**10TH ANNIVERSARY: 2008-2018**
May 17, 2018, marks the 10th anniversary of GT3 Cup Challenge racing in Australia.
On May 17, 2008, a 13-car field started the first ever GT3 Cup Challenge race at Mallala Motorsport Park, with local Graeme Cook winning the uninterrupted 10-lap race.
60 rounds and 179 races later, the thriving Porsche series has featured a total of 186 drivers across 12 different race circuits.
To commemorate the milestone, we look back at the key stats and facts from the past 10 years.
HISTORY
The Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia was first held in 2008. A series created for Porsche racing enthusiasts, it features a range of different models of Porsche racecars, catering in particular for 991, 997 and even 996 models previous raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia.
THE CHAMPIONS
2008 Sven Burchartz
2009 Matt Kingsley
2010 Roger Lago
2011 Roger Lago
2012 Kane Rose
2013 Richard Muscat (Professional), John Goodacre (Elite)
2014 Fraser Ross (Class A), Matt Campbell (Class B) 6 round series
2015 Ryan Simpson (Professional), Geoff Emery (Elite), Aaron Seton (Class B)
2016 Hamish Hardeman (Professional), Tim Miles (Elite), Shane Barwood (Class B)
2017 Jordan Love (Professional), Anthony Gilbertson (Elite), David Greig (Class B)
THE RUNNERS-UP (OUTRIGHT)
2008 Jeff Bobik
2009 Sven Burchartz
2010 Matt Kingsley
2011 Jeff Bobik
2012 Jeff Bobik
2013 John Goodacre
2014 Jon McCorkindale
2015 Dylan O’Keeffe
2016 Jaxon Evans
2017 Brenton Grove
997 CLASS CHAMPIONS
2009 Roger Lago
2010 Roger Lago
2011 Roger Lago
2012 Kane Rose
996 CLASS CHAMPIONS
2009 Matt Kingsley
2010 Matt Kingsley
2011 Terry Knight
Note: In 2009, 997 Cup Cars were permitted to run with the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, one year earlier than expected given Porsche Carrera Cup Australia went on hiatus. These 997 cars raced for points in their own 997 Class, though were not awarded outright points and, thus, have not been credited in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Record Book with outright race wins, poles or podiums, even when they perhaps crossed the line first or qualified fastest on that weekend. All statistics in the Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Record Book relate to ‘Outright Results’.
JIM RICHARDS ENDURANCE TROPHY WINNERS
2011 Roger Lago
2012 Kane Rose
2013 Richard Muscat
2014 Fraser Ross
2015 James Abela
2016 Jaxon Evans
2017 Jordan Love
Note: The Jim Richards Endurance Trophy was first held in 2011 as a series within the GT3 Cup Challenge. Totaling three individual endurance races at three different tracks within the overall championship (typically 40 laps), the driver with the most points is awarded the trophy named in honour of the Australasian racing legend and Porsche ambassador, Jim Richards.
WINNING RECORDS
From 2008 to 2017, there have been 60 rounds of the Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia series and a total of 179 individual races held at those rounds. Of those 179 races, three have been declared ‘no races’. In 2008 at Phillip Island, Race 3 was cancelled after a barrier was damaged on the warm up lap and repairs and a tight event schedule forced the cancellation of the race. In 2009 at Eastern Creek, Race 2 was declared a ‘no race’ after a multi-car accident on the opening lap caused a Safety Car and ultimately a red flag with the race declared. In 2010 at Bathurst, Race 2 was abandoned due to torrential rain prior to the race.
MOST ROUND WINS
1. Matt Kingsley (8)
2. Ryan Simpson (6)
3. Kane Rose (5)
4. Richard Muscat, Jordan Love (4)
6. Roger Lago, Jeff Bobik, John Goodacre, Fraser Ross, Jaxon Evans (3)
11. Jon McCorkindale, Hamish Hardeman (2)
13. Graeme Cook, Bill Pye, Sven Burchartz, Tony Quinn, Rodney Forbes, Jon Trende, John Modystach, Brent Odgers, Michael Almond, Matt Campbell, Sam Shahin, John Karytinos, Max Vidau, Cooper Murray (1)
MOST RACE WINS
1. Matt Kingsley (24)
2. Ryan Simpson (17)
3. Jordan Love (15)
4. Jeff Bobik, Kane Rose, Richard Muscat (13)
7. Jaxon Evans (9)
8. Fraser Ross (8)
9. Hamish Hardeman (6)
10. Jon McCorkindale (5)
11. Roger Lago, Michael Almond, John Goodacre (4)
14. Bill Pye, Graeme Cook, Sven Burchartz, Tony Quinn, John Modystach, Philip Woodbury, Matt Campbell, Brenton Grove (3)
22. Jon Trende, Max Vidau, Simon Fallon, Cooper Murray (2)
26. Rodney Forbes, Terry Knight, Shaun Juniper, Keith Wong, Ivan Klasan, Brent Odgers, Geoff Emery, James Abela, Dylan O’Keeffe (1)
MOST POLE POSITIONS
1. Matt Kingsley (9)
2. Ryan Simpson (6)
3. Kane Rose, Richard Muscat (5)
5. Jon Trende, Fraser Ross, Jaxon Evans, Jordan Love (4)
9. Sven Burchartz, Philip Woodbury, Hamish Hardeman (2)
12. Graeme Cook, Tony Quinn, Rodney Forbes, Jeff Bobik, Roger Lago, Michael Almond, John Goodacre, Jon McCorkindale, Matt Campbell, Brenton Grove, Anthony Gilbertson, Simon Fallon, Cooper Murray (1)
RACE LAP RECORDS
BATHURST
Tony Quinn – Porsche 996 GT3 Cup – 2m16.7271s 2009
MALLALA
John Goodacre – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup – 1m09.0918s 2014
MORGAN PARK (EXTENDED CIRCUIT – 3KM)
Matt Kingsley – Porsche 996 GT3 Cup – 1m17.6231s 2010
ORAN PARK
Bill Pye – Porsche 996 GT3 Cup – 1m12.6063s 2008
PHILLIP ISLAND
Matt Campbell – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup – 1m31.1140s 2014
QUEENSLAND RACEWAY
Ryan Simpson – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup – 1m10.9903s 2015
SANDOWN
Max Vidau – Porsche 991 GT3 Cup – 1m11.1226s 2018
SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK (FORMERLY EASTERN CREEK)
Jaxon Evans – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup – 1m30.8692s 2016
SYMMONS PLAINS
Matt Kingsley – Porsche 996 GT3 Cup – 54.5152s 2010
THE BEND MOTORSPORT PARK
Cooper Murray – Porsche 991 GT3 Cup – 1m53.9778s 2018
WAKEFIELD PARK
Roger Lago – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup – 1m00.7828s 2011
WINTON
Hamish Hardeman – Porsche 997 GT3 Cup – 1m21.8259s 2016
ROUND STARTS (MAX. 60)
1. John Goodacre (34)
2. John Morriss (32)
3. Jeff Bobik (27)
4. Sam Shahin (26)
5. Ross McGregor (25)
6. Terry Knight (24)
7. Jon Trende (22)
8. John Karytinos (21)
9. Tim Miles (20)
10. Paul Bolinowsky (18)
11. Jan Jinadasa, Roger Lago, Scott Taylor, Sven Burchartz, Shane Barwood (17)
16. Matt Kingsley, Indiran Padayachee, Anthony Skinnner, Fraser Ross, Jon McCorkindale, Phil Morriss (15)
22. Brad Rankin, John Modystach, Stephen Grove (14)
25. Ray Angus, Peter Fitzgerald, Michael Tsigeridis (13)
28. Mark Krashos, Rob Knight, Michael Almond, Philip Woodbury, Grant Sparks, Brian Finn, Jaxon Evans, Anthony Gilbertson (12)
36. Kane Rose, Steven McFadden (11)
Note: All up, 186 drivers have competed in Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia. There are 146 drivers with less than 10 round starts and of those, 46 that have made a single round start.