71 Sonic/Hi Tech Field Services, Porsche 991 Cup Car Type 991.2
“The Porsche is definitely a different car to drive compared to Formula Ford, but it has been good to have the experience of all the crew at Sonic to help us along the way,” said Somers.
“It’s definitely very different to go from a light car weighing 500kg to a 1.3 tonne sports car that moves around a bit and rolls, but the adaption has been really good.
“It was good to get a couple of test days done at a fast track like Phillip Island and we’ve got some great learnings from those runs, which will hopefully put us in a good position for the race weekend.
“I’m prepping the Sonic Porsches in the workshop. I’ve been learning about how these cars work the best through listening to the mechanics and engineers. This will help me when I jump into the driver’s seat because I’ll know a little bit more about how they all go together and what makes them tick.
“I’m in the right team, there’s no better place to do it. For us there are no expectations, we’re just going to try to do the best we can with what we have and see where we end up.”
Michael Ritter
Team owner, Sonic Motor Racing Services
“We’ve seen many of our Formula Ford drivers do this, and many with great success. We have every confidence that Jake and Conor will be perform very well in this class.
“Our career development pathways that we have at Sonic are something that we are very proud of and we are hoping, like last year in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, we will be fighting for race wins every race weekend.”
Grove Racing Junior Team livery locked
Oscar Targett returns for second season in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge
Grove Racing is excited to unveil the 2024 livery for the Grove Racing Junior Team as they prepare for the 2024 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia season.
Now in its 16th season, the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia serves as a pivotal platform for aspiring young drivers aiming to pursue a professional career in racing.
Featuring a sleek design that creates a connection between all tiers of Grove Racing’s motorsport program, the Grove Racing Junior Team is set to make a significant impression on the circuit this year.
Leading the Junior Team is Oscar Targett, a talented driver with 12 years of motorsport experience, including two years with Grove’s Junior Team.
Targett has achieved success in the Australian Kart Championship and at the Ipswich Kart Club, as well as in international competitions such as European and World Championships.
Moving from karting to car racing, Targett enters the 2024 Porsche Sprint Challenge with determination and a focus on his career progression.
Despite missing the first round in 2023, Oscar impressed throughout his rookie season. He consistently delivered strong performances, ultimately securing third place overall in the championship standings.
Targett’s steady progress and dedication have raised expectations for 2024, as he continues to refine his skills and pursue success.
Grove Racing CEO, Brenton Grove, expresses, “Oscar’s returning to a familiar championship in 2024, and we’re excited to see how he goes. Last year was a good learning foundation for Oscar, however, in 2024, we’re excited to see the progress he has made. With all Grove Racing programs, there’s an expectation to perform, and Oscar is more than capable of delivering.”
“The car looks great, and it’s exciting to see the link between all of Grove Racing’s programs. There really is a strong pathway from karts to Supercars within the Grove Racing business.”
“I’m really looking forward to hitting the track this year with Grove Racing. I’m ready and excited for the season ahead,” shared Oscar Targett, driver for Grove Racing Junior Team.
“Racing with Grove is always fun, and I can’t wait to see what this season has in store. The unveiling of our new livery marks the start of something exciting for us. After finishing third last year, I’m more focused than ever on winning races and pushing for the championship title.”
Supported by partners ACL, Alspec, Apex Steel, Gates, Infrabuild, and JC’s, Grove Racing remains committed to its pursuit of excellence.
With Round 1 of the 2024 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge season fast approaching at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit from April 12th to 14th, be sure to follow the Grove Racing Junior Team on social media for all the latest news, videos, and racing action from the 2024 season.
Record Michelin Sprint Challenge junior field heads to Phillip Island
26 cars locked in for season opener with battles in Pro, Pro-Am and Class B competition set
THE youngest Pro field in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia history will headline the start of an intense battle for the 2024 series at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend.
The first of six rounds set for the new season commences this weekend at Race Phillip Island with the Shannons SpeedSeries, with eleven Porsche Michelin Juniors – average age, 20 – set to headline the three-race program.
They’re part of a broader 26-strong field that includes competition throughout Pro-Am and Class B with intense battles expected throughout the field.
At an outright level returning drivers Aron Shields – last year’s runner-up to champion Marco Giltrap – 18-year-old Grove Racing junior Oscar Targett, who finished third last year, fellow teenager Hamish Fitzsimmons (fourth in 2023) and West Aussie Caleb Sumich all return looking for a title this year.
They’ll be joined by an incredible rookie pack that includes Australian Formula Ford series runner-up, 16-year-old Jake Santalucia and current New Zealand GT4 Champion, Brock Gilchrist.
Gilchrist will be joined by fellow New Zealanders Clay Osborne – who made an impressive debut in the final two rounds last year – and Speedway ace / NZ GT Porsche racer Ayrton Hodson.
Australia will be well-represented with 17-year-old Slade Orsmond, who made his debut in the Mount Panorama season finale’ last year, young Victorian Formula 3 racer Ben Taylor and Formula Ford graduate Conor Somers.
Of the 12 Pro class entrants only one is not a Michelin Junior: Tyler Greenbury to make a welcome return to full-time circuit racing this weekend aboard a 991.2 GT3 Cup Car entered by his own team.
Greenbury, a multiple Australian Karting Champion, finished runner-up in the 2016 V8 Touring Cars series before focussing on his own successful Karting team however will return to the drivers’ seat this weekend.
The Pro-Am class fight is expected to be as lively as ever with 2022 Pro-Am champion Brett Boulton leading the charge as the most successful driver in the class entered this weekend.
Competition is expected to be tight, however, with former Class B champ Lachy Harburg stepping up to the Pro-Am fight in the later 991.2 model GT3 Cup Car.
Meanwhile, Class B champion Phil Morriss will return to defend his title this year with 10-time race winner Brad Carr expected to challenge as well.
Six drivers will be on debut this weekend as the series’ heads to a venue noted for producing wildly competitive racing.
Phillip Island was also the scene of the 2023 season opener, with Marco Giltrap claiming two of the three races and the round win to anchor his eventual championship challenge.
Aron Shields won the other race, while Sam Shahin led home Brett Boulton to win the Pro-Am class in a clean sweep. Lachy Harburg swept Class B at the Island last year.
Of note to competitors will be the recent resurfacing efforts having given the iconic 4.46km circuit a brand new surface ahead of the 2024 season.
Phillip Island’s Michelin Sprint Challenge lap record is the oldest among active circuits on the calendar, set at 1m31.1140s by Matt Campbell back in his debut Porsche season in 2014.
Action commences on Friday with practice and qualifying, ahead of the first race in the brand-new season commencing at 2:45pm on Saturday afternoon.
The first race in the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy campaign kicks off Sunday’s program at 9:20am, followed by the finale’ at 12:55pm.
The Shannons SpeedSeries event will be shown live and free on the Seven Network this Saturday and Sunday from Phillip Island.
ENTRY LIST: Round 1
No | Car # | C/L | SPONSOR | DRIVER | SURNAME | STATE | MAKE | MODEL |
1 | 3 | Pro-Am | Racing To Beat FA | Jonathan | Gliksten | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
2 | 4 | Pro | Grove Racing / EBM | Oscar | Targett | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
3 | 5 | Class B | Jacque Fine Jewellery | Jacque | Jarjo | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
4 | 6 | Pro | Tyler Greenbury Racing | Tyler | Greenbury | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
5 | 7 | Pro | AeroAscent / InnovationTANK / EBM | Slade | Orsmond | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
6 | 8 | Class B | Car Mods Australia | Bradley | Carr | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
7 | 10 | Pro | Team Porsche NZ / EBM | Brock | Gilchrist | NZ | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
8 | 11 | Pro-Am | Aera Cloud & Cyber Security Group | Eric | Constantinidis | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
9 | 14 | Pro | McElrea Racing | Caleb | Sumich | WA | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
10 | 15 | Pro | Power and Earth . Com | Clay | Osborne | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
11 | 16 | Pro | TekworkX Motorsport | Hamish | Fitzsimmons | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
12 | 25 | Pro | auticon / Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport | Ben | Taylor | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
13 | 28 | Pro | McElrea Racing | Ayrton | Hodson | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
14 | 35 | Pro-Am | Rentcorp Hyundai Forklift | Indiran | Padayachee | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
15 | 37 | Pro-Am | Bondi Carpets / Team DNA | Andrew | Georgiadis | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
16 | 47 | Class B | Effect Buuilding Projects | Stephen | Moylan | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
17 | 71 | Pro | Sonic / Hi Tech Field Services | Conor | Somers | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
18 | 84 | Pro-Am | Bold Living | Brett | Boulton | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
19 | 86 | Class B | Morriss Racing Service | Phil | Morriss | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
20 | 87 | Pro-Am | DW Motorsport | David | Greig | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
21 | 91 | Pro-Am | The Cover Shop / EBM | Lachlan | Harburg | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
22 | 99 | Pro-Am | Westcoast Windows / Southern Star Windows | Ross | McGregor | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
23 | 116 | Pro | Astrontech / DNA Autosport | Aron | Shields | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
24 | 702 | Pro-Am | TekworkX Motorsport | Daniel | Stutterd | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
25 | 777 | Pro | Sonic / Vision One | Jake | Santalucia | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
26 | 888 | Pro-Am | Kaldewelg Auto | Ramu | Farrell | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
Shields returns for title tilt amidst three-car DNA Sprint Challenge debut
Title contender leads new squad into 2024 season
A RUNNER-UP finish in last year’s series has Aron Shields fired up for a tilt at this year’s Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia title – and he’s doing it in a new team and with a hot new livery and sponsor.
Shields, a Porsche Michelin Junior, joins forces with Sydney-based DNA Autosport this year as part of a three-car team locked in to contest the ultra-competitive one-make Porsche championship which this week commences its 18th season.
The new year launches at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend, a track where Shields was a race winner in 2023.
He’ll be joined at the squad by teammates, Jacque Jarjo – who will race the #5 Jacque Fine Jewellery entry in Class B, and Andrew Georgiadis, who enters the Pro-Am class in his Bondi Carpets 991.2 GT3 Cup Car.
Shields, meanwhile, will shoot for outright honours with the new backing of Astrontech, Paragon Group Services and Jacque fine Jewellery aboard his Orange GT3 Cup Car.
The young Sydneysider scored several wins across the 2023 season on his way to second in the standings behind only Marco Giltrap, who has stepped into Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia this season.
The team has shown off their new colours for the season with all three cars unlikely to be missed amidst a strong Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia grid this year.
The opening round will be held alongside the Shannons SpeedSeries ‘Race Phillip Island’ this weekend at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in the state’s South.
Sprint Challenge will race three times across the weekend with live broadcast coverage on the screens of the Seven network this weekend.
ARON SHIELDS:
“I’m super excited to come back to Sprint Challenge again this season! This year, I will be joining up with DNA Autosport, a Sydney-based team new to Porsche racing that have put together an exciting and competitive program.
“Although it will be my first time with DNA running the car, I’ve previously worked with team owner/race engineer, Andre Nader. We have already shared success together with a pole and multiple race wins last year and will be looking to add to that tally as the season progresses.
“Obviously, I’m very aware of how competitive this series is and have been working extremely hard in the offseason to improve my level.
“I’m very honoured to welcome Astrontech, Paragon Group Services and Jacque Fine Jewellery as new partners and to have Kyles Hire Services and Bondi Carpets back onboard this racing season.
The car looks incredible thanks to Ben Mackenzie from BPM livery & design and won’t be missed out on track. Looking forward to representing all my partners this Season and going for the championship win that I just missed out on last year.”
JACQUE JARJO:
“I’ve been a Porsche enthusiast for a number of years and after being a regular at track days I’m looking forward to a new challenge. I hope to be competitive throughout the series, even at the tracks I haven’t been to, but most importantly I want to have an enjoyable year in the car.
“The Team at DNA have really helped me progress in my driving and have enjoyed actually being part of a team. We’ve all become good mates with similar interests and looking forward to race with likeminded people. It’s great to race at the level created by Porsche Motorsport Australia. The team at Porsche have created a very professional series that is well organised.”
ANDREW GEORGIADIS:
“After a lot of peer pressure from my buddy Jacque, I figured it’s time to join Sprint Challenge. There was an opportunity to join a growing team and figured there was no better time.
“I want to have the most fun of anyone in the whole field. I really enjoy the camaraderie at Team DNA and the opportunity to race at various tracks throughout the year.”
ANDRE NADER – Team owner
“This year, DNA Autosport is honoured to enter Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge with 2 Pro-Am contenders and 1 Pro class contender.
“This is a great opportunity for our team to step up and race at the national level, giving our staff access to another facet of the great racing that is available in Australia.
“The Porsche categories are so well put together and the teams that commonly enter them are veterans of the sport. Both I, and the dedicated team behind me look forward to the challenge ahead.”
Porsche Michelin Junior Program applications now open
APPLICATIONS are now open for the 2024 Porsche Motorsport Australia Michelin Junior Program.
The leading young driver development program in Australia returns bigger and better than ever this year, supporting young talent emerging through the ranks of the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid for those competing in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia and Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia.
The program includes significant prizes, opportunities and skills growth for young talent and has helped prepare a host of young drivers for top-level competition, both in Australia and around the world, since its inception.
A record 20 drivers were involved in the Michelin Junior Program in 2023.
Participation in the program offers a range of benefits to young drivers – born between 30 November 2000 and 1 March 2007 – including significant support from major partner, Michelin.
Each driver who tops the Michelin Junior standings at each round of Carrera Cup or Sprint Challenge will receive as a prize free entry to a subsequent round, plus a set of brand new Michelin Pilot Sport Carrera Cup tyres.
Second and third-placed juniors in each category at each round will also receive a set of Michelin tyres for use that season.
Additionally, the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Junior Champion will receive Porsche Cars Australia’s only nomination to contest the Porsche Junior Shootout in Europe at the conclusion of the 2024 season, the winner of which receives a significant funding scholarship towards a season in Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
Young New Zealander Callum Hedge was Australia’s nomination in 2023, while former Carrera Cup Australia nominees Matt Campbell and Jaxon Evans each won the scholarship to kickstart their European racing careers.
Finally, a pre-season Junior training camp to be held on the Gold Coast to commence the season.
To be held over three days between February 27-29, the training camp is provided for free by Porsche Cars Australia to all nominated Juniors and encompasses all aspects required to be a successful professional driver, including physical and mental training, engineering input and media training – and more.
The training program has been designed by leading industry High Performance coach Leigh Stamation and his Reaction Performance business.
Nominations are open to those drivers planning to compete in Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia, and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia, in the 2024 season.
Applications must be received by close of business on Friday, 02 February to be considered for the program.
Sir Richard Branson meets Sprint Challenge young-gun
Virgin founder joins Ben Taylor and auticon-backed Porsche
PORSCHE Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia rookie Ben Taylor has a new high-flying, high profile supporter.
The young Victorian, who steps into a Porsche Centre Melbourne-prepared Porsche this season, welcomed Sir Richard Branson for a tour of his Cup Car this week.
Taylor, who has autism, is backed by auticon – the largest autistic IT consulting business in the world. Auticon employs over 465 autistic people in 15 countries who will be helping to advance Ben’s driving through providing analytics support specifically looking at his on track data.
Sir Richard is an investor in the business and visited the Porsche Centre Melbourne workshop this week to visit with Taylor and the team.
“It was an absolute honour to meet Sir Richard Branson at Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport and have him check out my racecar,” Taylor said.
“Sir Richard is one of auticon’s amazing investors, helping to provide I.T. solutions by autistic talent. He’s someone I’ve always looked up to, just knowing that he is neurodiverse and understanding the success that he’s had throughout his life is really encouraging. He had some fantastic insights about motorsport and it was a real privilege to be able to get first hand account from someone of his calibre.
“A very special thank you to the team at auticon Australia for making this connection happen – this partnership really is a perfect match!”
Branson, who for a time owned the Virgin Racing Formula 1 team and has longstanding Australian business links via Virgin Australia, said he was inspired to see Taylor’s achievements so far.
“Very inspiring to meet Ben Taylor – an autistic race car driver with the auticon Australia Racing Team,” Branson posted on his Facebook page.
“It truly inspiring to see a young person like Ben following his dreams and helping other neurodiverse people realise they can achieve anything they set their minds to. It was fascinating to learn how auticon will deploy its autistic data analysts and software engineers to help Ben take his driving to the next level.
“Such a powerful way of showing the brilliant skills that people with autism bring to the table – particularly in terms of IT, coding, and analytics. Wishing you the best of luck for the season ahead, Ben and team! Can’t wait to see you breaking boundaries, both on and off the track.”
Taylor’s Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia campaign commences at Round 1 of the series at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit on April 12-14 this year.
Ayrton Hodson joins McElrea for 2024 Michelin Sprint Challenge campaign
Young kiwi graduates from Speedway, NZ GT racing to Sprint Challenge
NEW ZEALAND teenager Ayrton Hodson will join McElrea Racing’s strong four-car fleet for the 2024 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series.
The 18-year-old hails from Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty and, despite his age, comes with a strong background in both circuit racing and speedway competition.
Hodson will join fellow New Zealand rising star Clay Osborne, West Aussie Caleb Sumich and Pro-Am ace Brett Boulton in the Queensland-based squad’s four car attack next year.
Hodson’s career began on the dirt, progressing through the ranks of New Zealand Speedway in Mini stock, wingless and then winged Sprint Car competition.
His career on bitumen started this year, finishing fourth in the New Zealand Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Championship Rookie class, including scoring a podium finish in just his fourth ever round.
He then won his class in the North Island Endurance Championship driving a BMW Z4 prior to claiming the overall NZ title, while also contesting the South Island Endurance Championship aboard a Porsche 911.1 GT3 Cup Car.
More recently, Hodson was a race winner in the opening round of the NZ GT Championship at Taupo aboard the same Porsche, having earlier qualified on the front row.
The New Zealander will compete in several key New Zealand Speedway events this summer prior to commencing his Australian campaign with McElrea in the new year.
“I’m excited to be confirmed in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge next year in Australia,” Hodson said.
“Since first driving a Porsche in July this year I have loved every minute of it and the type of car it is.
“My goal is to secure a full-time seat somewhere in the global Porsche programme in 2025. You must have a plan and whilst they are always subject to change our plans lead nicely into why we have signed with McElrea Racing in Australia. My recent race win in our New Zealand based older model Porsche in the opening round of the Summerset GT series within the Super Sprint NZ Motorsport championship confirmed to everyone I am up for the task.”
Hodson said he picked McElrea Racing on account of their driver development track record – and international links.
“McElrea Racing have a great history in developing and nurturing pathways for their drivers,” he said.
“The US is part of our plan and Andy has extensive experience and contacts up there. Andy and Leigh are passionate about what they do, and they really want to see their drivers succeed. They want to help in any way they can, which I think is a great attribute for a team.
“My goal for 2024 is to win Sprint Challenge, we have a good testing programme in place and I’ve done a good number of miles in the 991.1 in New Zealand but we don’t underestimate the level of learning required with a new country and new tracks. With a great team supporting me there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be in contention come Sydney.”
Team Owner Andy McElrea said he was pleased to welcome another fast young-gun to the McElrea Racing Sprint Challenge squad.
“Ayrton is a very talented young man with a lot of driving experience despite his age and we’re excited to have him on board for 2024,” he said.
“Michelin Sprint Challenge has proven itself time and time again to be the best proving ground for young drivers starting on the Porsche pathway – both within our team and outside of that.
“McElrea Racing now has a well-established pathway into Carrera Cup Australia or North America and we have proven that is effective. We’re really looking forward to working with Ayrton to establish his career on the Australian side of the Tasman and to watch his progression.”
The 2024 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series commences alongside the Shannons SpeedSeries at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in Victoria, on April 12-14.
Brock Gilchrist named Team Porsche NZ Scholarship driver for 2024
Porsche New Zealand is pleased to announce that the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia scholarship driver for the 2024 season is Brock Gilchrist. The scholarship allows Gilchrist to race in a 911 GT3 Cup Car, with the support of Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ) and Earl Bamber Motorsport.
46 promising young drivers aged 16-21 applied for the 2024 TPNZ Scholarship. A shortlist of applicants were interviewed by Earl Bamber and Porsche New Zealand, and Gilchrist was selected as the most promising young driver, and best fit for the team.
Gilchrist met Porsche Motorsport officials, Oliver Köeppen – Manager of One Make Series and GT Sport (Worldwide), Claudio Mack – Project Co-Ordinator One Make Series (Asia Pacific), and Nathan Pilcher – Porsche New Zealand Motorsport Co-ordinator to officially accept the scholarship.
The 19-year-old from Auckland has been in motorsport since the age of 6, transitioning from go-karts to cars at the age of 13. After competing for 4 seasons in the Toyota 86 series, Gilchrist won the championship in 2023, taking him to Nürburgring to experience racing in a GT4 Toyota Supra earlier this year. In addition, Gilchrist recently received the inaugural Giltrap Motorsport Junior Scholarship which sees him competing in the GT NZ Championship in a McLaren 570GT4, with the season concluding before his shift to racing Porsche in Australia.
In addition to motorsport, Gilchrist has an apprenticeship as a plumber which he will pursue alongside his racing career next year.
Success since the launch of Team Porsche New Zealand in Australia
In 2023, TPNZ achieved the ultimate success – taking out the double championship victory in Australia’s single-make Porsche series. The achievements show the scholarship programme is meeting its purpose of winning & creating a pathway for young New Zealand talent to advance in motorsport.
In his third year with TPNZ, Callum Hedge took out the top title for Porsche racing in Australia, securing the Porsche Carrera Cup championship victory during the dramatic final race of the season. Callum will pursue his single-seater career next year as he progresses to Indy NXT.
In addition, Marco Giltrap claimed the championship victory for the 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia season at the final round held at Bathurst International last month. Marco has been announced to be continuing with Team Porsche New Zealand in 2024, moving up to competing in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia alongside TPNZ scholarship recipient Zac Stichbury.
In the Porsche Sprint Challenge 2022, Ryan Wood concluded his debut Australian season in second place. In 2023, Wood was picked up by Walkinshaw Andretti United to progress through Super2 and has been announced to be racing in Supercars in 2024.
Matthew Payne was the 2021 TPNZ Carrera Cup Scholarship driver and has since progressed his career in Supercars to become a full-time driver for Penrite racing in 2023 & 2024. Payne recently achieved his Maiden win this year in Supercars at the Adelaide 500.
Brock Gilchrist
“To be selected as a Team Porsche New Zealand driver is a dream come true. I have been working towards this for the past year and it feels amazing to have achieved my goal. I am absolutely thrilled and excited for the season next year.”
Earl Bamber
“We are super excited to have Brock on board. He has shown his pedigree coming out of the Toyota 86 championship where many of our successful scholarship recipients like Callum Hedge started their careers. As a New Zealand champion, we have had our eye on him for some time. We are excited to see him progress from the McLaren scholarship that he is doing in New Zealand into Sprint Challenge Australia with us in 2024.”
Greg Clarke, General Manager, Porsche New Zealand
“Congratulations to Brock Gilchrist for taking out the Team Porsche New Zealand scholarship for 2024. The Sprint Challenge series is the perfect introduction to racing Porsche’s internationally. We hope to see him progress through the Porsche pyramid as we have seen with Zac Stichbury and Callum Hedge this year.”
Townsville 500 added to 2024 Sprint Challenge calendar
Shannons SpeedSeries, Supercars rounds make up 6-round schedule for 2024
A BLOCKBUSTER 2024 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia calendar has been announced, with the series set to continue its incredible recent momentum across six rounds next year.
The calendar mixes high profile national events with sensational permanent circuits and what is likely to be the series’ best media and broadcast package yet.
The calendar is headlined by the series’ street racing debut at the NTI Townsville 500 in North Queensland on July 5-7.
While Sprint Challenge has supported Supercars Championship rounds in the past, the category has never competed on a street circuit in its 16-year history.
The spot on the Townsville program effectively replaces Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia at the North Queensland event.
The addition of the Townsville event will allow for the young drivers in the field to gain experience on street circuits prior to their progression through the Porsche Pyramid to Carrera Cup, while offering a high-profile event and outstanding location for all competitors to enjoy.
The 2024 series will commence at the Shannons SpeedSeries event at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in Victoria in April, allowing for a longer off-season for teams and drivers to prepare for the year ahead.
From there, the series shifts to Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at The Bend on 31 May – 2 June for the second round, prior to the trip to North Queensland one month later.
The series will stay North in the winter months, returning to the Shannons SpeedSeries at Queensland Raceway on August 2-4.
A return to the popular NED Whiskey Tasmania Supersprint will add a second Supercars round to the program next year, following a successful and popular return to the Apple Isle this year.
The series will conclude with a two-day event at Sydney Motorsport Park as the key support to the TCR World Tour event at Race Sydney on the November 1-3 weekend.
The full broadcast package will be announced in due course; however, the Supercars rounds will include coverage on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo, with the Townsville event also being broadcast on free-to-air via the Seven Network.
Broadcast details for Shannons SpeedSeries rounds’ will be confirmed soon.
2024 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series Calendar
- Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC (Shannons SpeedSeries) April 12-14
- Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, SA (Shannons SpeedSeries) May 31-June 2
- NTI Townsville 500, QLD (Repco Supercars Championship) July 5-7
- Queensland Raceway, QLD (Shannons SpeedSeries) August 2-4
- Ned Whiskey Tasmania SuperSprint, TAS (Repco Supercars Championship) August 16-18
- Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW (Race Sydney / SpeedSeries) November 1-3
BARRY HAY – Motorsport Manager, Porsche Motorsport Australia
“The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge takes another step forward in 2024 with what we think is the best calendar yet for the series.
“It mixes incredible permanent circuits, high profile events and the first opportunity for the Sprint Challenge field to go street circuit racing in Townsville.
“It’s a great opportunity for the series on a major national stage and one of the larger motorsport events on the calendar.
“We’re looking forward to returning to Symmons Plains with the Supercars, and to returning to the Shannons SpeedSeries show with what is looking to be a massive year on that program.
“Sprint Challenge has been incredible this year and we’re incredibly proud of the series and everyone who competes in it. There is no doubt 2024 is shaping up to be even better.”
Ben Taylor joins PMSC, partners with auticon
Autistic Porsche Sprint Cup driver partners with the largest autistic-majority professional services firm in the world
Autistic race car driver Ben Taylor on debut, in his first race out of karting, won the first round of the Australian F3 Championships in Sydney in 2021. In 2024, he’ll debut in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, but this season will be different. This season he’s partnering with the largest autistic IT consulting business in the world and they’re planning to use autistic strengths to give him a winning edge.
Today marks the official launch of Ben Taylor’s auticon car. The launch was held at Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport’s dedicated motor racing facility in Collingwood. The facility is factory owned and one of the few Porsche owned racing facilities that exist outside of Germany.
At the car’s unveiling, it was revealed that auticon, a company that employs over 465 autistic people in 15 countries around the world will be helping to advance Ben’s driving through providing analytics support specifically looking at Ben’s on track data. The company will deploy its autistic data analysts and software engineers to build insights that will take Ben’s driving to the next level.
This strategy will bring a new way of thinking to motorsport. It will see autistic IT professionals using their strengths in coding and analysis supporting a highly focused and skilled autistic driver making the auticon car and Ben Taylor racing, a team with a difference.
At the age of 17, Ben was formally diagnosed as autistic with ADHD. He believes that this gives him unique strengths, helping his performance on the track. Ben wants to inspire people on the autism spectrum to have the courage to believe in their capabilities and find their strengths.
“auticon is an organisation that focuses on the strengths of autistic people like me. As an IT professional services business, the team at auticon have adopted a saying, “autism is not a processing error, it’s a different operating system.” Meaning autism is really a different way of thinking.”
“One of the more common traits of people on the spectrum is an ability to be hyper focused. In IT this helps with things like error detection and strengths in data analysis and coding. For me, I believe that my autism helps to keep me to be hyper focused on the intricate details of racing, such as timing stopping distances and corner speeds. It really enables my abilities as a high-performance athlete.
“Through this partnership I really want to start a conversation about the key strengths of autism, and I want to inspire others on the spectrum not to underestimate what they have to offer our community.
“I thank auticon for their support this season, and I’m really looking forward to what lies ahead.”
Motorsport enthusiast and television presenter Glenn Ridge hosted today’s car launch and spoke about how the sport was transforming, becoming far more inclusive and what this means for the future of motorsport.
“As I stroll through the Porsche Motorsport stable here in Collingwood, we’re starting to see some real diversity. Not only is this a second home for Ben Taylor and the auticon team but rising Porsche Carrera Cup star Courtney Prince, she also calls Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport home.”
“This diversity brings new people, new ideas and new ways of thinking about our sport. This not only leads to innovation and enhancement to the way cars perform but it will inspire kids that may see their own image reflected in these great drivers and know that anyone with a passion and desire to succeed in motorsport can make the jump. This sport really can be for anyone. That’s what is truly exciting about today.”
Managing Director and CEO of auticon Australia & New Zealand Bodo Mann was excited to get behind Ben. He discussed the partnership and opportunity for auticon’s skilled technologists.
“We’re looking forward to applying some fresh thinking to motorsport data analytics. The team have already identified some opportunities to enhance racing insights and really add value to Ben’s on track performance.”
“This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to showcase autistic strengths in action and we want to demonstrate the power of neurodiversity and how thinking differently can be a real asset. We believe that what is true in sport is true in business, and we plan to illustrate how embracing neurodiversity can offer a competitive advantage,” said Mr. Mann.
The racing team is not the only connection between auticon and Porsche, Bodo went on to talk about the organisations close affiliation to the German car maker.
“As auticon also began in Germany. As it happens one of the first investors in the company was the Porsche family and it fills us with great pride to know that we are now working alongside this great brand in such an important venture.”
Morris sweeps Bathurst round to end 2023 season
Stutterd, Carr take class wins in action-packed Sprint Challenge sprints
THE PORSCHE Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series has been decided across a pair of action-packed sprint races at Mount Panorama.
Nash Morris swept the weekend in Bathurst to claim his second round of the 2023 season, winning the weekend ahead of Hamish Fitzsimmons and Oscar Targett.
Meanwhile, Danny Stutterd claimed the Pro-Am win over Brett Boulton and Sam Shahin, while Brad Carr took the Class B win.
Champions were decided this weekend with Marco Giltrap sealing the Michelin Sprint Challenge crown, and the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy.
Sam Shahin locked in the Pro-Am title while Phil Morris claimed Class B overall by just nine points in the tightest class battle of the three.
Race 2
Nash Morris made it two from two in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, controlling Race Two at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International before a safety car curtailed the event.
Morris and Marcos Flack made an even jump off the front row, however the TekworkX Motorsport driver was aided by the inside line as he maintained his pole advantage at Hell Corner.
Flack would once again go with Morris in the early stages before having a major lose at McPhillamy Park on lap two, surfing through the gravel and losing two spots to Marco Giltrap and Hamish Fitzsimmons.
Morris would skip away after Flack’s moment, as the battle for second between Giltrap and Fitzsimmons intensified.
The race would soon be placed under safety car on lap four as three separate incidents occurred in three different sections of Mount Panorama.
The first incident involved Class runner Jacque Jarjo, who ran deep into Hell Corner and backed his Jacqu Fine Jewellery into the tyre barriers.
Further behind at Murray’s Corner, Pro-Am runner Caspar Tressider spun heading onto Pit Straight, clipping the Class B entry of Dave Allan and sending the LocalsCo car head on into the outside concrete wall.
Just prior to the deployment of the safety car, Giltrap clipped the wall at The Grate after sustaining a puncture, forcing the champion-elect into retirement from second position.
With three separate recoveries required, the race would ultimately finish under yellow flag conditions, with Morris heading Fitzsimmons in TekworkX one-two, with Oscar Targett rounding out the podium.
The Pro-Am class was won by The Bend Motorsport Park’s Sam Shahin in eight outright.
Class B was taken out by Bradley Carr in fifteenth outright for Car Mods Australia, ensuring the Class B title fight would come down to the wire between Phil Morriss, Lachlan Harburg, and Carr.
Race 3
Nash Morris has taken his first career clean sweep in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, heading up a TekworkX Motorsport podium lockout in the season finale at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International.
Morris leapt away from pole position and controlled the race as he had done all weekend long in another impressive performance.
The focus was centred around champion-elect Marco Giltrap, who started from twenty-fifth following his crash in Race Two.
The Team Porsche New Zealand driver made up eight positions on lap one alone, and kept on charging towards the front, including making a move around the outside of Skyline on his way to fourteenth.
The New Zealander’s charge was ultimately halted by a safety car on lap five for Sprint Challenge debutant Slade Orsmond had a big crash at Griffins Bend after spinning on fluid from his damaged radiator.
Morris would cross the line under yellow for the second time in as many races, with teammates Fitzsimmons and Aron Shields in behind.
The Pro-Am class was won by Sprint Challenge returnee Daniel Stutterd in ninth outright for TekworkX Motorsport.
The Class B race was taken out by Autohouse Racing’s Lachlan Harburg in sixteenth outright, whilst the Class B championship went to Phil Morriss for Morriss Racing Service after finishing twenty-fifth outright and fourth in class.
Morris wins enduro, Giltrap, Shahin lock in titles
Class B title heads to final day after dramatic Enduro encounter
Nash Morris has survived a late race safety car restart to claim victory in the first race for Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International.
Morris held off Marcos Flack in a race-long battle, whilst Marco Giltrap in third wrapped up the Jim Richards Enduro Cup and became the 2023 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge champion-elect.
Meanwhile, Sam Shahin also did enough to seal the Pro-Am title, now mathematically unbeatable in tomorrow’s two races.
Morris made the most of his pole position to head the field into Hell Corner, whilst Marcos Flack fell behind Oscar Targett who made a good start from third on the grid.
Flack would get back by the Grove Racing driver before the end of the first lap, and by the end of lap two was all over the back of the Morris’ TekworkX Motorsport entry, leaving Targett behind, who now had Hamish Fitzsimmons for company.
There would be drama behind on lap six, when Sonic Motor Racing’s Harrison Goodman retired to the pits from fifth with damage to the right-rear of his Bob Jane T-Marts car after contact with the wall.
Oscar Targett also dropped two spots in an unrelated incident, promoting Fitzsimmons and Giltrap into third and fourth.
The safety car would make its first appearance on lap nine as Pro-Am runner Caspar Tressider found trouble in his Wall Racing / Hillcrest Merimbula entry.
The field would see the green flag once again on lap twelve, as Morris once again led the field away, with Flack in tow as had been the case all race.
Fitzsimmons ran wide on the exit of Murray’s Corner at the restart, allowing Giltrap to get alongside and complete the move at Hell Corner to move onto the podium.
Giltrap’s timing proved fortuitous as the safety car would come out for the second and final time after Tim Wolfe found drama on top of the mountain in his Pro-Am PER Equipment Rentals entry.
The field would have one final green flag lap, however the order at the front of the field remained unchanged as Morris remained in total control.
The Pro-Am class was won by Sam Shahin in tenth outright for The Bend Motorsport Park, becoming Pro-Am champion-elect in the process.
Class B was taken out by Car Mods Australia’s Bradley Carr in sixteenth outright, setting up an intense finals day tomorrow as he and second-placed Lachy Harburg continue to pursue class leader, Phil Morriss.
Race Two for Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia starts at 12:05pm AEDT tomorrow.
Both Saturday races will be live on Stan Sport, while the season finale’ will also be live on free to air via the Nine Network around Australia this weekend.
Morris claims Bathurst pole as season finale commences
Shahin, Carr take class poles ahead of Enduro Cup race on the Mountain
TekworkX Motorsport’s Nash Morris has claimed his maiden Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge pole in qualifying for the final round at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International.
Morris, who has impressed since making his category debut at Sydney Motorsport Park in July, set a 2m 07.7338s to pip Sonic Motor Racing’s Marcos Flack by just over five hundredths of a second.
The lead pair were the class of the field, with Oscar Targett best of the rest in third for Grove Racing, just over half a second behind Morris.
Championship leader Marco Giltrap will line up fifth for this afternoon’s first race, where the Team Porsche New Zealand driver can clinch the Pro title with two races left in the season.
Pro-Am pole was taken by The Bend Motorsport Park’s Sam Shahin, who will start from tenth outright, two places ahead of the second-best Pro-Am entry of Daniel Stutterd for TekworkX Motorsport.
Pole for Class B went to championship contender Bradley Carr for Car Mods Australia, who will line up in sixteenth outright, with fellow contenders Lachlan Harburg and Phil Morriss third and fifth in class respectively.
Race One for Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge begins at 4:40pm AEDT at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International.
Porsche title season begins with Sprint Challenge Bathurst showdown
Three titles on the line this weekend at Mount Panorama
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON has come to Porsche Motorsport Australia, with the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series to kick off an amazing two weeks of title-deciding action this weekend at Mount Panorama.
The sixth and final round of a record-breaking Sprint Challenge season will see the category race three times at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International this weekend and decide the Pro, Pro-Am and Class B titles.
That will be followed two weeks later by a climactic Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia showdown at the VAILO Adelaide 500 on the Adelaide streets.
The Sprint Challenge season has been an unpredictable affair though series leader Marco Giltrap’s consistency has him entering the final round with a commanding lead.
The 19-year-old New Zealander leads by 171 points with 180 up for grabs this weekend, meaning a 17th-placed finish in the opening race would be enough to deliver the Team Porsche NZ / Earl Bamber Motorsport driver his first Porsche title.
Giltrap has won four races this season, has never finished lower than fifth in a race and claimed round victories at Phillip Island and Symmons Plains to entrench himself at the top of the standings early in the year, where he has since remained.
The fight for the final steps on the podium is well and truly alive, however, with Aron Shields and Oscar Targett set to battle for second and third.
Shields leads Targett by just 32 points heading into this weekend with the pair arguably the most in-form drivers among the whole field.
Targett won two of the three races at The Bend last time out, with Shields claiming the epic enduro cup race at the South Aussie venue.
The Pro-Am fight will also be decided this weekend with Sam Shahin holding a 118-point lead over newcomer Matt Slavin in Porsche’s ‘race within a race’ title battle.
Shahin will be seeking his second PMSC Pro-Am title, having previously won the title in 2019.
Meanwhile, a fast-finishing Brett Boulton will be aiming to overhaul David Greig in the battle for third position in the final round.
Class B, for first generation 991 GT3 Cup Cars, sees the most exciting title battle of all with Phil Morriss, Lachlan Harburg and Brad Carr all firmly in contention for the title.
The consistent Morriss leads Harburg by just 51 points heading to Bathurst with Carr a further 26 behind in third.
A bumper 29-strong field will contest the three races this weekend, including 13 in the Professional class.
The field includes the addition of Porsche Carrera Cup Pro-Am regular Danny Stutterd, while Nash Morris will also return aboard his TekworkX Motorsport entry.
Last year at Mount Panorama, Kiwi Ryan Wood scored pole position with a Sprint Challenge record 2m07.9652s flyer.
Wood then claimed the round with two wins from three starts, would-be champion Tom Sargent claiming the first and second overall.
Wood also holds the Bathurst Sprint Challenge lap record at 2m07.7595s.
The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia field will hit the track for a 45-minute practice session on Friday morning, ahead of qualifying at 1:50pm that afternoon.
Race one will be the enduro cup title decider and is due to commence at 4:40pm and run for 18 laps.
Two 7-lap sprint races on Sunday will then decide the title, with the first sprint at 12:05pm and the second at 2:50pm.
Both Sunday races will be live on Stan Sport, while the season finale’ will also be live on free to air via the Nine Network around Australia this weekend.
ENTRY LIST – Round 6, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia
No | Car # | SPONSOR | C/L | DRIVER | SURNAME | STATE | MAKE | MODEL |
1 | 3 | Racing to Beat FA | Pro-Am | Jonathan | Gliksten | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
2 | 4 | Grove Racing | Pro | Oscar | Targett | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
3 | 5 | Jacque Fine Jewellery | Class B | Jacque | Jarjo | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
4 | 7 | Se7en Racing, InnovationTANK, AeroAscent, JSW Powersports | Pro | Slade | Orsmond | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
5 | 8 | Car Mods Australia | Class B | Bradley | Carr | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
6 | 11 | Aera Cloud & Security | Pro-Am | Eric | Constantinidis | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
7 | 12 | Ares Group | Pro-Am | Matt | Slavin | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
8 | 13 | The Bend Motorsport Park | Pro-Am | Sam | Shahin | SA | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
9 | 14 | McElrea Racing | Pro | Caleb | Sumich | WA | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
10 | 15 | POWER AND EARTH. COM | Pro | Clay | Osborne | NZ | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
11 | 16 | TekworkX Motorsport | Pro | Hamish | Fitzsimmons | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
12 | 23 | Bloxsom Team Navy | Pro | Lachlan | Bloxsom | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
13 | 27 | LocalsCo | Class B | Dave | Allan | WA | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
14 | 34 | Wall Racing / Hillcrest Merimbula | Pro-Am | Caspar | Tresidder | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
15 | 35 | Hyundai Forklifts | Pro-Am | Indiran | Padayachee | NSW | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
16 | 64 | Team Porsche New Zealand / EBM | Pro | Marco | Giltrap | NZ | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
17 | 66 | PER Equipment Rentals | Pro-Am | Tim | Wolfe | WA | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
18 | 67 | TekworkX Motorsport | Pro | Nash | Morris | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
19 | 77 | Sonic / Dayle ITM | Pro | Ronan | Murphy | NZ | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
20 | 78 | Sonic Motor Racing / Rosche Paper / Supa Straws | Pro | Marcos | Flack | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
21 | 81 | McElrea Racing / McLennan Motorsports | Pro | Tom | McLennan | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
22 | 84 | Bold Living | Pro-Am | Brett | Boulton | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
23 | 86 | Morriss Racing Service | Class B | Phil | Morriss | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
24 | 87 | DW Motorsport | Pro-Am | David | Greig | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
25 | 88 | Sonic Motor Racing / Bob Jane T Marts / True Grid | Pro | Harrison | Goodman | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
26 | 91 | Autohouse Racing | Class B | Lachlan | Harburg | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen I |
27 | 99 | Southern Star Windows P/L | Pro-Am | Ross | McGregor | VIC | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
28 | 116 | TekworkX Motorsport | Pro | Aron | Shields | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
29 | 702 | TekworkX Motorsport | Pro-Am | Daniel | Stutterd | QLD | Porsche | GT3 Cup Gen II |
FULL RACE REPLAY: Race1, Round 1 – Phillip Island
Gerry Murphy shows support for Australia Zoo
Gerry Murphy tells us about his unique livery and support of the Australia Zoo.
Profile: Brett Boulton
Brett tells us about his life away from the track and his relationship with the McElrea Racing team
We catch-up with Porsche #Michelin Sprint Challenge Morris Finance Pro-Am, Brett Boulton, on his life away from the track and his relationship with the McElrea Racing team
Profile: Richard Cowen
We catch up with Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Pro-Am
We catch up with Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Pro-Am, Richard Cowen on his life away from the track as part of the McElrea Racing team
Profile: Jonathan Gliksten
The Morris Pro-Am tells us about his life away from the track and support of Friedreich Ataxia
Round 2 – Sydney – Race 3 Interviews
We catch up with Round 2 winners Christian Pancione (Mobil Pro) and Sam Shahin (Morris Finance Pro Am)
Round 2 – Sydney – Race 3 Highlights
Highlights of the final race from Round 2 at Sydney Motorsport Park
Round 2 – Sydney – Race 2 Highlights
Highlights of the 45-minute endurance race from Sydney Motorsport Park
Round 2 – Sydney – Race 2 Interviews
Interviews with Christian Pancione (Mobil Pro) and Sam Shahin (Morris Finance Pro Am) following Race 2
Round 2 – Sydney – Race 1 interviews
We catch up with Race 1 winners Christian Pancione and Sam Shahin
We catch up with Race 1 winners Christian Pancione (Mobil Pro / Michelin Junior) and Sam Shahin (Morris Finance Pro Am)
Round 2 – Sydney – Race 1 Highlights
Highlights of Race 1 of Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge from Sydney Motorsport Park
Round 2 – Sydney – Qualifying interviews
We catch up with Ryan Suhle (Mobil Pro) and Sergio Pires (Morris Finance Pro Am) after qualifying
Round 2 – Sydney – Onboard: Bayley Hall
Onboard with Bayley Hall for a lap of the Sydney Motorsport Park circuit during Practice 1
We jump onboard with McElrea Racing’s Bayley Hall for a lap of the Sydney Motorsport Park circuit from Practice 1, Round 2, 2021
Round 2 – Sydney – Preview
Nathan Murray, David Greig and Bayley Hall share their impressions of Sydney Motorsport Park ahead of Round 2
Sydney Motorsport Park plays host to the second round of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge series from 30 April to 02 May. We catch up with
Matt Belford’s journey up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid
From track days to the top of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge podium
Round 1 – Phillip Island – Race 3 interviews
We catch up with Ryan Suhle and Matthew Belford after Round 1
Round 1 – Phillip Island – Race 3 Highlights
Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge after accident red flags Race 3
Round 1 – Phillip Island – Race 2 interviews
Callum Hedge (Mobil Pro) and Matthew Belford (Morris Finance Pro-Am) speak to us after their debut wins in the series
Round 1, 2023 – Phillip Island gallery
Image Gallery
Porsche 963 prototype
- Porsche Penske Motorsport fields two cars each in world’s greatest endurance series
- Design of the new Porsche 963 hails from the victorious 956 and 962 classics
- Experienced works drivers and accomplished sportscar champions behind the wheel
Australian driver Matt Campbell has been announced as a factory driver for the new Porsche Penske Motorsport operation, as the new Porsche 963 prototype was unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport
Image Gallery
Porsche has revealed the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The mid-engined race car from Weissach is based on the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS road car
The history of Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge in Australia
Image Gallery
Founded in the grass-roots desires of Porsche competitors simply looking for a place to race, the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series has grown to become one of the great success stories from the last two decades of Australian Motorsport.
2019 Round 6 – The Bend Motorsport Park
Image Gallery
2019 Phillip Island – Sunday
2019 Phillip Island – Saturday
Instagram @PorscheMotorsportAU
Driver Bio
David Wall enters the 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia series with the coveted #1 on his new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
Two-time Australian GT Champion David Wall made a triumphant return to the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia in 2016, winning in Darwin, scoring 10 podium finishes and finishing an outstanding third in the championship.
Sydneysider Wall made his name in Carrera Cup between 2006-2008, before winning in Australian GT and then making the move into Supercars competition.
Wall has made eight Bathurst 1000 starts and in 2016 also scored a podium finish – his first in the sport – on the Gold Coast, sharing the No. 33 Garry Rogers Motorsport entry with Scott McLaughlin.
Wall returned to Carrera Cup full-time in 2016 with his own Wall Racing team and eventually achieved the ultimate success, claiming the 2017 Carrera Cup crown.
Driver Bio
Melbourne-based Stephen Grove is the epitome of a Porsche racer – a strong passion for motorsport and a vast appreciation of the 911 GT3 Cup race car.
A successful businessman away from the race track with his Grove Group company, which features on his Porsche 911 race car, Grove’s increasing experience behind the wheel has pushed him quickly towards the front of the TAG Heuer Pro-Am competition.
Grove debuted in the Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia championship mid-way through the 2012 season, when you could also you could find him competing in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia series at the time.
Grove would go on to win the 2014 TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge title, finish second in the 2015 season and third in the 2016 title race. And then, in 2017, Grove impressed by claiming his second class crown.
Driver Bio
Greg Taylor returned to the Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia full-time in 2018 having sampled the series in the 2014 season.
The Sydneysider contested the Sydney, Sandown and Gold Coast rounds of the 2014 season before moving to GT racing and, ultimately, returning to the Porsche one-make series in 2018.
Taylor joined the 2017 championship winning team, Wall Racing, for his Carrera Cup comeback.
Driver Bio
Tim Miles has made a successful ascent of the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid over the past few season, moving from the GT3 Cup Challenge series through to the ultra-competitive Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia championship.
Miles’ racing trajectory with Porsche has seen him rise through the GT3 Cup Challenge ranks to ultimately claim the 2016 Elite Class crown. His racing resume was also sprinkled with Porsche Pro-Am appearances as a co-driver for the likes of Renee Gracie, Matt Campbell and, in 2017, Jaxon Evans.
The Sydney based businessman then made his Carrera Cup debut as a single driver entry at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway in 2017, placing second in the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge for the round, before a successful run to the end of the season, which included a class clean sweep at Bathurst.
Driver Bio
A young rising star based in Queensland – but with Kiwi heritage – Jaxon Evans continues to step up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid having finished a narrow second in the 2016 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series.
After two years learning the ropes of one-make Porsche competition, Evans stepped into Carrera Cup in 2017 behind the wheel of the car Matt Campbell took to the outright championship in season 2016.
Evans was well-prepared for his step into the big league, having won the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy in 2016 – the GT3 Cup Challenge’s ‘series within a series’ for longer distance races.
Following the same career progression as his friend Campbell, Evans made a successful transition to Carrera Cup, finishing fifth in the standings with two convincing round wins at Darwin and Gold Coast.
Driver Bio
Nick McBride joined Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia in the hunt for a career in Supercars and has since forged a reputation as one of the series’ most competitive drivers.
The Victorian returned to Australia after a two and a half year campaign in the United Kingdom, competing in British Formula Ford and Formula 3. He finished 10th in the prestigious F3 title this year, but shifted his desire for an open wheel ambitions to one which would focus on a tin-top career in Australia.
McBride won his first Carrera Cup Australia race on home turf at Albert Park in 2015, and backed that up with his first ever round win at the Clipsal 500 in March 2016 and an eventual Sandown round victory in 2017.
McBride races a new-look Porsche entry in 2018 after joining Porsche Centre Melbourne’s Carrera Cup outfit.
Driver Bio
Seasoned Porsche racer Marc Cini has more experience in the Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia championship than any other, sitting at 95 round starts at the start of the 2018 season.
A successful businessman away from the track with his company Hallmarc Developments, this Porsche enthusiast scores one of his highlight achievements in 2017, claiming the inaugural 2017 TAG Heuer Pro-Am Endurance Cup title.
Driver Bio
Adam Garwood moved to the Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia series after a stint in Touring Cars Masters.
The Tasmanian replaced his race-winning Holden Torana SL/R 5000, equiped with 600hp from a Chevrolet V8 engine, for one of the series’ new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars with a 485hp rear-mounted flat six.
Driver Bio
Sam Shahin is a product of the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid, entering Porsche one-make racing in the entry-level GT3 Cup Challenge series before making his Carrera Cup debut at the 2017 Pro-Am event at Phillip Island, where he teamed with Dan Gaunt to place third on the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge class podium.
Shahin’s continued improvement in Porsche one-make series has seen the South Australian businessman develop into a hugely competitive Porsche racer among the Pro-Am ranks, though he shocked even the overall competition when taking the outright victory at the opening 2017 GT3 Cup Challenge round at Sandown.
Shahin then made his Carrera Cup debut as a single driver entry at Carrera Cup’s fourth round of 2017 in Darwin, where he claimed round honours in the Challenge class.
Racing with the Adelaide based Buik Motorworks, Shahin enters 2018 for his maiden full-time Carrera Cup season.
Driver Bio
Peter Major entered Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia with experience in both Porsche’s second-tier GT3 Cup Challenge series and the Australian GT Championship, where he is a dual race winner.
Major’s sole GT3 Cup Challenge saw the West Australian take second outright and second in the Professional Class at his Winton debut behind eventual champion and 2018 teammate Jordan Love.
Driver Bio
Josh Hunt joins Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia with a broad range of motor racing experience.
Hunt moved to Europe aged 16 to pursue his professional driving career. From karting in Italy, Hunt moved to USF2000 in the USA before a stint in Toyota Atlantic Championship. Since then, Hunt had a range of open wheel, sports car and prototype experience that saw him well-placed for the 2018 Porsche season.
Driver Bio
James Moffat joined an expanded Wall Racing outfit for the 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia championship following a decade out of the Porsche series.
Moffat placed third in the 2008 Carrera Cup Australia series before a two-year stint in Super2 and seven years in the top-flight Supercars Championship.
Driver Bio
While Adrian Flack has limited Porsche experience, the ‘Flack’ name is well known in Carrera Cup circles.
Damien Flack was a regular in the 2011 and 2013 Carrera Cup seasons and since returned for several Pro-Am appearances.
Adrian also has Pro-Am experience, entering the 2016 two-driver event alongside David Wall before his full-time debut in the 2018 season.
Driver Bio
One of Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia’s ‘originals’, Dean Cook returned to the championship in 2017 after a more than a 13-year absence.
Cook competed in the first two season of Carrera Cup Australia, finishing a strong 10th outright in the inaugural 2003 championship – in front of serious names like Andrew Miedecke, Rodney Jane, Peter Hill and Geoff Morgan.
That was despite a limited racing CV prior to his Carrera Cup campaign, that included several starts over two years racing in the popular GT Nations Cup series, also racing a Porsche 996 GT3 Cup.
He returned for several races in the 2004 Carrera Cup season however did not contest the full series and had not raced in a major championship until his successful return in 2017, when he claimed a class victory in the final round of the season in the Gold Coast.
Driver Bio
Roger Lago is highly credentialed in Porsche one-make series. The Queenslander is one of two former GT3 Cup Challenge champions in the Carrera Cup series and was a TAG Heuer Pro-Am front-runner in the 2015 series until a qualifying accident in Townsville ended his season campaign.
Lago returned to the series in 2018, coinciding with the introduction of the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car.
Driver Bio
Indiran Padayachee is one of the many GT3 Cup Challenge graduates to compete in the 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia season.
The TAG Heuer Pro-Am ranked driver also entered the 2018 Carrera Cup season having 15 rounds of experience in the GT3 Cup Challenge category and a single round of Carrera Cup after partnering his son and former Carrera Cup driver, Duvashen Padayachee, in the 2015 Pro-Am event at Phillip Island.
Driver Bio
Michael Almond burst on to the Porsche scene in 2010, when he qualified on pole on his debut in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia – and he has since to go on and forge a strong career with the brand.
A race winner in GT3 Cup Challenge, Almond also won races in the classic Touring Car Masters series, racing a 1973 Porsche RS against much larger and more powerful cars – and drivers like Jim Richards, John Bowe and Glenn Seton.
A move to Carrera Cup in late 2012 has seen his career climb towards a breakout season in 2016 that netted his first career win. Appropriately for this Adelaide born and bread driver, it came in front of his home town fans and friends on the streets of Adelaide at the Adelaide 500.
Almond this season joins Sonic Motor Racing Services as one of the two Bob Jane T-Marts entries.
Driver Bio
Max Twigg returned to the Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia series full-time in 2018 as the championship’s most successful TAG Heuer Pro-Am driver.
The Melbourne based driver was untouchable in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons, taking the TAG Heuer Pro-Am class title in each.
Twigg’s unprecedented Pro-Am record achievements include the most title wins (3), most round wins (13) and most race wins (46).
Driver Bio
Dylan O’Keeffe is a young Victorian driver going places in a hurry, as shown by his rapid rise through the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid to be a contender for victories in just his second year of the Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia.
Graduating from success in the Porsche 944 series in his native Victoria, O’Keeffe burst onto the scene in 2015 by finishing second to Ryan Simpson in the GT3 Cup Challenge Australia series.
His elevation to Carrera Cup in 2016 saw him steadily progress until a breakout round in Darwin saw him achieve personal best results in Qualifying (4th), racing (4th) and the round result – 4th.
O’Keeffe’s impressive rise continued in 2017, ultimate becoming Carrera Cup Australia’s nominee for the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme Shootout in Europe before lining up full-time for the 2018 Carrera Cup season.
Driver Bio
Dale Wood enters Porsche one-make racing after a lengthy stint in Supercars.
Wood entered Supercars in 2007, racing in the Super2 Series and ultimately graduated to the Supercars Championship full-time in 2009. Wood would return to the Super2 Series and claim the series title in 2013 before securing a full-time Supercars drive from 2014 to 2017 and, ultimately, making his way to the Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia series in 2018.
Driver Bio
Canberra racing driver Cameron Hill chose Porsche power for the next phase of his career, announcing he would undertake a full-time campaign in the 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia series following a stint in the Toyota 86 Racing Series.
The 21-year-old demonstrated his talent ahead of his Carrera Cup debut, winning the coveted Australian Formula Ford Series in 2015 and scoring more race victories than anyone else in the Toyota 86 Racing Series during 2016 and 2017.
Driver Bio
Graham Williams made his Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia debut in 2017 – but he’s also no stranger to Porsche competition.
He’s raced his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car to strong results in Victorian State Production Sports Car competition, including a top-10 finish in the 2016 championship. He’s also competed in several Porsche Club sprint and driving events, building a wealth of experience behind the wheel of his 911 GT3 Cup.
Williams had a strong debut season in the Porsche series and returns in 2018, set to capitalise on the experience gained, with #131 – the number he raced in Motorcross during his teenage years in South Australia.
Driver Bio
Jordan Love made his Carrera Cup debut at Sandown in 2017 just one week after securing the outright GT3 Cup Challenge title at Phillip Island. Following the title win, Love announced a three-round initiation into Carrera Cup and an eventual full-time series entry in 2018.
Love was also named as an official Porsche Junior driver at the start of the 2017 GT3 Cup Challenge season, becoming only the second driver to be the recipient of the Jamey Blaikie Scholarship.
Driver Bio
John Steffensen’s pathway to the Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia season was far different than most.
Before his stint in the driver’s seat, Steffensen was an Olympic sprinter and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist.
Upon his athletics retirement, Steffensen raced in GT3 Cup Challenge in 2017 before moving to Carrera Cup the following season.