HARRI JONES has claimed his 25th career Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship race win, fending off fellow title leader Marcus Amand to take race one at The Bend on Saturday afternoon. 

The Jones Motorsport driver extended his series lead with a victory over the TekworkX star with Dylan O’Keeffe third.

Matt Belford converted pole position to a race win in the Pro-Am class, leading home Dean Cook and Sam Shahin.

Starting from pole, Jones led clearly into turn one and was never headed in the round five opener, while Amand – who currently leads Carrera Cup France – made a flying start from fifth on the grid to jump to second by the first turn.

The French-Finnish driver had initially qualified second however received a three grid position penalty for a yellow flag infringement for qualifying – but recovered all of those positions on the run to turn one.

He set the quickest lap of the race in his pursuit of Jones but after pressuring for the lead late in the race before a running wide on the penultimate lap and dropping ground to the leader – ultimately settling for second position with Dylan O’Keeffe third.

Jones’ win was his eighth of his remarkable 2025 season and the 25th of his career, the Sunshine Coast local trailing only Craig Baird, Alex Davison and Jim Richards on the all-time race winners list.

In fourth was Lockie Bloxsom: who was now only the top of the Michelin Juniors but also secured his best ever Carrera Cup race finish – backing up a similar result in the earlier qualifying session.

He fended off a returning Christian Pancione, who was fifth on his comeback drive and first Carrera Cup race start since 2023 aboard his VCM Performance / Team MPC entry.

David Russell was sixth in his milestone 200th Porsche Carrera Cup Australia race, enjoying a spirited battle for much of the early running with Dale Wood. The latter suffered a puncture on the inside sidewall, pitting for new rubber before resuming but finishing last of the 27 runners.

Angelo Mouzouris and Marcos Flack were next aboard their Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic entries, while Bayley Hall was a quiet ninth in his EMA Motorsport car – chasing the Sonic duo home.

Rounding out the top-10 was Marco Giltrap, enjoying his strongest race since round three in Darwin.

Matt Belford claimed his third Pro-Am win of the season in style, converting pole position to a race win after a busy start within the Pro-Am ranks.

The result was a GWR Australia 1-2, the Victorian trailed home by Dean Cook in his Dexion entry.

Sam Shahin rebounded to third position after a slow start that saw him tumble down the order from a second-placed start.

With Rodney Jane fourth on the road in Pro-Am, the result further tightens the battle for the class title lead entering the second half of the season.

Aside from Wood’s puncture and some early combat in the midfield, the opening race was a trouble-free affair ahead of tomorrow’s busy program that includes two races; opening with the Enduro Cup race and followed by a final sprint.

The morning race will double as the milestone 400th Carrera Cup race for series stalwart Marc Cini, thought to be the first in the world to achieve the milestone in one-make Porsche racing.

Coverage on Sunday will be shown on Fox Sports, Kayo and Sky NZ.