Jaxon Evans has given himself the best possible chance to capture the 2016 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Pirelli title at the 2016 season finale at Phillip Island following a perfect round at Queensland Raceway, while Jim Campbell and Scott Taylor claimed class victories, the former topping the Elite Class at the expense of Sam Shahin, who endured race three heartache.
Evans began the weekend with victory in the opening race, the series’ 150th, in doing so claiming the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy. Evans completed the weekend with two race wins on Sunday, reducing his points margin to series leader Hamish Hardeman to just 23 and 26 points in the Outright and Professional Class classifications, respectively.
“It was a great weekend, taking pole position and three race wins. I did all I could this weekend to reduce to points gap to Hamish and I’ll plan to do the same at Phillip Island. I just hope we’re still in contention for the title entering the final race of the season,” said Evans.
Hardeman placed second in all three races, while Jake Klarich bounced back from a race one DNF to place third in each of the Sunday 12 lap races.
The Elite Class battle went down to the closing laps of race three; Shahin looked set to take his maiden race and round victory in the class in the closing moments until his throttle cable broke, leaving the South Australian with a DNF and ruing the missed opportunity.
“It was a breakout weekend for me, to be honest. I got the most out of the car and I felt like a kid in a candy store, even during the races. It was heartbreak on the last lap to break the throttle cable in what would have been my first race win and round win and being almost equal on points with the class leader entering the final round,” said Shahin.
Meanwhile, Campbell, who took the Elite Class win in race two, had his own issues in the final race; spinning on the opening lap before finishing fifth in class and securing the Elite Class round win from Anthony Gilbertson and Brian Finn.
“It was a great win. I feel sorry for Sam; we had a great battle in race two but the poor guy’s throttle cable broke in the final race. And Tim Miles was fast also; both he and Sam would have beaten me fair and square this weekend. But you’ve got to be there in the end, which we were,” said Campbell.
Scott Taylor relished his return to GT3 Cup Challenge racing at ‘The Paperclip’, taking two class wins on Sunday to ultimately claim the class round win ahead of points leader Danny Stutterd and Shane Barwood in the class that produced some of the best racing for the weekend.
“I am stoked. To have a fun weekend without the pressure of a high profile event was great,” said Taylor who, of late, has raced in the Carrera Cup and Australian GT championships.
“It was more relaxed and, funnily enough, I reckon I learnt more this weekend than I have for a long time in a race car. This was my first ever Porsche race car; it’s older which meant that everything was a bit slower, and the racing was great between all the guys in the class. I really enjoyed it.”
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Pirelli returns for its final round of the 2016 season this September at Phillip Island.
Race 2 Results
1. #91 Jaxon Evans (Professional Class) Simulate-It/Willship – 12 laps, 14:22.9989s
2. #10 Hamish Hardeman (Professional Class) Sonic Motor Racing Services – 12 laps, 14:24.2686s
3. #95 Jake Klarich (Professional Class) Super Rooster – 12 laps, 14:45.9552s
4. #72 Jim Campbell (Elite Class) Power Street Racing – 12 laps, 14:47.1455s
5. #13 Sam Shahin (Elite Class) HTFU – 12 laps, 14:47.3837s
6. #19 Anthony Gilbertson (Elite Class) Motiv8 Racing/Hallmark Homes – 12 laps, 14:54.0269s
7. #82 Brian Finn (Elite Class) Laser 3D/Force Accessories – 12 laps, 14:55.8034s
8. #99 Ross McGregor (Elite Class) Southern Star Windows – 12 laps, 15:05.7834s
9. #222 Scott Taylor (Class B) Scott Taylor Motorsport – 12 laps, 15:07.0738s
10. #12 Brendan Cook (Class B) OLOF/Cosmetic Dental Spa – 12 laps, 15:08.9907s
11. #21 Shane Barwood (Class B) Melbourne Orthopaedic Group – 12 laps, 15:16.3100s
12. #32 Daniel Stutterd (Class B) FREEM – 12 laps, 15:24.2810s
13. #9 Tony Martin (Elite Class) The Triffid Bar Venue – 11 laps, 14:37.9383s
DNF #4 Tim Miles (Elite Class) CSF Radiators / Miles Advisory
Race 3 Results
1. #91 Jaxon Evans (Professional Class) Simulate-It/Willship – 12 laps, 14:30.4840s
2. #10 Hamish Hardeman (Professional Class) Sonic Motor Racing Services – 12 laps, 14:33.4741s
3. #95 Jake Klarich (Professional Class) Super Rooster – 12 laps, 14:39.4422s
4. #19 Anthony Gilbertson (Elite Class) Motiv8 Racing/Hallmark Homes – 12 laps, 14:54.4635s
5. #82 Brian Finn (Elite Class) Laser 3D/Force Accessories – 12 laps, 15:03.1203s
6. #99 Ross McGregor (Elite Class) Southern Star Windows – 12 laps, 15:10.4401s
7. #222 Scott Taylor (Class B) Scott Taylor Motorsport – 12 laps, 15:15.0603s
8. #32 Daniel Stutterd (Class B) FREEM – 12 laps, 15:15.0674s
9. #9 Tony Martin (Elite Class) The Triffid Bar Venue – 12 laps, 15:32.4688s
10. #72 Jim Campbell (Elite Class) Power Street Racing – 12 laps, 15:37.4372s
11. #21 Shane Barwood (Class B) Melbourne Orthopaedic Group – 12 laps, 15:43.1482s
DNF #13 Sam Shahin (Elite Class) HTFU – 11 laps, 13:54.7878s
DNF #12 Brendan Cook (Class B) OLOF/Cosmetic Dental Spa
DNF #4 Tim Miles (Elite Class) CSF Radiators / Miles Advisory