The second round of the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship sees a return for all teams to country Victoria, for the Winton Supersprint. Marking the 131st round to be held in the Championship history since it began in 2003, the traditional cold and wet climate of the Benalla track at this time of year will be sure to provide a mix of changeable conditions for the teams from their last visit in August 2013.
On that occasion, Michael Patrizi won the round, while three different drivers won the three races: Patrizi (Race 1), Shae Davies (Race 2) and Nick Percat the third race. The 3.0km National circuit is unsurprisingly the slowest circuit currently on the 2022 Carrera Cup calendar, as the last recorded average lap speed of 129kph was set in 2013 in the 997 MY11 generation of 911 GT3 Cup car. Expect to see lap records tumble from the get-go in the latest generation 992.
Of the 31 car field entered for the 20-22 May event, only two drivers – Marc Cini and Stephen Grove – were on the grid in 2013 the last time the Championship visited there. Ironically, both had a challenging weekend on that occasion, with each driver failing to score in each session. Ironically, there were more of the current Carrera Cup brigade on the grid when the Championship first debuted at Winton in 2003: that year, Cini, Rodney Jane and Tony Quinn were all present.
Most of the class of 2022 have already done test sessions at Winton, as every Porsche customer squad looks to not only learn more but hone the set-ups on their new 992 generation 911 GT3 Cup car.
With Aaron Love currently abroad contesting Carrera Cup France, the Tyrepower TekworkX Motorsport entry of Max Vidau starts as the form man, having won the opening round at the Australian Grand Prix.
Harri Jones will be another Michelin Junior hoping to take the momentum from his victory in the last race in Melbourne into Round 2, but the Queenslander is likely to face opposition from McElrea Racing teammate, Christian Pancione and the SP Tools Earl Bamber Motorsport entry of Ryan Suhle.
Expect the ever-present David Wall to be another in the hunt for the top of the podium, starting his 67th round in Winton. The 2017 Carrera Cup Champion surpasses Craig Baird for second on all-time starts this weekend.
Wall together with experienced campaigners like Dale Wood, Michael Almond, Dylan O’Keeffe, Luke Youlden and David Russell in the mix, round honours are far from a certainty for anyone in the Pro class. It should make for a riveting spectacle.
In Morris Finance Pro-Am, the battle and competition level will be just as intense. Porsche Cars Australia has implemented a split qualifying session for Winton round, allowing for more indicative, unimpeded lap times for both classes.
Hot off his Bathurst 12Hr Class C win, Geoff Emerywill start as class favourite to take the round, but one cannot ignore the depth of competition in a field consisting of Liam Talbot, Stephen Grove, Dean Cook, Sam Shahin and Adrian Flack. Flack marking his return to Championship after missing Round 1.
Both Saturday and Sunday’s qualifying and races will all be broadcast live on FoxSports and Kayo Sports throughout the weekend.
For more Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia news and content follow the Porsche Motorsport Australia social pages: Instagram – @PorscheMotorsportAU / Twitter – @PorscheMspAU / Facebook.com/ PorscheMotorsportAU
Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia, Round 2, Winton
Broadcast Schedule:
Saturday, 21 May
10:05 -10:15 Qualifying – Pro
10:20 – 10:30 Qualifying – Morris Finance Pro-Am
14:25 – 14:50 Race 1 16 laps
Sunday, 22 May
10:25 – 11:05 Race 2 25 laps
14:20 – 14:45 Race 3 16 laps
Entry List:
| # | Name | Surname | CLASS | SPONSOR |
| 4 | Stephen | Grove | Pro-Am | Grove Racing |
| 5 | Ryan | Suhle | Pro | SP Tools / EBM |
| 6 | Angelo | Mouzouris | Pro | Sonic / PitBox |
| 7 | Tim | Miles | Pro-Am | Miles Advisory Partners / N2C |
| 8 | Nick | McBride | Pro | Porsche Centre Melbourne |
| 9 | Marc | Cini | Pro-Am | Hallmarc |
| 11 | Jackson | Walls | Pro | Objective Racing |
| 12 | Harri | Jones | Pro | Hastings Deering / Mackellar Group |
| 13 | Sam | Shahin | Pro-Am | The Bend Motorsport Park / OTR |
| 14 | Matthew | Belford | Pro-Am | ID Land |
| 17 | Callum | Hedge | Pro | Team Porsche NZ / EBM |
| 20 | Adrian | Flack | Pro-Am | AGAS National / EBM |
| 22 | Dean | Cook | Pro-Am | Zonzo Racing |
| 25 | Michael | Almond | Pro | The PSA Group |
| 27 | Liam | Talbot | Pro-Am | Wash It / Paynter Dixon |
| 28 | Bayley | Hall | Pro | Printech |
| 38 | David | Wall | Pro | Monochrome / Paynter Dixon |
| 45 | Duvashen | Padayachee | Pro | Rentcorp Hyundai Forklifts |
| 48 | Geoff | Emery | Pro-Am | Force Accessories / MJR |
| 53 | Luke | Youlden | Pro | Hire A Hubby / TekworkX |
| 72 | Max | Vidau | Pro | Tyrepower / TekworkX |
| 74 | David | Russell | Pro | Dayco / EMA Motorsport |
| 76 | Christian | Pancione | Pro | VCM Performance / HP Tuners |
| 77 | Rodney | Jane | Pro-Am | Bob Jane T Marts /Sonic |
| 86 | Drew | Hall | Pro-Am | Wall Racing |
| 88 | Dylan | O’Keeffe | Pro | Dexion / RAM Motorsport |
| 100 | Dale | Wood | Pro | Timken Racing |
| 101 | Tony | Quinn | Pro-Am | Local Legends |
| 222 | Scott | Taylor | Pro-Am | Scott Taylor Motorsport |
| 333 | Brad | Shiels | Pro | Royal Purple Racing |
| 777 | Simon | Fallon | Pro | Bob Jane T Marts / Bremtech |
