Campbell to make Daytona debut aboard new 911 GT3 R

Former champion set for North American classic

Porsche Young Professional Matt Campbell is preparing the an almighty challenge – his first taste of the 24 Hours of Daytona on January 26-27 aboard Porsche’s brand new 911 GT3 R.

Australian Matt Campbell will race in the #73 Park Place Motorsports 911 GT3 R alongside American trio Patrick Long, Nicholas Boulle and Patrick Lindsey in the fight for GTD class honours. Three other customer teams will also be the first to race Porsche’s latest generation GT3 racer.

“I’m not really sure what to expect,”said Campbell.

“This is my first time contesting the Daytona classic. During the test I familiarised myself with the new car, with my Park Place Motorsports team and the racetrack, so I’m not expecting any difficulties. We want to do the best possible job. If we manage to do this, then let’s see what result comes out in the end.”

Meanwhile, Porsche will also field a pair of 911 RSR entries in the GTLM class in the hope to write another chapter in the success story at the season opener of this year’s IMSA SportsCar Championship.

About the race
The 24-hour race on the Daytona International Speedway is contested on a 5.73-kilometre-long combination of the tri-oval and a tight and twisty infield section. The storied event in Florida has been held every year since 1966. The endurance classic marks the start of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season and counts towards the North American Endurance Cup (NAEC).

The Porsche drivers
For the start of the 2019 motor racing year in North America, regular drivers Patrick Pilet (France) and Nick Tandy (Great Britain) share the No. 911 car, and like last year will be supported by Frédéric Makowiecki (France). In 2018, the trio won the long-distance races at Sebring and Road Atlanta. Earl Bamber (New Zealand), Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) and Mathieu Jaminet from France share the cockpit of the No. 912 sister car campaigned by the Porsche GT Team. Works driver Patrick Long (USA) takes the wheel of the 911 GT3 R with the starting number 73 with his compatriots Nicholas Boulle and Patrick Lindsey as well as Porsche Young Professional Matt Campbell (Australia). In the identical No. 9 car sit Porsche development driver Lars Kern (Germany), Young Professional Dennis Olsen (Norway) and the two Canadians Scott Hargrove and Zacharie Robichon. The No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R is manned by works driver Sven Müller (Germany) and Klaus Bachler (Austria) as well as the Germans Steffen Görig, Alfred Renauer and Jürgen Häring. Sharing driving duties in the No. 540 vehicle are works driver Dirk Werner (Germany), Young Professional Matteo Cairoli (Italy), Marco Seefried (Germany) and Timothy Pappas from America.

Porsche’s Daytona successes
In the long history of the 24 Hours of Daytona spanning more than 50 years, no other manufacturer has enjoyed as much success as Porsche. 18 overall victories, four more as engine partner, and a record-setting 77 class wins remain unrivalled. Five outright victories in the years 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1991 and a class win in 1972 make US racing legend Hurley Haywood the most successful Porsche driver at Daytona.

The Porsche vehicles
For its third race season, the Porsche 911 RSR has undergone further optimisation primarily in the setup. Depending on the size of the restrictor, the engine, which is positioned in front of the rear axle, puts out around 375 kW (510 hp). The large rear diffuser combined with a top-mounted rear wing provides aerodynamic efficiency and significant downforce. The 911 GT3 R was newly developed for the 2019 season. Improvements in the areas of aerodynamics and kinematics were systematically implemented from the insights garnered from the many race outings of its predecessor. The six-cylinder engine in the rear of the GT3 customer racer produces over 368 kW (500 hp).

The schedule & live stream
The race gets underway on Saturday, 26 January, at 20:40 hrs CET (Sunday, 27 January at 06:40 hrs AEDT). The race can be watched live outside the USA and Canada at www.imsa.com.

Comments from Porsche
Fritz Enzinger (Head of Motorsport): “The season in North America always takes off with this great classic at Daytona. The race is a highlight that we definitely want to win this year with our superbly-engineered 911 RSR. Porsche is the most successful manufacturer at the 24-hour race in Florida. We sincerely hope that we can continue this success streak. The tests were promising. The entire team is well on track.”

Sebastian Golz (Project Manager 911 GT3 R): “We have high expectations. We’ve finished developing the new car, the first four customer teams tackle Daytona with the new 911 GT3 R. The pit crews and driver pairings are very good, so we can head into the race feeling optimistic. We all made good progress during the tests. If this trend continues, then I’m confident that we’ll ultimately see a strong result.”

Former champ confirms Porsche comeback

Steven Richards returns to Carrera Cup competition

Steven Richards is the latest high-profile confirmation for the 2019 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship.

The 2014 Carrera Cup champion will contest the 2019 season with his own Steve Richards Motorsport operation and will announce his major backer in the coming weeks ahead of the Adelaide 500 season opener.

Richards, son of inaugural Carrera Cup Australia champion Jim Richards, returns to Porsche one-make competition following two seasons of GT racing, in which time he also claimed his fifth Bathurst 1000 victory. Prior to that, Richards was a Carrera Cup regular from 2011 through to 2016, competing in 132 races across 46 rounds.

“I’m really looking forward to coming back to Carrera Cup. The series has certainly stepped up another notch since I was involved, from the new cars to its popularity and the incredible investment of Porsche into the championship,” said Richards.

“I was attracted back to Carrera Cup for numerous reasons. The professionalism of the series is second-to-none and racing at high-profile Supercars Championship events and the Australian Grand Prix is great value for the brands I’ll represent in 2019. Also, importantly, the racing is first class with a great blend of young up-and-coming drivers and some really serious Pro-Am competitors.”

Richards is eager to be competitive from the season-opening Adelaide 500 with the aim of adding to his current three round wins, 13 race wins, 21 round podiums and one title victory.

“My hope is to be competitive and start the season where we finished off in 2016. The competition has certainly stepped up but we’ll head into Adelaide as prepared as possible with the aim of podium finishes.”

The 2019 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia season commences in just six weeks for the series’ 13th visit to the Adelaide 500, to be held on February 28 to March 03, 2019.

Pro-Am champ out to defend Class B crown

Reigning TAG Heuer-Pro-Am champion Stephen Grove will return to the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2019 in the hope to continue his Class B stronghold.

With three Class B crowns to his name from seven attempts, the Melbourne-based racer will be joined in the #4 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup entry by two former Carrera Cup racers, his son Brenton Grove and Brit Ben Barker, retaining the same driver line-up as his 2018 class-winning campaign.

“Having the same driver line-up heading into this year’s event was something really important for our preparations. We tried to keep some normality year on year and having the same three drivers really helps that process. It will be great to have Ben back again, so we are really excited to head to the Mountain in the new Porsche Cup car to see how we go.”

The Bathurst 12 Hour’s Class B will exclusively feature Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, with four teams currently entered in the division.

And is true Grove Racing style, the #4 car will run a vibrant colour scheme, predominantly red with a Grove flair, featuring a boxing kangaroo on the sides, an Australian flag on the bonnet and other iconic Australian symbols spread around the car.

Luff confirmed for Carrera Cup return

Warren Luff moves to title-winning Porsche seat

Popular racer Warren Luff will return to Carrera Cup Australia in 2019 following a stint on the sidelines as driver coach.

Following two seasons racing for McElrea Racing in 2013 and 2014, Luff moved aside in 2015 to make way for young gun Matt Campbell, who ultimately moved to Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and replaced by Jaxon Evans in the #7 McElrea Racing entry. With Evans’ own move to Supercup, Luff will return to the #7 seat for the 2019 Porsche season.

“It’s exciting to be back in Carrera Cup – 2014 was the last time I was there but I’ve still been very close to the team and working with McElrea Racing since then as a driver coach,” Luff told motorsport website Speedcafe.com.

“I’ve always loved Carrera Cup, it’s a great championship and I’m excited to be back there.

“Our goal for going back is that we want to win races, we’d love to ultimately win the championship, but I’m not taking anything for granted.”

Luff hopes to expand on his three round wins and seven race wins he earned from his two Carrera Cup seasons, finishing runner-up to Steven Richards in his second attempt.

The 2019 Carrera Cup Australia season will kick off in Adelaide from February 28, 2019.

Campbell set for busy 2019 campaign with Porsche

Matt Campbell confirmed for Bathurst 12 Hour, two endurance series

Porsche will campaign two factory-supported 911 GT3 R entries in the 2019 Bathurst 12 Hour, one of which will include young Australian sensation Matt Campbell.

The announcement came as part of the Porsche Motorsport Night of Champions overnight in Weissach, Germany, where Porsche officially recognised the worldwide achievements of its teams and drivers over the 2018 season.

Included in the announcements was the confirmation of a two-car campaign in the 2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge, which begins with the Bathurst 12 Hour. Campbell will join German Dirk Werner and Norwegian Dennis Olsen in one entry while Romain Dumas, Sven Müller and Mathieu Jaminet will fill the other Porsche entry. The same two-car driver line-ups will also compete in the entire 2019 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup.

The Night of Champions was also Jaxon Evans’ first official introduction as a Porsche Junior. The 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia Champion was announced as the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme Shootout winner last month and will now race in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2019. Joining Evans at the Night of Champions was Stephen Grove, who won the TAG Heuer Pro-Am title in Carrera Cup Australia, and 2018 Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Champion Simon Fallon.

Commitment to Le Mans
At the 87th edition of the 24-hour race at Le Mans, Porsche will again field four works vehicles. The two Porsche GT Teams from the FIA WEC and the IMSA Weathertech Championship each campaign a pair of ca. 510 hp GT racers from Weissach. The cockpit of the #91 car is shared by Gianmaria Bruni, Richard Lietz and Frédéric Makowiecki. The #92 vehicle is helmed by the title defenders Kévin Estre, Michael Christensen and Laurens Vanthoor. Patrick Pilet, Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber take up the race in the #93 car. Sharing driving duties in the 911 RSR with the starting #94 are the youngsters Sven Müller, Mathieu Jaminet and Dennis Olsen. As in 2018, customer teams contesting the GTE-Am classes will also be strongly. For the first time in the history of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans marks the season finale.

Top-flight squad
Porsche focuses on continuity in its works driver squad. All factory drivers who were part of the team in 2018 are also under contract for 2019. The same applies to all Porsche Young Professionals. The only newcomer to the team is the Porsche Junior Evans. The 22-year-old New Zealander is the reigning Champion of the Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia and came out on top at a shootout against ten other talented youngsters from international one-make cup series. A total of 24 drivers make up the squad for 2019.

Continued factory involvement in the USA
Porsche will again tackle the IMSA WeatherTech Championship with two 911 RSR in 2019. The collaboration with Core Autosport has been extended for another three years. As in the past, the cockpit of the #911 vehicle is shared by Nick Tandy and Patrick Pilet. They will be joined at the particularly long races in Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and at Petit Le Mans by Frédéric Makowiecki. The #912 sister car is manned by the regular crew of Earl Bamber and Laurens Vanthoor. These two receive backing at the endurance classics from Mathieu Jaminet.

Intensive support for customer teams
Porsche continues its intensive support of customer teams in worldwide GT3 racing series. The new 911 GT3 R featuring particularly efficient aerodynamics and significantly improved driveability will be fielded for the first time. Porsche Motorsport has sold 45 units of this customer sport racer. In 2019, strong three-man crews will contest all rounds of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, including the season-opening 2019 Bathurst 12 Hour, and the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup: Romain Dumas, Sven Müller and Mathieu Jaminet as well as Dirk Werner, Dennis Olsen and Matt Campbell. In the Blancpain GT World Challenge America and the ADAC GT Masters, Porsche also supports at least two vehicles run by customer squads in the pro-category. Customer support will also be given at a number of national series and selected events.

Project title defence at the Nürburgring
The winning Manthey-Racing team aims to defend its title at the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring in 2019. Backed by the factory for this campaign, the squad from Meuspath, Germany, will tackle the race with two new 911 GT3 R. The winning quartet of 2018 remains unchanged, with Richard Lietz, Frédéric Makowiecki, Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy sharing the cockpit of the rear-engine car. In the sister vehicle, Earl Bamber joins forces with the Le Mans winning trio, Michael Christensen, Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor. Moreover, Porsche assists a number of other teams with drivers and also provides technical and strategic support.

World premiere of a successful racer
The successor to the winning Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport will celebrate its world premiere on 3 January 2019, at the ‘Roar before the 24’ Daytona tests. The 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport is the first ever production race car with body parts that are sustainably manufactured: the front hood, doors and rear wing are all made of natural-fibre composite material. Three weeks after its launch, the new clubsport racer will make its race debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona. The GT4 rounds off the clubsport family of Porsche Motorsport, which includes the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport and 935 models.

New head at Porsche Motorsport
As of 1 January 2019, Fritz Enzinger assumes the overall management of Porsche Motorsport, which in addition to GT racing will also include Formula E in the upcoming season. Until now, Enzinger was responsible for the management of the LMP1 project and in February 2018 also took on the role as head of Group Motorsport. The Vice President of Motorsport, Frank-Steffen Walliser, who has held this position since 2014, will move into the department of the CEO, where he will be responsible for the 718 and 911 sports car model lines.

Porsche Cup: Christian Ried defends private driver award
The Porsche Cup, the trophy for the world’s most successful private Porsche driver, again goes to Christian Ried (39). The racing driver/owner of Dempsey Proton Racing was awarded the coveted trophy by Dr Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG. In addition, Ried takes home a Porsche valued at more than 120,000 Euro. Thanks to his successes in the FIA WEC and the European Le Mans Series, he earned 10,348 points over the past season at the wheel of the Porsche 911 RSR. Second-placed Robert Renauer, the 2016 winner of the Porsche Cup, can look forward to prize money totalling 30,000 Euro. For third place, Julien Andlauer from France wins 25,000 Euro. The Porsche Cup, based on an idea of Ferry Porsche, has been awarded since 1970.

Works drivers for 2019
Earl Bamber (28/New Zealand)
Jörg Bergmeister (42/Germany)
Timo Bernhard (37/Germany)
Gianmaria Bruni (37/Italy)
Michael Christensen (28/Denmark)
Romain Dumas (40/France)
Kévin Estre (30/France)
Brendon Hartley (29/New Zealand)
Neel Jani (35/Switzerland)
Richard Lietz (34/Austria)
Patrick Long (37/USA)
André Lotterer (37/Germany)
Frédéric Makowiecki (38/France)
Sven Müller (26/Germany)
Patrick Pilet (37/France)
Nick Tandy (34/Great Britain)
Laurens Vanthoor (27/Belgium)
Dirk Werner (37/Germany)

Young Professionals
Matteo Cairoli (22/Italy)
Matt Campbell (23/Australia)
Mathieu Jaminet (24/France)
Dennis Olsen (22/Norway)

Juniors
Julien Andlauer (19/France)
Jaxon Evans (22/New Zealand)

Race series overview
FIA World Endurance Championship
911 RSR #91 – Gianmaria Bruni / Richard Lietz
911 RSR #92 – Michael Christensen / Kévin Estre

24 Hours of Le Mans
911 RSR #91 – Gianmaria Bruni / Richard Lietz / Frédéric Makowiecki
911 RSR #92 – Michael Christensen / Kévin Estre / Laurens Vanthoor
911 RSR #93 – Earl Bamber / Patrick Pilet / Nick Tandy
911 RSR #94 – Sven Müller / Mathieu Jaminet / Dennis Olsen

IMSA WeatherTech Championship
911 RSR #911 – Patrick Pilet / Nick Tandy / Frédéric Makowiecki*
911 RSR #912 – Earl Bamber / Laurens Vanthoor / Mathieu Jaminet*
* North American Endurance Cup

Nürburgring 24 Hours, Team Manthey Racing
911 GT3 R – Earl Bamber / Michael Christensen / Kévin Estre / Laurens Vanthoor
911 GT3 R – Richard Lietz / Frédéric Makowiecki / Patrick Pilet / Nick Tandy

Intercontinental GT Challenge and Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
911 GT3 R – Romain Dumas / Sven Müller / Mathieu Jaminet
911 GT3 R – Dirk Werner / Dennis Olsen / Matt Campbell

Porsche racer eyes Supercars success

Dylan O'Keeffe confirms Super2 move

Young racer Dylan O’Keeffe will move to the Super2 Series following a tremendous four seasons climbing the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid.

Following a season in Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia in 2015 and three subsequent seasons in Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia, the 20-year-old Melbourne racer has used the pathway to assist in forging a career in Australia in his now-confirmed move to the Super2 Series.

O’Keeffe, who placed third in the 2018 Carrera Cup standings, will step into the 2018 Super2 title-winning seat with Garry Rogers Motorsport.

“I’ve learned a lot during my last three seasons in Carrera Cup, and this year I demonstrated my ability to match it with the best drivers in the category,” said O’Keeffe, who completed a recent rookie evaluation day with GRM week at Winton.

“I completed around 300km on Tuesday, which enabled me to fine-tune my driving technique – it’s a very different style to the Porsche.

“I also worked closely with the team on car setup, to understand the effects of different changes.”

Porsche champion gets first taste of Supercars

Evans and O'Keeffe sample Supercars at Winton

Jaxon Evans has had an incredible few weeks, securing the 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia title before participating in, and eventually winning, the 2018 Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme Shootout.

Evans will now move to Europe to take his position as a Porsche Junior and compete in the 2019 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

Before this, however, Evans was given the opportunity to test a Supercar with Melbourne-based team Walkinshaw Andretti United at Winton Motor Raceway.

“A lot of fun,” Evans told Supercars.com at the rookie evaluation day.

“Very different to drive compared to what I’m used to in the Cup car, but I slowly came to grips with it and enjoyed it a lot.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to get my bum back in a seat and do more.

“In terms of sitting in the car and everything, it feels like I’m sitting in a lot bigger car. It’s a lot of power under your right foot and the braking and everything is obviously very different. Having a gearstick there and having to heel-and-toe was something unique for me, something I haven’t done before, but a lot of fun.

“I enjoyed adapting to that and coming to grips with it.”

Evans wasn’t the only Carrera Cup young gun at the test; fellow Junior Shootout attendee Dylan O’Keeffe also took part in the evaluation day with Garry Rogers Motorsport. The experience was O’Keeffe’s second in a Supercar having completed a test with Erebus Motorsport earlier in the year.

To view on-board footage of Evans in the Walkinshaw Andretti United Supercar, visit the Supercars.com website.

‘Unfinished business’ for Groves at GT Nations Cup

Father-and-son pairing conclude Bahrain event

Reigning TAG Heuer Pro-Am champion Stephen Grove and son Brenton Grove ended their campaign in the inaugural FIA GT Nations Cup with a DNF in the Main Race, leaving the pair with ‘unfinished business’ at the unique nation-versus-nation event.

The Team Australia duo raced a Herberth Motorsport-prepared Porsche 911 GT3 R at the Bahrain International Circuit event, finishing 13th and 12th in the two qualifying races.

The #911 entry was then caught up in opening corner carnage at the start of the final Main Race, ending its bid in the 2018 GT Nations Cup, which was ultimately won by the team representing Turkey.

In spite of the unfortunate conclusion, both Groves were thrilled by the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“It’s such a shame that the Main Race ended before it had really begun,” said Stephen Grove.

“All weekend the team had done a great job with the car and our strategy was really good.

“I think we were in for a great result. Obviously there was a lot of carnage in the race and unfortunately, we weren’t able to avoid it.

“However, the whole event was a great experience and driving with Brenton once again was something special.”

Brenton added: “Driving with Dad was such an amazing thing to do. Obviously, the result didn’t end up the way we wanted it to, but we worked so well together and were a very competitive pairing.

“From our side, there’s definitely an element of unfinished business so we are hoping we can get the blessing from CAMS to come back again next year and put our best foot forward.”

Groves to contest GT Nations Cup with Porsche

TAG Heuer Pro-Am champion makes GT3 debut

Father-and-son racers Stephen and Brenton Grove will this weekend represent Australia at the inaugural FIA GT Nations Cup at the Bahrain International Circuit, racing a Porsche 911 GT3 R in an 18-strong GT3 field.

The duo has teamed with German racing operation Herberth Motorsport for the unique GT event, which sees each entry represent a different country and every two-driver combination comprising of both a Silver-ranked and Bronze-ranked racer.

Brenton Grove enters the GT Nations Cup as the Silver driver in the Australian #911 entry, bringing significant Porsche experience to the Bahrain event having previous experience in both GT3 Cup Challenge and Carrera Cup championships in Australia.

Meanwhile, the Bronze-ranked Stephen Grove looks to continue the success he experienced in the 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia season; the Melbourne businessman secured his third TAG Heuer Pro-Am title at the Carrera Cup season finale at the Gold Coast 600 last month.

While Grove has vast experience at the wheel of a Porsche, he looks forward to the new challenges presented by the GT Nations Cup.

“It’s something quite special to pair up with Brenton and represent Australia at a world class event like the GT Nations Cup,” said Stephen.

“While we will be gunning for a good result, it’s also something you’ve got to enjoy and we’ll certainly learn from working with the Herberth Motorsport team.

“It’s great to contest the event with Porsche. For us, it was the only option. I’m going from a 911 GT3 Cup car in Carrera Cup to a 911 GT3 R. While there are differences, they are still related. I’ve actually never raced a 911 GT3 R, or any other GT3 car for that matter. There are certain things I am getting my head around – the buttons and knobs within the car – so I’m as prepared as possible leading into the event as we have had no test days.

“I also take the fact that we’re representing Australia quite seriously. We have the car wrapped in the Australian flag and we’ll get the best possible results for our country. It should be a great event and I can’t wait to get on track.”

A week after concluding his 2018 season of the Super2 Series, Brenton now looks forward to returning to racing a Porsche following his full-time 2017 Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia campaign, two Carrera Cup rounds and the 2018 Bathurst 12 Hour, which he was the Class B winner alongside his father Stephen, Ben Barker and Dan Gaunt.

“I can’t wait, I’m so excited for the event. For us it will be our first time in a GT3 car so I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel and flying the flag for Australia,” said Brenton.

“We’ve been doing lots of simulator work in the lead up to the weekend, looking at on-board videos and we’ve also watched previous races there like WEC to get the best gauge of the circuit we can before we arrive. I watched some Blancpain GT races as well to better understand what cars have strengths in different areas and also to learn how you attack, pass and where to defend from certain cars. The Porsche always has nice traction so that will be a strength we will need to maximise over the weekend. There will be some good competition, but it’s going to be good to work with Herberth Motorsport – they’re an exceptional team with plenty of experience.”

About FIA GT Nations Cup

The inaugural FIA GT Nations Cup is the headline act for the SRO Motorsports Group-organised Bahrain GT Festival, with each GT Nations Cup race entry representing their country for national glory. Each two-driver team will comprise one Silver and one Bronze driver representing their home nation, with a maximum of one car entered per country. Cars can be entered by any team, regardless of nationality, with teams allowed to enter cars for multiple nations. The FIA GT Nations Cup is run to GT3 regulations.

Two qualifying sessions will set the grid for a pair of 60-minute qualifying races – the first on Friday, the second on Saturday – which in turn decide the grid for a 60-minute main race on Saturday afternoon. The winning drivers from the main 60-minute race and their country will be crowned as champions.

Countries represented in the FIA GT Nations Cup include Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Malaysia, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey and United Kingdom.

Evans wins Shootout, becomes Porsche Junior in 2019

Jaxon Evans to race in 2019 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup

Jaxon Evans has taken victory in the 2018 Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme Shootout and will follow in the footsteps of Matt Campbell when competing in the 2019 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup as a Porsche Junior.

The Gold Coast-based New Zealander won the 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia title at last month’s Gold Coast finale, along with becoming the Michelin Junior champion, and thereafter attended the three-day Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme Shootout at Circuit Paul Ricard near Le Castellet, France.

Following an anxious wait for the 22-year-old, Evans was confirmed as the winning Shootout participant from the 11 attending drivers; all standout young talents in their respective Porsche one-make series.

Evans is the second Carrera Cup Australia champion to be selected as a Porsche Junior; at the end of 2016, then-Carrera Cup champion Matt Campbell was the ultimate victor from the Shootout and became a Porsche Junior for the 2017 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, in which he placed third in the standings. Campbell was then promoted to a Porsche Young Professional position and is currently racing in the 2018/2019 World Endurance Championship Super Season in the GTE-Am class.

Evans will now receive 225,000 Euro towards next season’s Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup along with a comprehensive training programme from Porsche Motorsport, which includes on-track coaching, psychological and media relations training and an extensive fitness regime.
“When I received the phone call and they told me that I was their selection from the Shootout it was really special and I didn’t know what to say. It’s exciting and a privilege that they picked me and they put their faith in me after the Shootout. Honestly, it hasn’t sunk in yet, which is the hardest bit,” said Evans.

“To go from GT3 Cup Challenge, Carrera Cup and win the Shootout has always been my main goal in terms of building a career in motorsport and a future with Porsche. I’ve always closely followed the likes of Earl Bamber and, more recently, Matt Campbell. I’m close mates with Matt and seeing how successful he’s been in terms of racing but also being able to move to Germany and build a racing career with Porsche has been so cool to see. So to be rewarded with the first step towards replicating this – becoming a Porsche Junior – is really special and really is a dream come true for me.

“Matt was one of the first people that I told. It’s pretty exciting and we joked about that, from where we were four years ago, we wouldn’t have expected to both be living in Germany in 2019 and racing for Porsche. To see him do it was special, but to follow in his footsteps and make the move Germany and race in Supercup is incredible.”

Porsche Cars Australia Motorsport Manager, Troy Bundy, was thrilled to learn of Evans’ success in the Junior Programme Shootout, which further confirmed Australia’s Porsche Motorsport Pyramid as of the region’s best development pathways for young drivers.

“From the start of the season you could tell that Jaxon was on a mission and that, should he be selected to participate in the Shootout, he would be an unstoppable force. We had one of our most competitive Carrera Cup seasons to date in 2018 and for Jaxon to secure the title with such an impressive performance shows his immense talent behind the wheel of a Porsche race car. Porsche Motorsport obviously noticed this at the Shootout and therefore selected him as their Porsche Junior for next season,” said Bundy.

“This really reaffirms the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid in Australia. We initially had Matt Campbell move from GT3 Cup Challenge through to Carrera Cup and eventually win the Junior Programme Shootout. From there, he has had remarkable success racing for Porsche internationally. Jaxon followed the very same pathway and has been our second driver to be selected as a Porsche Junior in just three seasons. A benefit of this has been the tremendous swell of interest in both GT3 Cup Challenge and Carrera Cup locally by young drivers who want to be the next Matt Campbell and, now, the next Jaxon Evans.”

Evans will now attend the Porsche Motorsport Night of Champions in Germany in early December before relocating to Europe early next year to commence his 2019 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup campaign.

Campbell takes GTE-Am win in China

Former Carrera Cup champion wins 6 Hours of Shanghai

Former Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia Champion Matt Campbell continued his strong form in the final FIA World Endurance Championship race of the year with his No. 77 entry taking GTE-Am victory in the 6 Hours of Shanghai in China. Meanwhile, both Porsche 911 RSRs fielded by the Porsche GT Team finished the Chinese endurance battle on the GTE-Pro podium.

Heavy rain caused a turbulent race and led to multiple safety car phases, red-flags and many changes of position on the racetrack. After six hours and a strong team effort, the No. 91 Porsche 911 RSR crossed the finish line in second place. The cockpit of the 510 hp sports car was shared by the Austrian Richard Lietz and Gianmaria Bruni from Italy. The No. 92 sister car driven by Kévin Estre from France and the Dane Michael Christensen came third in China. A total of eleven vehicles run by six manufacturers battled for GTE-Pro class victory on the 5.451-kilometre Shanghai International Circuit. Thanks to this result, Porsche has extended its lead in the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championship.

Porsche also had reason to celebrate in the GTE-Am class. The three Porsche 911 RSR campaigned by the customer team Dempsey Proton Racing and Project 1 concluded the race on positions one to three. Climbing to the very top of the all-Porsche podium was Porsche Young Professional Campbell, Christian Ried (Germany) and Porsche-Junior Julien Andlauer (F), who shared driving duties in the No. 77 Porsche 911 RSR.

Spectators were treated to a heart-stopping finale in both categories. Persistent downpours and the onset of darkness required utmost concentration from drivers. At the wheel of the No. 91 vehicle, Lietz fought his way from fourth to second place in the final 40 minutes. In the No. 92 entry, Christensen overtook a rival in the last lap to secure third.

In the GTE-Am class, Porsche works driver Jörg Bergmeister from Germany driving for the Porsche customer team Project 1 swept past the second Porsche 911 RSR fielded by the Dempsey Proton Racing squad in the penultimate lap and took the flag in second. Sharing the cockpit of the No. 56 car with Bergmeister was Patrick Lindsey (USA) and Egidio Perfetti (N). Position three was occupied by the No. 88 vehicle of Dempsey Proton Racing with drivers Khaled Al Qubaisi (UAE), Riccardo Pera (I) and Porsche Young Professional Matteo Cairoli (I). The Gulf Racing trio, Michael Wainwright (GB), Ben Barker (GB) and Porsche Junior Thomas Preining (A), finished on ninth place.

Round six of the FIA World Sports Car Championship WEC will be contested in Sebring on March 15, 2019.

Comments on the race

Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser (Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars): “After the first three hours of the race we were very uncertain whether it was still a race. But it turned into a brilliant event. Our drivers with Nordschleife experience underlined their prowess. Finishing second and third earned important points towards the world championship, it also expanded our lead, and we’re heading home from Shanghai feeling very happy. We’re also extremely pleased to have extended our collaboration with the Manthey Racing team for the next two WEC seasons. In the GTE-Am class Porsche locked out the entire podium. I’m thrilled for all three. A fantastic job – it doesn’t get any better than that!”

Matt Campbell (Porsche 911 RSR #77): “I’m over the moon with our win. The race was anything but easy. Christian had a hard time, especially at the start. When Julien then climbed into the cockpit the situation eased up and the team did a super job strategically. The track conditions changed again for the worse during my stint and it was a very challenging driving experience.”

Race result

GTE-Pro class
1. Sorensen/Thiim (DK/DK), Aston Martin Vantage GTE, 109 laps
2. Lietz/Bruni (A/I), Porsche 911 RSR, 109 laps
3. Christensen/Estre (DK/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 109 laps
4. Lynn/Martin (GB/B), Aston Martin Vantage GTE, 109 laps
5. Pier Guidi/Calado (I/GB), Ferrari 488 GTE EVO, 109 laps
6. Tomczyk/Catsburg (D/NL), BMW M8 GTE, 109 laps
7. Priaulx/Tincknell (GB/GB), Ford GT, 109 laps
8. Rigon/Bird (I/GB), Ferrari 488 GTE EVO, 109 laps
9. Mücke/Pla (D/F), Ford GT, 109 laps
10. Gavin/Milner (GB/USA), Corvette C7.R, 109 laps
11. Blomqvist/Felix da Costa (GB/P), BMW M8 GTE, 108 laps

GTE-Am class
1. Ried/Andlauer/Campbell (D/F/AUS), Porsche 911 RSR, 108 laps
2. Bergmeister/Lindsey/Perfetti (D/USA/N), Porsche 911 RSR, 108 laps
3. Al Qubaisi/Pera/Cairoli (UAE/I/I), Porsche 911 RSR, 108 laps
4. Flohr/Castellacci/Fisichella (CH/I/I), Ferrari 488 GTE, 108 laps
5. Dalla Lana/Lamy/Lauda (CDN/P/A), Aston Martin Vantage GTE, 108 laps
6. Ishikawa/Beretta/Cheever (J/MC/I), Ferrari 488 GTE, 107 laps
7. Mok/Sawa/Griffin (MAL/J/IRL), Ferrari 488 GTE, 107 laps
8. Yoluc/Adam/Eastwood (TR/GB/GB), Aston Martin Vantage GTE, 107 laps
9. Wainwright/Barker/Preining (GB/GB/A), Porsche 911 RSR, 107 laps

Evans and O’Keeffe complete Junior Shootout

Australian representatives gun for Porsche Junior position

Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia front-runners Jaxon Evans and Dylan O’Keeffe have completed the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme Shootout in France and now wait to hear the ultimate outcome in the coming weeks.

Evans and O’Keeffe, who finished first and third in the 2018 Carrera Cup Australia championship, respectively, joined nine other young racing talents from Porsche one-make series around the world, all dreaming to take the next step in their racing careers – into the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme.

In their bid for this, the talented youngsters took part in a three-day selection process in the southern French town of Le Castellet. In addition to setting consistently fast lap times, the candidates focused on working with the Porsche engineers. On the 3.862-kilometre Circuit Paul Ricard near the Côte d’Azur, the aspirants competed against each other in identical 485 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers. The winner, who will be announced in a few weeks, receives support as a Porsche Junior for their 2019 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup campaign.

Jaxon Evans, who won the 2018 Carrera Cup Australia title in Gold Coast last month, was the championship’s nominee for the Junior Programme Shootout event.

“Overall, it was an amazing experience from the first day meeting the other drivers from different countries and all with different accents. Seeing it all roll out was unreal; from the transporters, engineers, mechanics and the amount of people on the ground to make it all work. It was like nothing I had ever experienced,” said Evans, who says he had the Shootout in his sights since he started racing in GT3 Cup Challenge in 2015.

“For me, to represent the Porsche brand as a Porsche Junior would be a massive honour. I have been working towards this for four years through GT3 Cup Challenge and Carrera Cup so to win the Shootout and become a Porsche Junior would be a dream come true.”

Meanwhile, Dylan O’Keeffe was a wildcard selection for the event, which he attended for the second time following his selection as Carrera Cup Australia’s Shootout nominee in 2017.

“This year’s Shootout was amazing and it was everything I thought it would be from attending last year. Having been before, it was beneficial in the sense that I knew everyone and I knew what to expect, we were just at a different circuit,” said O’Keeffe.

“The Paul Ricard track was mega; I’ve never been to a facility that amazing. Even though the track was wet, it was still really fun and you could only imagine how great it would be in the dry. I had a great time again this year and certainly left nothing on the table so we’ll have to wait and see who Porsche selects as the new Porsche Junior in the coming weeks.”

The new Porsche Junior receives 225,000 Euro towards next season’s Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, which is run as a support series to Formula 1. In addition, Porsche Motorsport provides the successful applicant with a comprehensive training programme to become a professional racing driver. Aside from coaching on the racetrack, this support includes psychological training and media relations as well as an extensive fitness regime.

Other Shootout attendees included Dutchman Larry ten Voorde (Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland), German Philip Hamprecht (Porsche Carrera Cup Asia), Japanese driver Yoshiaki Katayama (Porsche Carrera Cup Japan), Brazilian Bruno Baptista (Porsche Carrera Cup Brazil), Turkish driver Ayhancan Güven (Porsche Carrera Cup France, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Benelux), Gianmarco Quaresmini (Porsche Carrera Cup Italia), American Trenton Estep (Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA), Swede Lukas Sundahl (Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia) and Brit Lewis Plato (Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain).

“We’ve seen from the Shootout that there are some very talented youngsters in our worldwide Porsche one-make cups. At Le Castellet we simulated a complete race weekend. Moreover, all drivers underwent medical examinations and had to prove themselves in interview situations in front of the camera. Now we’ll analyse all the data to see who has the greatest potential,” said Jennifer Biela-Moll, project manager of the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme.

Evans and O’Keeffe will look to become just the second ever Carrera Cup Australia representative to win the Shootout. 2016 Carrera Cup Australia champion Matt Campbell went on to win the 2016 Shootout event and secure a position as a Porsche Junior for the 2017 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, placing third in the standings. Campbell was then promoted to a Porsche Young Professional in 2018 and is racing in the 2018/19 FIA World Endurance Championship Super Season, where he currently leads the GTE-Am classification.

Scouting initiatives for up-and-coming young racing drivers have a long tradition at Porsche. Many scholarship recipients have managed to climb the career ladder to become professional drivers in GT championships around the world. Out of the current squad of works drivers and Porsche Young Professionals, Earl Bamber (NZ), Timo Bernhard (D), Michael Christensen (DK), Patrick Long (USA), Sven Müller (D) as well as Campbell, Matteo Cairoli (I), Mathieu Jaminet (F) and Dennis Olsen (N) all received training in the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme.

One out of eleven from Porsche AG on Vimeo.

Greater coverage key to 2019 Carrera Cup calendar

2019 Race Calendar announced

Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia will expand its television reach in 2019 with the series’ return to Far North Queensland.

Carrera Cup has added the Townsville 400 to its 2019 race schedule; the addition will be the championship’s sixth visit to the Reid Park venue and its first Townsville round since 2015.

Townsville’s inclusion adds a fifth round to the series which will feature live on free-to-air television, joining other high-profile free-to-air events Adelaide 500, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 500. The Townsville addition replaces the out-going Sydney SuperNight, which is not part of the 2019 Supercars Championship calendar.

The 2019 season will be the first time Carrera Cup will visit Supercars’ two northern-most events in one year, Townsville and Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway, and once again race at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and The Bend Motorsport Park.

“The 2018 Carrera Cup season has been a tremendous success for the category, with an average of 24 cars delivering some sensational racing on track. The addition of the newest generation 911 GT3 Cup car has been well received by our customers and has added to the spectacle through exciting and close racing,” said Porsche Cars Australia Motorsport Manager Troy Bundy.

“Following a thrilling 2018 season, the 2019 championship has all the indications of being as strong, if not stronger, than this season; aided by many of the current drivers continuing on next season along with a range of new Pro and TAG Heuer Pro-Am competitors joining the series. We have also added six new cars to the market, which we hope to see on track from the start of the 2019 season.

“The addition of the Townsville round will also have additional benefit to our team, drivers and series partners who will have five 2019 rounds broadcast on free-to-air television. We will also continue the popular Endurance Cup as it continues to increase in significance and prestige year on year.”

The 2019 event formats and details on the 2019 Endurance Cup will be announced at a later date.

2019 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia Calendar
Round 1 – Adelaide 500, February 28-March 03, 2019
Round 2 – Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, March 14-17, 2019
Round 3 – Phillip Island 500, April 12-14, 2019
Round 4 – Darwin Triple Crown, June 14-16, 2019
Round 5 – Townsville 400, July 05-07, 2019
Round 6 – The Bend SuperSprint, August 23-25, 2019
Round 7 – Bathurst 1000, October 10-13, 2019
Round 8 – Gold Coast 500, October 25-27, 2019

Carrera Cup season concludes with Gold Coast thriller

Sunday wrap: Round 8, Gold Coast

Jaxon Evans and Stephen Grove will depart the 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia season as the Outright and TAG Heuer Pro-Am Champions, while Nick McBride and Adrian Flack completed the Gold Coast finale with round victory.

Evans finished his 2018 season in style with victory in the third and final race of the season. Following two race wins on Saturday, second place in race three secured McBride the round win and was flanked on the final podium of the season by second placed Earl Bamber and third placed Evans.

The strong finish to the season handed Evans an impressive 182-point victory in the Carrera Cup standings over out-going champion David Wall and Dylan O’Keeffe in third.

“It’s pretty special to grab a race win in the last race of the year after clinching the championship yesterday. I can’t really describe how I feel at the moment. I’m just stoked,” said Jaxon, who has attended the past Carrera Cup podiums in Gold Coast; in 2017 as the round winner and in 2016 to cheer on his good friend and now Porsche Young Professional Matt Campbell after Campbell’s 2016 title win.

“I remember being here a couple of years ago watching Matt up here accepting the championship trophy. It’s great to be here two years later and being in the same position with the 2018 championship trophy in hand.”

Adrian Flack completed an impressive season finale with a clean sweep of TAG Heuer Pro-Am victories, finishing on the podium beside second place Anthony Gilbertson and Tim Miles.

While failing to finish on the round podium, Stephen Grove finished the Gold Coast round unscathed and was thrilled to conclude another title-winning season.

“This is great. There was such strong competition in the TAG Heuer Pro-Am class this season so winning it this season is really special,” said Grove.

“Having Earl as part of the team has been incredible this weekend. We knew he was going to be fast and he did a great job, racing at the front and taking second for the round.”

The TAG Heuer Pro-Am title is Grove’s third in his time in the Carrera Cup series following his 2014 and 2017 successes.

Carrera Cup races for FA in Gold Coast

Raising awareness for Friedreich Ataxia

Notice anything different on the Carrera Cup cars in Gold Coast?

This weekend, Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia has thrown its support behind creating awareness for Friedreich Ataxia (FA), a condition that has affected a much-loved member of the Carrera Cup family.

As part of the support, the entire Carrera Cup field has placed FA branding on the front of each Porsche in the field, as well as using the event’s popularity to promote awareness for the condition.

What is Friedreich Ataxia (FA)?
FA is a debilitating, life-shortening degenerative neuro-muscular disorder, which affects about 1 in 30,000 people in Australia and New Zealand.

It is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 18 years and robs children and young adults of their mobility.

FA leads to loss of muscle co-ordination, fatigue, vision impairment, hearing loss and slurred speech, scolosis (curvature of the spine), diabetes and serious heart conditions.

It is caused by an inherited genetic mutation that limits the production of a protein called frataxin. This protein is needed by the mitochondria, which are the energy producing organelles in our cells. Without it the cells do not function properly resulting in debilitating medical problems, particularly neurological and cardiac.

Although there has been significant progress towards treatments, today there is no cure.

Why FA?
This cause is close to the hearts of those within the Carrera Cup paddock. One of the most capped Carrera Cup team members, Karl Batson, suffers from the disorder. Batson has experienced tremendous success in the Carrera Cup series, working with title winning campaigns with Jim Richards and Craig Baird.

Now, Batson is the Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport Team Manager with drivers Nick McBride and Marc Cini, fittingly claiming race wins on the opening two encounters in Surfers Paradise this weekend.

What can you do?
For more information on FA and on how you can get behind the Friedreich Ataxia Research Association (FARA), visit the FARA website at https://fara.org.au.

McBride and Flack sweep Saturday, Evans and Grove secure titles

Saturday wrap: Round 8, Gold Coast

Nick McBride and Adrian Flack have swept Saturday’s two Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia races in Gold Coast, while title leaders Jaxon Evans and Stephen Grove have secured unassailable leads in the Outright and TAG Heuer Pro-Am standings with one race remaining for the season.

The opening Gold Coast race was the final of the six-race 2018 Endurance Cup. McBride managed to pass pole-sitter David Wall early in the race before securing a narrow victory over Wall and Porsche Works driver Earl Bamber.

Second place for Wall was enough to secure him the 2018 Endurance Cup title in the Pro ranks following a strong end to the endurance series, finishing in the top two in the final three Endurance Cup races of the season. Grove finished race one sixth in class, though it didn’t affect his Endurance Cup hopes after building an unassailable lead after the Bathurst long-distance race.

In the sprint race two, McBride led from the opening lap however this time he had Bamber, not Wall, in his rear-view mirror. While Bamber applied pressure to the Melbourne racer, McBride was able to remain at the front and eventually pull a small margin on Bamber by the race two chequered flag.

“I am really happy with the two race wins. The last race was great with Bamber behind me, he put a lot of pressure on me, especially in the mid-part of the race,” said McBride.

“It’s pretty cool to finish ahead of Earl. Monday to Friday I’m stuck in the office reading books and looking at computer screens and he’s a factory driver. He’s obviously just jumped back into a GT3 Cup car for the first time in four years so he has absolutely nothing to prove out there and it’s great having him in the field this weekend as a really good measuring stick for all of us.”

Third and second was an impressive performance for Bamber in his solo debut in Carrera Cup Australia and will start the final race of the season on the front row alongside race three pole-sitter McBride.

Flack was able to follow up on his race one win with another victory in the final race, finishing five seconds ahead of his nearest Pro-Am rival Anthony Gilbertson.

“I couldn’t be happier. It was a perfect run, really,” said Flack. “In practice one I nearly wanted to packed my bag and go home because it was so scary but I was pretty comfortable with it by the time we got to qualifying and, race after race, we’ve really come on strong.”

With one race remaining, both Evans and Grove can’t be surpassed in the Outright and TAG Heuer Pro-Am standings, respectively.

“I’m really happy with how today went. It was pretty cool to wrap up the Carrera Cup championship in the first race and also to bring the car home safely. I really can’t thank the team and my supporters enough. This is really special,” said Evans.

With an impressive 97-point lead entering the final race, Grove is the champion-elect for the TAG Heuer Pro-Am and is en route to being crowned the class champion for the third time.

The 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia season will conclude with race three on Sunday at 1:05pm, which will be broadcast live on both Fox Sports 506 and Channel Ten.

Race Schedule
Sunday October 21
1:05pm Race 3 (12 laps)

Broadcast Schedule
Channel: Fox Sports 506
Race 3 – 1:05pm, Sunday October 21
Channel: Ten
Race 3 – 1:05pm, Sunday October 21

Wall and Grove claim 2018 Endurance Cup title

Endurance Cup concludes on Gold Coast

Second place in the opening Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia race at the Gold Coast finale has handed David Wall the 2018 Endurance Cup win in the Pro class, while Stephen Grove has claimed the endurance crown in the TAG Heuer Pro-Am.

While the ultimate race one win went to Nick McBride, second place for Wall was enough to secure the Endurance Cup win ahead of Dale Wood and Jaxon Evans.

Wall had a slow start to the 2018 Endurance Cup, though three top-two results across the last three races elevated the 2017 Carrera Cup champion the endurance crown.

Meanwhile, a difficult race for Stephen Grove didn’t hamper his endurance hopes, who entered the Gold Coast round with an unassailable lead in the Endurance Cup points in the TAG Heuer Pro-Am.

Another highlight in the opening Gold Coast race was an impressive top-three performance by Earl Bamber.

Starting fourth, the dual 24 Hours of Le Mans winner worked his way to third by the chequered flag behind McBride and Wall.

Results: Race 1

Wall and Gilbertson top Gold Coast qualifying

Friday wrap: Round 8, Gold Coast

David Wall and Anthony Gilbertson finished the final qualifying session of the 2018 Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia season in style on the streets of Surfers Paradise, taking the TAG Heuer Pole Position Awards while Porsche Works star Earl Bamber secured a second row start for Saturday’s race one.

In his 50th Carrera Cup round, reigning champion Wall had record-setting pace over the 20-minute qualifying session; his best lap of 1:12.2760 eclipsing David Russell’s previous qualifying record lap of 1m12.4167 set in 2014.

Wall’s impressive qualifying pace placed him on pole position for the final Endurance Cup race of the season. Starting alongside Wall for Saturday morning’s 32-lap race one endurance battle is Nick McBride in his best qualifying session since his Albert Park pole position earlier in the season.

“This round last year has very different to this year so to get a pole position here in my 50th round of the championship is obviously very special,” said Wall, who wrapped up the 2017 Carrera Cup title at last year’s Gold Coast finale.

“We learnt a bit from Moffat in the previous practice session; he was very quick as well and I’m rapt for everyone at Wall Racing for this performance, which is our fifth-straight pole position.”

Title favourite Jaxon Evans will start race one from third alongside Earl Bamber; the dual 24 Hours of Le Mans winner had a slow start to Friday with his opening practice campaign ending early after contact with a tyre bundle. Thereafter, Bamber bounced back to secure the fourth best qualifying time.

“It’s awesome to be here with Stephen Grove. Steve helped me back in 2013 when I was younger and now it’s pretty awesome to come to Gold Coast as his teammate. I apologise to the boys and him for absolutely eating a tyre bundle in the first session, but the team did an amazing job to turn the car around,” said Bamber.

“That qualifying session was a bunch of fun. I’m pretty happy with only being one-tenth from pole, I’m pretty rusty in one of these things too. I’m sure everyone will say it, but there was still some improvement in that lap time but I’m loving it and the level of competition is really high.”

The third row will be filled with teammates Jordan Love and Dale Wood ahead of Glen Wood and James Moffat. O’Keeffe will have to fight an uphill battle to keep his title chances alive in race one. Should Evans win, O’Keeffe must finish in the top three to remaining in the championship hunt.

The TAG Heuer Pro-Am pole position went to Gilbertson, his third for the season, a mere 0.06secs from Adrian Flack. Tim Miles was the next best Pro-Am runner while the fourth fastest driver in the class, Sam Shahin, will not take part for the remainder of the Gold Coast event following an accident exiting the back straight chicane, which brought an early end to qualifying.

“It’s my first time at the track and I never thought I’d get pole,” said Gilbertson. “It’s my first visit to this track and it’s so daunting but I’ve been really comfortable since practice one. I was building pace all day; I wasn’t the quickest in practice one or practice two but pulled it out of the bag on green tyres in qualifying.”

The opening race of Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia’s final 2018 round will be held at 8:35am on Saturday, which will be the sixth and final race of the 2018 Endurance Cup. Race two will then follow at 1:15pm on Saturday with race three to be held on Sunday at 1:05pm. All races can be viewed live on Fox Sports 506 and the final two races will be broadcast live free-to-air on Channel Ten.

Race Schedule
Saturday October 20
8:35am Race 1 (32 laps)
1:15pm Race 2 (12 laps)
Sunday October 21
1:05pm Race 3 (12 laps)

Broadcast Schedule
Channel: Fox Sports 506
Race 1 – 8:35am, Saturday October 20
Race 2 – 1:15pm, Saturday October 20
Race 3 – 1:05pm, Sunday October 21
Channel: Ten
Race 2 – 1:15pm, Saturday October 20
Race 3 – 1:05pm, Sunday October 21

Qualifying times