THERE IS AN OLD SAYING that states ‘There’s no place like home’.

If that is the case, a group of four Adelaide drivers are set for a great weekend when the third round of the 2010 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Mission Foods hits Mallala Raceway in South Australia next weekend (May 29-30).

Whilst two of the local aces are proven frontrunners in the series - 2009 Mallala Pole position holder and race winner Mark Krashos and the impressive newcomer Gary Dann - two will be making their GT3 Cup Challenge debut.

Former Saloon Car regular winner John Goodacre and Jed Wallis will both make their maiden series starts at Mallala, driving similar Porsche Type 996 GT3 Cup Cars.

Goodacre, more used to racing in a Holden Commodore, recently purchased an ex-Bruce Hibbard 996 GT3 Cup Car to race this year.

“Having run the National Saloon Car series the past few years, I’ve watched a lot of the GT3 Cup Challenge racing at Shannons Nationals rounds and really enjoyed it,” Goodacre said.

“I have only had one run of about 17 laps in the car, so it’s going to be a big experience and a learning weekend for me, but at least I know which way the track goes!

“I have done thousands of laps at Mallala and it’s good to make my debut at my home track.

“The car felt fantastic when I drove it. I think the key will be maximising the ABS brakes and getting the most out of them. Compared to the Commodore it feels more like a Superkart, where I started racing, so it’s completely different to drive but I’m really looking forward to the weekend.”

Jed Wallis is the younger brother of established racer Adam and will make his national-level debut at Mallala after several years of driving a Porsche in club sprints and drive days.

Wallis will be one of several drivers in next weekend’s field to have entered the series after racing in club-level events, emphasising the GT3 Cup Challenge philosophy of cost-effective and enjoyable national-level racing.

“Dad was a racer and Adam (who will race a Holden V8 Touring Car at Mallala the same weekend) has done quite a lot at a high level, but about three years ago I got into things like Club Sprints and drive days using a Porsche we had in the garage,” Wallis said.

“I have probably only raced in about eight to ten race meetings, but having the GT3 Cup Challenge come to Mallala seemed an ideal way for me to get on track at a higher level.

“It’s going to be a good weekend. It’s a great field, very competitive and with everyone in similar cars it makes for very close and exciting racing. I’m going to be there to have fun, circulate around and if I do that I think I can go alright.”

Mallala has proved in the past to be the toughest circuit on the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia tour for interstate visitors, with South Australians having set the pace during the series past two visits.

In 2008 Graeme Cook took his 996 GT3R to pole position and three race wins in the series first-ever round, whilst last year Adelaide’s fastest Pharmacist Mark Krashos took the fight up to would-be champion Matt Kingsley by taking pole position with a record time before winning race one.
 
Krashos returns this year in peak form, whilst Gary Dann’s debut at Symmons Plains in April resulted in a charging drive towards the front of the field that he will be keen to continue.

‘Team SA’ will compete against a strong 20-car field that includes 2009 Series Winner Matt Kingsley and ’08 winner Sven Burchartz, plus regular frontrunners Roger Lago, Jeff Bobik and international visitors Yuey Tan – who was born in Adelaide - and Danny Chu.

Matt Kingsley leads the standings after two rounds, 20 points ahead of Lago and 27 up on Burchartz.

Round three of the 2010 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Mission Foods will be contested at Mallala Raceway on May 29-30, as part of the Shannons Nationals.

For more information about the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Mission Foods, head to www.gt3cupchallenge.com.au