Ghiretti claims the finale’, Walls takes the round

Flack claims Pro-Am win and home-town hero Jane the round in Melbourne thriller

CARRERA CUP champion Alessandro Ghiretti has charged to the front to claim his first win in Australia’s Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup championship on Saturday night at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. 

The EMA Motorsport driver starred in a Saturday twilight fight, working his way through the leading group to take the race three victory and end his Aussie debut on a high.

Meanwhile, Jackson Walls did enough to claim the Equity-One Professional class Round victory, the second of his career and his second at Albert Park.

Adrian Flack won the Pro-Am battle on Saturday while Rodney Jane raced his way to an extended championship lead by claiming his second successive round win in Carrera Cup’s race within a race.

The race was a thriller as O’Keeffe got the jump on Walls to lead the field into turn one as the sun set on a warm Melbourne evening.

The pair battled out front while Jones slotted into third position and Ghiretti fourth in the early running, but he soon picked his way forward and engaged in a thrilling fight for the lead with O’Keeffe.

The Dexion driver was able to fend off the Italian star for several laps of hard racing before he slipped past between turns 11 and 12 to take a lead he’d never lose.

O’Keeffe consolidated in second position while Walls was third, doing enough to take the round victory for the second time in his career.

There was late drama behind as a locked brake from a then fourth-placed Harri Jones saw him fall into the clutches of Bayley Hall, who was a hard charger late in the second EMA Motorsport car. The pair boxed on through the final corners with Jones running wide and dropping several spots; Hall also losing time but still crossing the line in front of his nearest title rival.

In between the leaders and them was Marcos Flack, who enjoyed his strongest Carrera Cup weekend in twelve months, and David Russell who charged home in his TekworkX Racing entry to record his best finish of the weekend.

With Jones’ seventh, Dale Wood, Clay Osborne and Hamish Fitzsimmons rounded out the top-10.

The battle for Pro-Am was similarly competitive with Matt Belford looking to make it six winners from six races this season as he led the race mid way through.

He, however, had to deal with a resurgent Adrian Flack who had charged his way through the field following a challenging weekend for the EBM driver.

Flack slipped past after a hard and clean fight between the pair late in the race, while Shahin also passed the ID_Land car late to grab second, Belford finishing third.

Through it all, however, was Mr. Consistency Rodney Jane who claimed his second round win on the trot to extend his championship lead heading to the next round in Darwin.

More to follow..

XPEL joins Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia in 2025

XPEL branding will appear throughout the Carrera Cup paddock and on each of the Type 992 Porsche GT3 Cup Cars

XPEL Australia, an industry leader in paint protection films, ceramic coatings, window tint and more, will join the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship as a partner in 2025.

Known globally to motorsport fans as a major backer of Scott McLaughlin’s Team Penske IndyCar and more recently as a partner of the iconic Bathurst 12 Hour, XPEL is also an approved Paint Protection Film supplier with Porsche – adding even more to this brand-new relationship.

XPEL branding will appear throughout the Carrera Cup paddock and on each of the Type 992 Porsche GT3 Cup Cars competing in Australia’s top one-make category this year, with the partnership to kick off this weekend at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Porsche Carrera Cup, a premier racing series that shares our passion for innovation and performance,” said Myles Hunter, XPEL General Manager Australia & New Zealand.

“As an approved Paint Protection Film supplier with Porsche, this partnership takes our relationship to the next level and allows us to showcase our industry-leading protection films and coatings to a global audience.”

Added Senior Motorsport Manager, Porsche Cars Australia, Craig Nayda: “We’re proud to have one of the best-presented grids in Australian Motorsport and our partnership with XPEL will help us keep them looking that way at every round, from Melbourne to Darwin, Bathurst to Adelaide and everything in between.

“In a competitive field, XPELs products are a class above and we are excited to work as a category with Myles and his team at XPEL Australia to showcase their brand throughout the year ahead.”

For more information about XPEL, please visit www.xpel.com

About XPEL

XPEL is a leading provider of protective films and coatings, including paint protection film, surface protection film, window films and ceramic coatings in the automotive, architectural and marine industries. With a global footprint, a network of trained installers and proprietary DAP software, XPEL is dedicated to exceeding customer expectations by providing high-quality products, leading customer service, expert technical support and world-class training. XPEL, Inc. is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “XPEL”.

Walls returns to the top of Carrera Cup in Melbourne

Rodney Jane on top on Pro-Am at the end of a dramatic Carrera Cup day in Melbourne

HE MAY only be contesting a partial campaign in this year’s Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, but that’s not stopping Jackson Walls’ charge for success in the one-make Porsche category this year. 

His Objective Racing #11 entry fielded by GWR Australia was in the right place at the right time to claim race two of the championship weekend at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, leading home Bayley Hall and Marcos Flack to take the Equity-One Professional class in another dramatic Melbourne affair.

Rodney Jane claimed a win in the Pro-Am class after race one winner Sam Shahin was outsted from the running, with Brett Boulton and Dean Cook completing the podium.

Walls pathway to victory came following early leader Harri Jones running off the road at turn one following a late-race restart in Friday evening’s sprint.

The Sydneysider had survived the opening lap to climb to second and chase his former title rival early in race two and pounced the moment Jones’ fell off the road at the opening corner, Walls never headed from there to claim his fifth career Carrera Cup race win and his first for his new team.

It ended Jones’ – who finished 7th in the end – run of four consecutive race victories: the best start to a Carrera Cup Australia Championship since Alex Davison achieved the same feat in his title-winning 2004 season a full two decades ago.

The defending champion had led from pole to the point where a Safety Car slowed the field. With Walls trailing, his restart looked strong until the opening corner when the #1 car ran off the road – rejoining in the midst of a furious battle pack for the back half of the top 10 to salvage championship points.

With Walls in front, Bayley Hall’s super consistent weekend continued with another second position to close the championship points margin to leader Jones, while Marcos Flack continued his love affair with Albert Park by finishing third, the first top three finish for both he and Sonic Motor Racing since the same event twelve months ago.

The ever-present Clay Osborne scored his second career-best result in as many races with fourth position while Dylan O’Keeffe salvaged solid points in fifth.

Fast Frenchman Alessandro Ghiretti survived contact earlier in the race to recover to sixth position, one spot ahead of Jones – who in turn led home David Russell, Angelo Mouzouris and Hamish Fitzsimmons, a quiet achiever on his way to his second top-10 finish of the season.

In Pro-Am, Rodney Jane was the key beneficiary as contact caused Sam Shahin to stop, the race one winner out of the race on lap six.

Former champion Adrian Flack was another to feel Albert Park’s wrath, contact between two other cars forcing the two-time champ to the non-finishers list as well.

Through it all came Rodney Jane, who extended his series lead in the Pro-Am battle thanks to a strong win aboard his Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic entry.

Brett Boulton scored another podium in the increasingly popular Lightning Mcqueen liveried McElrea racer, while the returning Dean Cook capped off a solid day for GWR in third.

Seven cars failed to finish: heavy contact at turn seven ending Matt Slavin’s comeback drive after an incident in turn one also ended his first race early.

Caleb Sumich was another to fail to finish after suffering radiator damage aboard his entry, while Jacque Jarjo, Shahin, Flack, Glen Wood and Max Vidau also failed to make it to the line.

A third and final race completes the weekend on Saturday evening at Albert Park

Jones claims win in dramatic, unpredictable Melbourne opener

Thrilling fight between Carrera Cup champion goes Aussie's way following a late race twist

ONE MAKE Porsche champions from both sides of the globe have battled for early supremacy as Round 2 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship commenced at Albert Park today.

Reigning Carrera Cup Australia champion Harri Jones and Carrera Cup France and Asia champion Alessandro Ghiretti dueled for the lead in today’s 30-minute opener at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Harri Jones coming out on top in a thrilling one-lap dash to the line.

Ghiretti crossed the line first however a five-second penalty for weaving on the restart saw the Frenchman drop down the order to finish eighth, handing Jones’ his fourth consecutive race win on the hop this year.

In Pro-Am, Sam Shahin claimed a strong victory while a stout recovery drive from Adrian Flack saw the defending champion charge to second, with Rodney Jane third.

With the race held late on Thursday afternoon in bright sunshine, Jones leaped into a stunning early lead, making a perfect start and leading the first lap by more than two seconds.

Behind, Jackson Walls, Bayley Hall and Alessandro Ghiretti all battled for second place with Hall sneaking past the returning Objective Racing pilot. He was soon passed by his EMA Motorsport teammate who moved to second in pursuit of early leader Jones.

As the race settled down at the front battles built through the field with Clay Osborne a strong sixth in front of 2024 Grand Prix winner Marcos Flack.

The Safety Car was called at the half-way mark after Matt Slavin made heavy contact with the wall on the exit of Turn 2.

Slavin was passing a slow-moving Rodney Jane who was on the inside of the road, grabbing the marbles on the outside of the circuit and finding the wall.

That delivered the Safety Car to the circuit, closing Ghiretti to the back of leader Jones for a sprint to the finish.

Jones timed his restart to perfection and fended off his former Supercup rival, only for a Safety Car to be called for a second time after Indiran Padayachee found himself in the gravel trap at turn one following the restart.

That set up a thrilling one-lap dash to the line and while Jones judged his first restart to perfection, his second wasn’t quite as strong as Ghiretti slipped past at turn one.

However, stewards quickly imposed a five-second penalty on the EMA Motorsport car after he was judged to have weaved following the Safety Car extinguishing his Safety Car lights.

That allowed Jones’ to claim his fourth straight win, while Bayley Hall continued his strong start to the championship in second and Dylan O’Keeffe third.

After starting on the front row, Jackson Walls finished fourth while Michelin Junior Clay Osborne finished fifth in his best-yet Carrera Cup race.

Marcos Flack posted his best result of the season in sixth for Sonic Motor Racing, with Ghiretti, David Russell and Angelo Mouzouris rounding out the top-10.

Oscar Targett had looked a contender for a top six finish early however spun at turn three on the final restart, ultimately finishing down the order.

In Pro-Am, Sam Shahin had things his own way to grab his first win of the season before he jumps to a second Porsche Supercup campaign in Europe.

Adrian Flack recovered from an opening-lap spin to finish second in class in what has been a challenging start to his championship defense, while Sydney winner Rodney Jane finished third.

Further behind, an otherwise challenging day for Earl Bamber Motorsport was salvaged by recovery drives by two of their contenders: Marco Giltrap storming from the back of the field to 13th position after a throttle issue ruled him out of qualifying.

Dale Wood was another to storm from the back of the field, finishing 14th after a crash saw him also relegated to the back of the grid.

Grand Prix battlelines set as huge Porsche field readies for Albert Park

29-strong grid includes international visitors, returning Pro-Am stars and much more

TWENTY NINE Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Cars will charge into Turn One at Albert Park this week as the second round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

It’s a stacked field of talent that includes the return of a key contender from last year, a current champion of one-make Porsche racing in Asia and France plus the last three Albert Park winners in Australia’s top one-make category.

Carrera Cup’s 16th visit to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix comes with Harri Jones (Equity-One Professional class) and Rodney Jane (Pro-Am) leading their respective championships, while GWR Australia carries a narrow lead in the team’s championship and Bayley Hall takes point in the Michelin Juniors.

All of them will find stern opposition this weekend, especially the outright contenders as current Carrera Cup Asia and France champion Alessandro Ghiretti joins the fray with EMA Motorsport.

A factory-supported Porsche Junior, Ghiretti will aim to follow in the footsteps of the last international ring-in who made an Aussie cameo: Supercup ace Harry King winning at Bathurst two years ago on his cameo, also with EMA Motorsport.

Ghiretti will be one of six drivers competing at Albert Park for the first time this weekend: Porsche Michelin Juniors Oscar Targett, Caleb Sumich, Clay Osborne and Hamish Fitzsimmons will all compete in Melbourne for the first time, as will Pro-Am racer Jacque Jarjo.

Returning this weekend is Jackson Walls, who’s Objective Racing machine commences his part-time campaign at rounds that don’t clash with his Super2 Series commitments with Triple Eight.

Walls was the 2023 winner at Albert Park, his sole Carrera Cup round win, and returns this year with the GWR Australia team running his iconic #11 entry.

GWR will field four cars for the first time in their Porsche one-make history with the return of Dean Cook to the Pro-Am class, 4-time round winner Dean Cook to also make his first start of the 2025 season this weekend. Experienced Pro-Am contender Indiran Padayachee also returns for his debut this year.

Albert Park’s wide open expanses often produce thrilling Carrera Cup racing with last year’s event at Albert Park no exception; while Harri Jones scored the TAG Heuer Pole award and won the first two races (and the round) there was a surprise winner in race three: teenager Marcos Flack claiming his first win in the Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic entry.

The past three Albert Park round winners, Jones, Walls and 2022 winner Max Vidau, are all represented on the grid this weekend.

Jones’ leads the championship to Albert Park having dominated the opening round in Sydney last month, sweeping all three races to take an early lead. Bayley Hall had a solid opener in second while Dylan O’Keeffe sits third.

Jane’s first Pro-Am win since the late 2000s has him heading to his home circuit on top of the class with Matt Slavin and Brett Boulton next. Two-time defending champion Adrian Flack will look to kickstart his search for a third title this weekend, having claimed fifth overall in Sydney.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will tackle three races across the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix weekend, with Thursday the busiest day on-track by far.

There, the field will practice, qualify and race before one race each on Friday and Saturday evenings bookends the massive Grand Prix schedule.

Qualifying and all three races will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo Sport this weekend.

ENTRY LIST: Round 2, Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship
Albert Park, Melbourne

Porsche Junior talent Alessandro Ghiretti to line-up in Melbourne for EMA Motorsport

Global Porsche junior to join the field at Albert Park

EMA Motorsport will add a third car to its stable for the upcoming Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup event in Melbourne. Alessandro Ghiretti will join season regulars Bayley Hall and Sam Shahin for the event, taking place as part of the support card for the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend.

Ghiretti is the reigning Asian and French Porsche Carrera Cup champion, having also secured the coveted title of Porsche Junior in 2024.

With the support of Porsche Carrera Cup Asia organization, the #91 entry will join the bumper Carrera Cup Australia grid for the F1 weekend, competing around Albert Park. Alessandro will make his Australian debut but is no stranger to the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, having raced them successfully over the past four years.

Last season, the 23-year-old French driver contested the Carrera Cup championships in across France and Aisa, standing on the top step of the podium a combined 17 times, with a further seven further podiums to secure both titles. In addition to this, he also scored his first win in the Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup.

Alessandro joins EMA Motorsport at the second race event of the 2025 season, along with another Junior talent, Bayley Hall, who made a strong start to his championship in Sydney. Two P2 finishes coupled to a top four result kickstarted Bayley’s campaign, currently holding in second position in the championship standings.

Said Ghiretti: “I’m really excited about joining EMA Motorsport for the Melbourne GP weekend. Racing at such a prestigious event is always something special, and this will be my first time racing in Australia, which makes it even more incredible. I’m super happy to have this opportunity, and I can’t wait to experience the atmosphere and the track firsthand.

“I want to sincerely thank the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific, and Porsche Motorsport for making this possible, and to EMA Motorsport for this opportunity and their trust.

“They have put together a strong lineup for the weekend, and I believe we have everything we need to deliver a strong result, so I’m looking forward to working together and making the most of this amazing event.”

Round 2 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship takes place over the Australian F1 weekend, 13-16 March.

Dominant Jones, returning Jane claim Sydney round success

Pro-Am victory to Rodney Jane for the first time since October 2008

IN A crushing performance, Harri Jones has swept all before him to claim the opening round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship in a weekend clean-sweep.

Meanwhile, 227-race Carrera Cup stalwart Rodney Jane claimed the Pro-Am class victory overall in Sydney to stand on the top step of the podium in his class for the first time since October, 2008

Jones’ domination of the Equity-One Professional class ranks came via a crushing victory in the Enduro Cup race and then despite a five-second penalty in race three for rolling at the start; the reigning champion was able to extend his margin beyond that anyway.

Jones’ seventh round win has him in front of the championship heading into Round two, while Bayley Hall was second overall in his first event for EMA Motorsport.

Dylan O’Keeffe made it three different teams in the top three in Pro as he had a consistent start to his championship.

While Bayley Hall was the top Michelin Junior of the event, Oscar Target impressed again on Sunday and finished an outstanding fourth outright in his debut weekend, since claiming the Michelin Sprint Challenge title last year.

Jane’s Pro-Am win was the 11^th of his career and came via a consistent three-race performance aboard his Bob Jane T-Marts / Monster Wheels Sonic Motor Racing entry.

He led home Matt Slavin, who claimed his first ever Pro-Am race victory in race three as he fended off Adrian Flack in the final race of the event.

Brett Boulton finished third overall in Pro-Am on his Carrera Cup debut – and the debut of his immensely popular Lightning McQueen livery.

The pair of races on Sunday were both action-packed, despite Jones’ domination out front.

The Queenslander claimed the Enduro Cup opener in style as he dominated the field in the 45-minute affair on Sunday morning.

Starting from pole, Jones’ made a better start than his race one effort and led the field into turn one – and was never headed from there.

He claimed the win by 17 seconds in as dominant a performance the reigning champion has ever strung together in his career.

It was a 1-2 result for current Porsche champions with Oscar Targett second aboard his Street Machine Garage / EBM machine – the young Queenslander taking advantage of a Bayley Hall lockup to grab the second spot on the podium mid race.

He then spent the remainder of the race fending off Dylan O’Keeffe’s Dexion / GWR car to claim his best Carrera Cup result yet.

With O’Keeffe third and Hall fourth, a mid-race pass on teammate Dale Wood saw Marco Giltrap claim a well-earned fifth position aboard the Team Porsche NZ entry.

Behind that pair was a remarkable 7-car fight for the minors that saw Sonic’s Angelo Mouzouris attacked from all sides for much of the race; the Bob Jane car ultimately holding off David Russell, Caleb Sumich, Max Vidau and a host of others.

The battle for Pro-Am was just as intense as Sam Shahin escaped to an early lead over Adrian Flack.

With both looking to score following their race one non-finish, the pair spent the first 30 minutes virtually inseparable as they battled for the lead; Flack slipping past with a great display of clean racing between the pair via a nice move at turn four.

With that pair out in front, Rodney Jane led home a battling pack to secure third position, Brett Boulton fourth and Matt Slavin next, though that pair – plus Matt Belford and Jacque Jarjo – were all in the mix.

Race three was a short sprint with everyone battling for tyre life on the hard-wearing Sydney surface.

Hall made the best start from the outside of the front row and led Jones for the first five corners, before he was passed at turn six.

With Jones then notified of his five-second time penalty, the #1 car set about a series of qualifying laps out front and was able to extend his margin beyond the required gap well before the end of the race.

Hall fended off O’Keeffe to finish second, with Oscar Targett spending most of his race with a large queue behind him; Marco Giltrap claiming fifth and Dale Wood sixth.

Caleb Sumich’s seventh was his personal best race result; David Russell eighth, Marcos Flack ninth and Glen Wood completed the top 10.

The Pro-Am race was an undulating affair with Slavin fending off a charging Adrian Flack to claim his first race win in the class, with Brett Boulton and Rodney Jane next – the latter doing enough to hold on and claim the round victory.

A highly competitive opening round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship sets the tone for Round 2 of the series, set to take place at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne next month.

Jones and Jarjo deliver first-time teams Carrera Cup victories in Sydney

Hall, O'Keeffe see experience on the outright podium in Race 1 of the 2025 season

THE FIRST race of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship delivered a pair of first-time team winners in a short, sharp and unpredictable season opener at Sydney Motorsport Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Defending champion Harri Jones delivered his own family team, Jones Motorsport, their maiden Carrera Cup win while series rookie Jacque Jarjo and DNA Autosport paired to win the Pro-Am class on their respective debuts in the championship.

RACE 1 Results – Click Here

The season opener was dramatic from the outset as Jones out-dragged Bayley Hall into the first turn to take the lead.

Behind them there was chaos as an unfortunate incident saw a slowing Sonic driver Angelo Mouzouris and Pro-Am contenders Adrian Flack and Sam Shahin tangle at turn two, the latter pair out of the race instantly.

Following a Safety Car, Jones led the field back to green and set about building a substantial margin while the remainder of the field battled behind.

With Hall second, Michelin Junior Oscar Targett ran third in the early stages before Dylan O’Keeffe pounced with a decisive move at turn two; the Dexion / GWR driver claiming third. The Victorian then set about chasing Bayley Hall for the remainder however was unable to catch the EMA Motorsport driver in his first race with the team.

Jones’ comfortably claimed his 18th career win, however the bigger storyline was the maiden victory for his own Jones Motorsport squad in Carrera Cup – their program hastily assembled in just six weeks following the unfortunate closure of his former team, Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport.

With Hall second and O’Keeffe third, Targett’s fourth made it four different teams in the top four.

Dale Wood wrestled his way into fifth position while Marco Giltrap survived a wild moment at turn two on the opening lap to finish sixth, one position lower than where he started.

David Russell took advantage of the lap one, turn two dramas to claim several spots – jumping from 12th on the grid to seventh at the finish in his TekworkX entry. Marcos Flack, Glen Wood and Michelin Junior Clay Osborne completed the top 10 in race one – the latter another to run wide on the opening lap, dropping spots in the turn two chaos.

With Flack and Shahin out of the race early, Jacque Jarjo was the main beneficiary and climbed from third to first on the opening lap.

The Michelin Sprint Challenge regular then managed a 1.5 second margin to category veteran Rodney Jane to claim his maiden Carrera Cup win on his series debut, and the same for his DNA Autosport team.

Jane’s second commenced his championship in style while Danny Stutterd claimed third position in Pro-Am.

The opening round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship continues on Sunday at the Thrifty Sydney 500 with a pair of races to complete the opening round.

This report updates..

Giltrap, O’Keeffe, Shahin the Friday form guide in Sydney

Tightly-packed grid launches into new season with pair of Sydney practice sessions

MARCO GILTRAP and Dylan O’Keeffe have shared the Equity-One Pro honours in the opening day of the 2025 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship. 

The pair respectively topped practice one and two today, but perhaps more importantly were among the top three in each session as they turn their attention to TAG Heuer qualifying tomorrow at Sydney Motorsport Park.

In the Pro-Am battle, Sam Shahin was the man to beat as The Bend Motorsport Park EMA Motorsport driver topped both sessions today.

Giltrap’s Team Porsche NZ entry was quickest in the initial 25-minute session of the season, edging out defending champion Harri Jones by less than one-tenth of a second.

O’Keeffe was third with Bayley Hall and David Russell completing the top five. Brothers Glenn and Dale Wood were next, Caleb Sumich eighth with Lockie Bloxsom and Marcos Flack rounding out the top-10.

Shahin topped the Pro-Am ranks in 15th overall with Matt Slavin second and Matt Belford third: defending champion Adrian Flack further back electing to run older Michelin rubber in the first session.

Practice two was held much later in the evening as the lights began to take effect at Sydney Motorsport Park, O’Keeffe’s qualifying sim putting him to the top of the charts – narrowly ahead of practice one pacesetter Giltrap.

Bloxsom jumped to third late in the session as he lead a trio of late McElrea improvers – his teammates Clay Osborne and Caleb Sumich in the mix as was current Michelin Sprint Challenge champion, Oscar Targett, who was fourth.

Glen Wood and Bayley Hall were within half a second of the outright pace, while Max Vidau jumped into the top 10 in the second session, having not run new tyres in the first.

Dale Wood rounded out the top 10, while a session-long race simulation saw Harri Jones one of only two cars to not visit pit lane at all in the session.

Sam Shahin topped the Pro-Am ranks to sweep the day, with Matt Belford second and Adrian Flack – another to save fresh rubber for the second session – third.

Both sessions contested on Friday progressed without significant interruption or delay, an off from Rodney Jane in the latter part of Practice two – where he made contact with the tyre barriers at Turn one – the largest moment of the day.

Attention now turns to the battle for the TAG Heuer pole award on Saturday afternoon and the first race of a new Carrera Cup season later that evening.

Both qualifying and Race 1 will be shown live on Fox Sports and Kayo, while the season opener will also be live on the Seven network.

ENTRY LIST: 2025 to launch into life with strong Sydney field

Equity-One Pro, Pro-Am, Michelin Junior and enduro battles all to commence this weekend in Sydney

A BRAND-NEW Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship awaits, the 20^th competitive season of Australia’s top one-make category to commence this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park in New South Wales.

A 25-strong grid of Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Cars will compete this weekend, comprised of experienced Professionals, up-and-coming Michelin Juniors and a large Pro-Am grid competing as a Carrera Cup ‘race within the race’ this weekend.

The chase is on to beat defending Equity-One Pro and outright Champion Harri Jones, who commences his quest for both back-to-back and three Carrera Cup titles this weekend.

Jones’ returns with his own family-run Jones Motorsport team preparing his #1 Hastings Deering CAT-supported entry. It’s the first time anyone has run the #1 since the 2018 season when David Wall fielded it during his title defense.

It’s the same situation in Pro-Am, with defending champion Adrian Flack looking for three titles in a row aboard his AGAS National EBM entry.

However, both current champions will find themselves targeted by a host of rivals in both categories this year.

Reigning Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Champion Oscar Targett makes his Carrera Cup debut this weekend as he leads the charge of a stacked Junior grid.

It marks the first time since the 2018 season that both of Australia’s one-make Porsche series champions will be represented on the same grid.

Eight members of the 2025 Porsche Michelin Junior class are represented this year, including proven Carrera Cup winners Bayley Hall and Marcos Flack, the returning Lockie Bloxsom and rookie Hamish Fitzsimmons, who also steps up from Sprint Challenge alongside Clay Osborne and Caleb Sumich. 2023 Sprint Challenge Champion Marco Giltrap, driving for Team Porsche NZ, also returns this year fresh from a strong summer in New Zealand’s Porsche Endurance Trophy.

They’ll be aiming to beat the experienced Professional class grid which includes last year’s runner-up David Russell, 2024 third-place finisher Dylan O’Keeffe, 20-time race winner Dale Wood, brother Glen, the returning Max Vidau and Angelo Mouzouris, among others.

The Pro-Am field is equally competitive with nine cars to race within Carrera Cup’s ‘Race within a race’ this weekend.

Those who join the Pro-Am grid include former Sprint Challenge class champion Brett Boulton and 2024 Sprint Challenge Class B winner, Jacque Jarjo.

Four drivers – Targett, Jarjo, Fitzsimmons and Boulton – will make their Carrera Cup debuts this weekend while 11 drivers have less than a full season’s worth of competition in the championship.

To balance that, 14 drivers have made 20 or more round starts offering a year-long battle of youth versus experience this year.

Two drivers, Dale Wood and Dylan O’Keeffe, will start their 50^th Carrera Cup Australia events this weekend.

The 2025 grid also offers the broadest spectrum of team representation seen in some time, with 10 different outfits fielding the 25 cars entered in Sydney.

Jones Motorsport and DNA Autosport will make their respective Carrera Cup debuts this weekend, joining the returning EMA Motorsport and existing squads McElrea Racing, Sonic Motor Racing Services, TekworkX Motorsport, GWR Australia, Melbourne Performance Centre, Ashley Seward Motorsport and Earl Bamber Motorsport in a competitive teams battle this year.

The 2025 championship commences this weekend in Sydney and then backs up with the regular support slot at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, before trips to Darwin, Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, Bathurst, Gold Coast and Adelaide to complete the year.

Following two practice sessions on Friday, qualifying and Race 1 will be held on Saturday at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend, with the Enduro Cup opener (Sunday morning) and the final race of Round 1 to be held on Sunday.

All sessions will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo, while Races 1 and 3 will also be broadcast live on the Seven Network.

ENTRY LIST: Round 1, Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship

Sprint Challenge champion Targett steps up

Carrera Cup debut for young Grove Racing Junior

Grove Junior Driver Oscar Targett will continue his development within the Grove Junior Program in 2025, marking an exciting new chapter in his motorsport career as he takes the next step up to the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

Targett will join Earl Bamber Motorsport to compete in the prestigious competition, with the continued support of the Grove Junior Team as he works towards a future with the parent team, Penrite Racing.

Having shown significant promise and skill throughout his career thus far, Targett’s move to Carrera Cup Australia is a natural progression for the talented young driver. The series is known for being one of the most competitive and high-profile categories in Australian motorsport, and Targett’s involvement in 2025 will mark an important milestone as he strives to reach the pinnacle of touring car racing.

Oscar Targett expressed his excitement about the upcoming season, saying, “I’m incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from the Grove Junior Team and excited for the challenge of Carrera Cup Australia. It’s a great opportunity to develop my skills further with Earl Bamber Motorsport and continue to utilise the resources and experience of the Grove Junior Team. I am very excited to have new partners, Street Machine Garage and Shure join me for this vital step in my career and with the return of Brisbane Caravan Warehouse along with many other long-time supporters, I’m ready for the next step and look forward to what 2025 holds.”

The Grove Junior Program, a vital part of Penrite Racing’s driver development pathway, is designed to nurture the talents of emerging drivers and prepare them for future success at the highest levels of motorsport. Oscar’s journey with the Grove Junior Team has already seen impressive progress, and this new challenge will help him continue to build his experience in top-tier competition.

David Cauchi, Team Principal of Penrite Racing, commented, “We are thrilled that Oscar will be remaining within the Grove Junior Team for 2025. He has demonstrated consistent improvement and dedication, and this next step to Carrera Cup Australia is a testament to his hard work. We have no doubt he will continue to develop as a driver and move closer to achieving his long term goals.”

Moving into 2025, Targett’s car will race with an all new livery, as he welcomes new partners to the team as well as sporting many familiar brands who have supported him throughout his motorsport journey so far.

Round 1 of Porsche Carrera Cup Australia kicks off this weekend 21^st – 23^rd February at Sydney Motorsport Park under lights which is a first for a season opener. All sessions will be live across Fox Sports and Kayo with all competitive running being shown also on channel 7.

Champion locks in 2025 program, reveals #1 Porsche livery

Consistency key despite team change as Jones begins drive for three this year

Reigning and two-time Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Champion, Harri Jones, has revealed his striking new livery for the 2025 season, highlighting new partners, team colours, and race number.

After an incredibly successful 2024 season with Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport, Jones had planned to return for a second year with the team. However, the team’s sudden closure in January 2025 led to a monumental effort by Jones Motorsport to establish a fully race-ready Carrera Cup operation in under a month.

Thanks to key staff signings—including Jones’ 2024 Race Engineer David Swenson, along with the experienced Matt Cook, Matt Walton, and Jack Chaplin—Jones’ core team remains intact, ensuring continuity after an incredibly successful partnership in 2024.

“I’m thrilled to be back on the Carrera Cup grid for another championship challenge in 2025,” said Jones. “It’s been a whirlwind start to the year, and without the incredible support of my team and partners, none of this would be possible. What we’ve been able to achieve in such a short period is incredible. With the right people, infrastructure, and a commitment to performance, we’re ready to fight for the title this season.”

Despite the sudden pivot, Jones’ livery maintains continuity, with the 2025 Hastings Deering GT3 Cup car retaining elements of the popular 2024 design. As Jones enters his fourth season with Hastings Deering, he acknowledges the vital role the global CAT® dealer has played in his success.

“Over the past four years, my career has taken me into new environments, teams and championships, both locally and abroad,” Jones continued. “Through it all, one thing has remained constant—my partnership with Hastings Deering. Their unwavering support has been crucial to my success, allowing me to seize every opportunity that’s come my way.”

In addition to Hastings Deering, several major partners have joined Jones’ 2025 Carrera Cup campaign, including HydraPlay, Pure Mist, Code Black, and Kodora AI.

“I’m excited to welcome these fantastic new partners to the team,” said Jones. “From cutting-edge technology and AI innovators to emerging drinks companies, each partner has their unique story. Together, we share a common goal: to succeed on and off the track.”

With Jones also set to join Team18 for the Supercars endurance events this year, a full-time Carrera Cup seat will ensure he remains race-fit and ready for the enduro season later in the year.

“2025 is shaping up to be a massive year. There’s always an electric feeling leading up to the first event, and I can’t wait to get started,” said Jones.

Jones, who usually races with the number 12, will proudly race with the coveted number 1 for 2025, reserved for the reigning champion.

“Running the number 1 on my car is a fantastic opportunity. There’s something special about it, and I’d be silly not to take it,” said Jones.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship kicks off with Round 1 at the Sydney Super Night this weekend. Be sure to catch all the action live at the track or on Kayo and Fox Sports 506.

Matt Slavin targeting Pro-Am success in Carrera Cup return

Improvement, podiums, enjoyment the keys to returning Pro-Am contender in 2025

Following a second-place result in last year’s Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Championship Pro-Am Class, ARES Group’s Matt Slavin is eager to go one better in 2025.

Slavin proved a consistent contender during his maiden season in Porsche racing’s top-tier in Australia.

After scoring his first podium at Round 3 in Darwin, Slavin added 11 more in the ARES Group Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car Type 992 prepared by Ashley Seward Motorsport on the way to the runner up slot in Pro-Am.

The 2025 season brings renewed experience and fresh ambitions for Slavin as he targets his first win in Pro-Am, while a title chase also beckons.

“Last year’s Pro-Am runner-up finish was a great result, but what truly excites me for another Porsche Carrera Cup season is the steady progress I made last year especially at new tracks,” said Slavin.

“The foundation is set, and consistency is key for 2025. With my incredible sponsors, family, and the #85 Ares Group 992 Cup Car once again backed by Ashley Seward Motorsport, everything is in place.

“Now, it’s on me to turn up the dial. My goals are to keep improving, chase podiums and enjoy every lap.”

The Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Championship schedule includes the biggest events on the Australian motorsport calendar featuring the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Bathurst, Gold Coast and Adelaide.

Slavin will get his 2025 Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Championship campaign underway with the support of Ares Group, Combo Structures, Eateo and Mildow at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 21-23.

The 2025 season sees ASM start the year with one Porsche entry for Slavin. The team is keen on returning to a multi-car line-up before the season ends. All enquiries can be directed to team owner Ash Seward on Email here.

EMA Motorsport sign Bayley Hall for 2025 campaign

Full-time return for EMA as Gold Coast winner plans title attack

FRESH from a career-best fifth place finish in the 2024 Championship, Bayley Hall will aim for a maiden title when he joins EMA Motorsport for the 2025 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

The switch to EMA comes as the team locks in a full-time return to the championship this year following a partial campaign last season, and another successful campaign at the Bathurst 12 Hour – where the EMA Motorsport-prepared Porsche finished second in the Pro-Am class.

21-year-old Hall, who hails from the Gold Coast, claimed his second career round win last year in Surfers Paradise amidst a 2024 season that saw him claim four race victories from the last six races of the season, and 13 top-five finishes for the year.

He was one of only two drivers to complete 100% of all the racing laps last season, amidst a campaign that also included starts in the Porsche Carrera Cup Italy Championship.

That form ensures that Hall returns as a key contender amidst both the Equity-One Pro field and the Porsche Michelin Junior ranks this year.

Hall’s 2025 campaign will be supported by major backers, HFI, Excavation Equipment, Couper Constructions, Rewired Electrical, CarbonHalo and Accelerate Alliance Members.

“I’m beyond thrilled to find myself on the Porsche Carrera Cup grid in 2025. And to race for EMA motorsport, a globally recognized team, is an exciting new chapter in my racing career,” Hall said.

“Alex and Marcus have really welcomed me into the EMA family and this will most definitely open up doors of opportunity across this season and beyond as they are working to pave the way for me to get into the Porsche GT3 world – stay tuned.

“The support over the years from my family, friends, fans and supporters has been unbelievable and it helps me make the grid each year so I’d like to thank each and every one of you for that.

“There is also a lot of people in the Carrera Cup paddock that has guided and believed in me over the years and for that, I thank you.

“Now it’s time to work harder than ever before with the EMA Team in best preparing for the season ahead and fighting for the top step week in, week out.”

EMA Motorsport team manager Marcus Cole said the team was excited to be returning to the championship full time this year, with one of the strongest contenders on the grid.

“Bayley has shown that he’s a genuine contender week in, week out and you don’t finish top five in this championship without that ability,” he said.

“We’re really pleased to welcome Bayley to EMA Motorsport this year as we return to the championship full-time. It’s going to be a big year for the team both in Australia and abroad and this is the first key announcement towards that.

“With Bayley behind the wheel and our experience in the championship we’re going to Sydney very confident that we will be in good shape to contend for race and round wins and, ultimately, the championship.”

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship commences at the Thrifty Sydney 500 at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 21-23, with live broadcast coverage on Fox Sports, Channel 7, Kayo and 7plus across the weekend.

GWR Australia Announces Four-Pronged 2025 Carrera Cup Pursuit

Jackson Walls, Matt Belford join expanded GWR attack on 2025 season

Sydney-based motorsport services organisation, GWR Australia has announced a four-car campaign for the 2025 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Series.

In the Pro class, Dylan O’Keeffe will contest the full season while Jackson Walls will compete in the rounds which do not clash with his Dunlop Super2 Series commitments.

Matt Belford joins the GWR squad for an all-out assault on the Pro-Am class, alongside the familiar face of Dean Cook who will race at selected events.

GWR has a long-standing history in Carrera Cup, with team owner Garth Walden formerly racing in the category himself; he says it continues to provide an excellent mix of professionalism and enjoyment.

“Carrera Cup is one of Australia’s longest-standing and most successful motorsport categories because it provides the right combination of ultra-competitive racing, camaraderie between competitors and trackside hospitality for drivers and teams to service corporate partners,” Walden said.

Over the last few years, GWR has achieved pole positions, race wins and round wins in the Pro and Pro-Am classes, and Walden said the next goal is an overall championship victory.

“Dylan achieved our best championship result last season with third, and the goal is for him to go a couple of spots better this year,” Walden said.

“This year we’ll be encouraging him to fight hard for every position to ensure no points are left on the table.

“There will be less pressure on Jackson because he isn’t running the full season, but we know he’ll be contending for podiums and wins at the rounds he does attend.”

Walden is also expecting a strong showing from the team in the Pro-Am class, with new recruit Belford already integrating himself into GWR’s competitive-but-fun culture.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Matt to the team; over the last few seasons, his driving has been on an upward trajectory and we’ll be aiming to lift him to the next level,” Walden said.

“Even before he’s done an event with us, Matt is already fitting into the team – he’s just a great bloke and we’re excited to be part of his continued development as a racing driver.

“It’s also great to have Dean back for another season – he’s a proven front-runner in the Pro-Am class with numerous race wins and podium finishes.

“Dean is a serious competitor when he puts the helmet on, but knows how to have fun outside the car – he’ll be aiming for some more Pro-Am wins throughout 2025.”

The opening Carrera Cup round will be held at Sydney Motorsport Park, 21-23 February.

Dexion Extends O’Keeffe Carrera Cup Partnership

Dylan O’Keeffe has confirmed he will return for his seventh season in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, with Dexion Australia and Asia Pacific extending their support of O’Keeffe’s RAM Motorsport/GWR Australia Porsche Type 992 GT3 Cup car.

O’Keeffe today unveiled a refreshed livery for his Porsche, with the predominantly bright red and white Dexion colour scheme complemented by some black highlights.

“I’m proud to have represented Dexion in Carrera Cup since 2022, and pleased to have grown the relationship,” O’Keeffe said.

“In the early stages, we were solely aligned with Dexion Victoria, but we’ve expanded our partnership to represent the Dexion brand right across the Australia and Asia Pacific region.”

O’Keeffe said Carrera Cup continues to provide an attractive platform for businesses such as Dexion, that see motorsport as a valuable marketing investment.

“Because Carrera Cup travels all over Australia, we can visit Dexion staff, customers and associates all over the country, providing them with benefits such as corporate experiences and passenger rides in the Porsche, which they love!” O’Keeffe said.

O’Keeffe also enters his fourth year as a RAM Motorsport/GWR Australia driver, and is highly-motivated to add some more silverware to the team’s trophy cabinet.

“Mike Sheargold from RAM Motorsport is one of the genuinely nice guys in motorsport, and I’m so thankful to have had his support,” O’Keeffe said.

“Garth Walden is super-passionate about his GWR race team, which celebrated its 10^th anniversary last year. They’ve achieved amazing results across numerous motorsport categories, and I’m proud to have achieved their first Carrera Cup pole position, race win and round win… but now I want to win their first championship!

“Rob Palermo is engineering me again, which is very positive – we’ve built a strong relationship over the last two seasons, and work well together to extract optimum performance from the Porsche.”

This year’s Carrera Cup calendar is slightly different to previous seasons, with the season beginning at Sydney Motorsport Park (rather than opening at the Grand Prix, as has been the case in the recent past). Townsville and Sandown are no longer on the calendar, but The Bend is back and Carrera Cup returns to Queensland Raceway for the first time in many years.

“Overall it’s a well-balanced calendar, with a good mix of street circuits and permanent venues. I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running at Sydney Motorsport Park next weekend,” O’Keeffe concluded.

Winning Combination Continues for David Russell and TekworkX

Hire A Hubby will enter their third year of sponsorship with the frontrunning Gold Coast-based team

David Russell and TekworkX Motorsport will continue their winning partnership with Hire A Hubby for the 2025 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship.

Hire A Hubby will enter their third year of sponsorship with the frontrunning Gold Coast-based team, having first combined for another winning year in 2022.

Russell made the move to TekworkX Motorsport for the 2024 season and had an immediate impact with 12 podiums and three race wins, including his maiden round win in Carrera Cup. The year ended with a formidable run of form that included six consecutive podiums, and propelled Russell to second in the Championship.

“To be able to have that continuity with the team is something I’ve not had for quite some time in Carrera Cup,” said Russell.

“I really want to thank Rob and Astrid, Hire A Hubby and all of my group of sponsors. It’s a bit of unfinished business for us, there are some things we didn’t get right that we want to hone in on so we can be as competitive as possible.

“We finished the year really strong, but we were a little bit inconsistent early on which put us on the backfoot, so really focusing on coming out strong in Sydney.

“The competition is so tough, a bad day in Carrera Cup can put you 15^th and only a couple of tenths off. The team preparation and engineering play an important role, and there’s a lot of very talented young guys that keep me on my toes.”

For 2025 Russell will be joined by a second Pro-Class entry, with Tom McLennan recently announced as TekworkX’s newest signing. The duo previously partnered as Bathurst 6 Hour teammates in 2024.

“Tommy is going to be a huge asset to the team, he’s a great talent, to have someone I can bounce data and setup across is one thing I’m looking forward to. He’s someone that I can trust to have that input on what a good direction is on the setup.”

The season commences at the Thrifty Sydney SuperNight from February 21-23, the first of an eight-round calendar which includes a visit to TekworkX’s home track at Queensland Raceway.

Max Vidau returns to Carrera Cup in 2025

Vidau will run and prepare his own Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car this year, run by his own Adelaide-based MVA Racing team.

MAX VIDAU will make a Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia comeback when he lines up for Round 1 of the Championship at Sydney Motorsport Park next week.

The South Australian returns to one-make Porsche racing following a competitive season in the Super2 Series last year, where he was a proven frontrunner throughout the season.

However, his return to Porsche racing comes with an ambition to ‘have fun’ and enjoy the sport, following the tough 2024 year.

Vidau will run and prepare his own Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car this year, run by his own Adelaide-based MVA Racing team.

MVA ran Vidau’s 992 GT3 Cup Car at the Vailo Adelaide 500 last November with Anthony DiMauro behind the wheel, while the man himself has remained busy throughout the summer – working alongside famed Kiwi team International Motorsport as an engineer on their fleet of 992 Cup Cars contesting the GT New Zealand championship.

The MVA Racing squad has also had a busy period, preparing and running a fleet of racing cars from their workshop.

“Last year was a tough season and we weren’t able to pull a deal together for Supercars this year,” Vidau explained.

“We have the Cup Car in the workshop so I thought ‘lets have a crack’ and get back to enjoying the sport and doing it for the reasons we all started doing it for.

“We’re not going there with a view of anything else but having a great time, racing the thing as hard as we can and mixing it up at the front of the field like we used to.

“It’s just me, Dad, and some young blokes – I think the average age of the team is about 23. We’ve got some great supporters on board and we are working on other partners for the remainder of the year.

“It’s going to be great fun and hopefully a really good way to kick off the season.”

Vidau’s circuit racing career includes a lengthy stint behind the wheel of one-make Porsche’s, graduating from Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge into Carrera Cup.

There, he has 22 round starts to his credit and a round win at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, while his most recent of his three race wins came in Townsville the following year.

He tested at The Bend this week with a full livery and sponsorship reveal to come closer to round one of the championship at Sydney Motorsport Park, alongside the Thrifty Sydney 500, next week.

Tom McLennan joins TekworkX Motorsport in 2025

Big switch to TekworkX Motorsport for the 2025 Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Australia season.