Matt Campbell and Stephen Grove have claiming round honours in the final round of the 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia presented by Emsteq season on the streets of Surfers Paradise, where Campbell and Tony Bates departed as champions.
After securing the 2016 outright title in Saturdayโs opening race, Campbell was beaten off the line by Alex Davison and Michael Almond in Sunday’s race three, the Copyworld Racing duo holding the front two positions until the chequered flag.
โItโs good to finish the season on a high and get at least one race win in the final weekend of the year,โ said Davison.
โCongratulations to Matt and McElrea Racing. I know how long Andy McElrea has been trying to get a championship win so Iโm really happy for them. I’m disappointed we couldnโt give it a better crack, but second is still a great result for the team.โ
Third place in race three, following his two Saturday wins, handed Campbell the round win from Davison and Almond.
โIt is awesome to get the round win and to take the championship here in race one. I couldnโt be happier. McElrea Racing has been fantastic to me over the past few years; theyโve done a lot of hard work so Iโm very grateful to Andy McElrea and Leigh Geyer and everyone else in the team, itโs great to get the championship for them as well,โ said Campbell.
โStarting in GT3 Cup Challenge in 2014 with McElrea Racing and now after two years in Carrera Cup, itโs been a great journey up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid and one I have thoroughly enjoyed.โ
Stephen Grove was the star TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge driver in Gold Coast, taking his third round win of the season, joined on the podium by James Bergmuller and Bates.
โThatโs awesome. To put it on pole and lead every lap is really special. After Bathurst and the disappointment Iโve had this year I really wanted to set up for next year, so Iโm stoked and itโs an awesome way to finish the year,โ said Grove.
Meanwhile Bates was thrilled with what was a sensational season on track after securing the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge championship in Saturdayโs race two.
โIโm absolutely ecstatic. Between Carrera Cup and Commodore Cup there has been lots of placings in lots of championships over the years. It was all about consistency this year with only the one round win. Over the previous years Iโve had the most round wins or most race wins but didnโt win the championship, so itโs funny how it works. I was more consistent this year, kept out of trouble and that is what got us the championship. Iโm just over the moon for my team, for my crew and for everyone who has supported me it is a great reward,โ said Bates.
Campbell finished the season with a 130 point lead over second placed Alex Davison, with David Wall placing third a further 81 points adrift.
Bates topped the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge class by 86 points from Bergmuller, with Stephen Grove finishing third, 37.5 points further behind.