Michelin Junior Jimmy Vernon has taken his maiden Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia victory in the opening race of the season finale at Sydney Motorsport Park, while points leader Cooper Murray extended his outright points lead to 17 after securing second place.
Starting second, Vernon gained the lead from the start line and extended his margin at the front from second placed Max Vidau before the latter ran off at the final corner early in the race. This handed Vernon a larger margin at the front, cruising to victory in the uninterrupted 15 lap race.
Murray was unchallenged to second place from his nearest title rival, Simon Fallon, in third.
Vidau recovered to place fourth from Pro-Am winner Brett Boulton. Behind Boulton was Pro-Am points leader Danny Stutterd in sixth outright, who now holds an unassailable class lead entering the final race of the season.
Christian Pancione placed 10th outright and was the first Class B contender across the line, the class champion-elect beating class rivals Sergio Pires and David Greig.
Race Schedule
Saturday September 22
3:42pm Race 2 (15 laps)
Results: Race 1
Position | Car | Driver | Class | Laps | Race time | Fastest lap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | Jimmy Vernon | Pro | 15 | 23:16.9500 | 1:31.4358 |
2 | 36 | Cooper Murray | Pro | 15 | 23:19.0644 | 1:31.5348 |
3 | 96 | Simon Fallon | Pro | 15 | 23:26.0141 | 1:32.2195 |
4 | 77 | Max Vidau | Pro | 15 | 23:32.5381 | 1:31.2388* |
5 | 84 | Brett Boulton | Pro-Am | 15 | 23:38.8263 | 1:32.7557 |
6 | 23 | Daniel Stutterd | Pro-Am | 15 | 23:42.9806 | 1:32.8622 |
7 | 73 | Michael Hovey | Pro-Am | 15 | 23:46.5353 | 1:33.6859 |
8 | 26 | Tom Taplin | Pro | 15 | 23:47.3098 | 1:33.8316 |
9 | 76 | Christian Pancione | Class B | 15 | 23:54.6202 | 1:33.9484 |
10 | 99 | Ross McGregor | Pro-Am | 15 | 23:57.8495 | 1:34.4166 |
11 | 38 | Chelsea Angelo | Pro | 15 | 24:00.5421 | 1:32.7607 |
12 | 13 | Sam Shahin | Pro-Am | 15 | 24:02.3421 | 1:32.5678 |
13 | 2 | Dan Day | Pro | 15 | 24:02.5352 | 1:33.3283 |
14 | 17 | Marcel Zalloua | Pro-Am | 15 | 24:05.7266 | 1:33.9153 |
15 | 27 | Sam Fillmore | Pro-Am | 15 | 24:06.2930 | 1:34.2360 |
16 | 21 | Shane Barwood | Pro-Am | 15 | 24:17.9114 | 1:35.5729 |
17 | 10 | Michael Loccisano | Pro-Am | 15 | 24:22.5233 | 1:35.1617 |
18 | 117 | Sergio Pires | Class B | 15 | 24:24.7140 | 1:35.6014 |
19 | 131 | Graham Williams | Pro-Am | 15 | 24:36.4343 | 1:36.5033 |
20 | 87 | David Greig | Class B | 15 | 24:38.2128 | 1:36.6837 |
21 | 88 | Phil Morriss | Class B | 15 | 24:38.3468 | 1:36.6953 |
22 | 22 | Andrew Goldie | Class B | 15 | 24:38.8785 | 1:36.6367 |
23 | 57 | Richard Bloomfield | Class B | 14 | 23:22.2266 | 1:36.4827 |
24 | 9 | Tony Martin | Class B | 14 | 23:43.1930 | 1:39.5223 |