Hedge: ‘Someone was looking after me’

Champion limped car home in title-deciding race

NEWLY-crowned Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Champion Callum Hedge has revealed just how close he came to losing the championship in Sunday’s final race at the VAILO Adelaide 500. 

A dramatic start to the deciding race of the year saw Hedge and the championship leader at the time, Jackson Walls, leap across the famous Senna chicane as they battled, nearly side-by-side.

On landing, Walls’ car tore a tyre from the left-rear wheel rim on his Objective Racing Porsche, causing him to spin across the circuit and out of the race, ending his title hopes.

Hedge’s car landed heavily however was able to continue, the young New Zealander ceding several spots before finishing seventh and ultimately taking the championship in the final race of the year.

However, Hedge has since confirmed that his cautious Sunday drive was not just down to being conservative – his Earl Bamber Motorsport / Team Porsche New Zealand entry having suffered quite serious damage during the opening corner aerobatics.

“I took one look at the wishbone after Alex (Wilkinson, #1 Mechanic on Hedge’s car) took the left rear off and I’m surprised it didn’t snap,” Hedge explained.

“There was a lot of damage and the car wasn’t feeling good so I made sure I got it home safely.

“Someone was looking down on me today and I was just grateful to make it to the end.”

Hedge was formally crowned champion at the annual Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia awards night held Sunday evening in Adelaide.

Hedge’s remarkable season saw him crowned champion and Equity-One Professional Class winner, TAG Heuer Pro Pole Award winner, Enduro Cup winner and the Michelin Junior champion for 2023.

“I want to thank Porsche for an amazing championship, I’ve really enjoyed my last two years here. They’ve been two of the best years of my life,” he said.

“Thank you to my team for all the hard work and a thanks to Jackson. We’ve come a long way since the Grand Prix last year where we smacked into each other at every opportunity we could! It’s pretty cool to be racing you and it’s been awesome to be racing you all year.

“I do need to make special mention to Bruce (Jenkins), his help since Townsville last year has been a turning point where I stopped crashing the car, stopped wrecking gear and gained a bit of maturity. I can’t thank all the people that made this possible enough.”

Jackson Walls was celebrated as runner-up, while Dale Wood claimed third overall having jumped Dylan O’Keeffe for a spot on the podium in the final race of the year.

Earl Bamber Motorsport’s remarkable year was added by teammate Adrian Flack claiming the SP Tools Pro-Am class and the Enduro Cup as well.

Flack’s title also came down to the final race of the year, though circumstances were only slightly less dramatic than his younger teammate.

His remarkable season included five round wins – the third most of all time in the Pro-Am class – and five pole positions.

“What a year! I guess when we finished the race I would have taken it in a bit more but I was in shock to be honest,” Flack said.

“It’s been a long hard year. I remember talking to Sam (Shahin) last year talking about my plans for this year and how badly I wanted it and was preparing for it already. I think he went away and did the same because he didn’t make it easy for me!

“The competition this year, especially from Sam and Dean, has just been brutal – you couldn’t let your guard down for 10 seconds.

“Lana (Flack’s eldest go-kart racing daughter) got second in her championship and basically told me ‘Show me how to win one, Dad!’, and that was my motivation this weekend! She’s going to have to listen to me now!”

Dean Cook was awarded second in SP Tools Pro-Am, while Sam Shahin claimed third.

Earl Bamber Motorsport won the team’s award – and the use of a brand-new Porsche Cayenne for the 2023 season – while Hedge’s mechanic Alex Wilkinson was awarded SP Tools Mechanic of the year.

The annual Carrera Cup awards were held in front of nearly 200 guests in Adelaide and included Porsche Cars Australia CEO and Managing Director, Daniel Schmollinger, two-time Le Mans 24 Hour winner Earl Bamber and current Porsche Penske Motorsport factory pilot Matt Campbell among the guest list.

Wood sweeps Adelaide as Callum Hedge claims last-gasp title

Dramatic conclusion to Carrera Cup season delivers four times the success to Earl Bamber Motorsport

DALE WOOD swept the weekend at the VAILO Adelaide 500 as Callum Hedge became Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia champion in dramatic fashion in the final race of the year. 

It was a day of double delight for the Earl Bamber Motorsport team as Adrian Flack also sealed the SP Tools Pro-Am title in the final race of the year, adding to Hedge’s win in Equity-One Pro.

The team also recently claimed the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series with Kiwi driver Marco Giltrap.

The Carrera Cup title was decided in the first 500 meters of the race as both Hedge and his main rival, title leader Jackson Walls, took to the kerbs at the Senna Chicane as they negotiated the first-turn chaos.

After a huge moment Hedge was able to drive out the other side, while Walls’ car landed roughly, spun and tore the left-rear Michelin from the rim.

From there he made contact with the fence and retired on the spot, enduring Hedge only needed to finish to wrestle the title lead away in the final race of the season.

Caught up in the turn one-two drama, Ryder Quinn’s strong weekend was ended as he and Alex Davison took evasive action from the spinning Porsche.

Wood had led the opening corner rush and also led the field behind the Safety Car, making the best restart and leading the field back to green.

Hedge, meanwhile, took the conservative option and backed out of a furious battle for second position, electing to drop behind the leading queue and race in clean air to ensure minimum risk in the remaining laps.

While Wood gradually pulled away in front, the battle for second was intense as Max Vidau fended off Dylan O’Keeffe’s Dexion Porsche.

O’Keeffe needed to beat Wood in the race to claim third in the championship, however was unable to chase down the runaway leader.

Ultimately, Wood won the race to claim the weekend overall – the fifth of his Carrera Cup career.

The Ranbuild-backed driver became the only repeat winner of the 2023 season having won the second round of the season – in Darwin – in June this year.

He also sealed third in the championship in the final race of the season.

O’Keeffe and Vidau completed the top three in the race, while Wood’s round win saw him stand on the top step of the podium with Hedge – second – and Vidau joining him.

Needing only to finish the race to claim the SP Tools Pro-Am championship, Adrian Flack was another to take a conservative pathway to victory today, ultimately finishing fourth in the race to claim the title.

The race win went to a fired-up Sam Shahin, who after a challenging weekend was able to celebrate in front of his Adelaide faithful on Sunday.

He led home Dean Cook and Danny Stutterd in the Sunday race, while Flack claimed the round overall over Shahin and Cook.

Flack’s title was his first after five years of his Carrera Cup career, while Dean Cook finished second in the title race and Sam Shahin third.

Meanwhile, Callum Hedge became Carrera Cup champion on the twentieth anniversary of perhaps the greatest ever claiming the first Carrera Cup Australia championship – Jim Richards’ 2003 title win.

The 20 year old from Auckland has recently returned from contesting the Porsche junior Shootout in Europe – with the potential of a Porsche Supercup drive if successful – and will race in the Indy NXT Championship next year.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship field will celebrate the remarkable season at the annual awards Gala tonight in Adelaide.

SP TOOLS PRO-AM STANDINGS:

EQUITY-ONE PROFESSIONAL CLASS CHAMPIONS

Two points split title contenders ahead of season finale

Winner-take-all Sunday finale' in store on the streets of Adelaide

TWO points separate Jackson Walls and Callum Hedge heading into the final race of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia in Adelaide. 

The championship and Equity-One Pro class will now be decided based on who finishes higher in Sunday’s 11-lap season finale setting up a literal winner-take-all showdown between the pair of talented Michelin Juniors.

The SP Tools Pro-Am class will also be decided on Sunday however a win for Adrian Flack today makes his final day a much simpler equation, provisionally sitting 42 points clear of Dean Cook in the title race with one to go.

Dale Wood continued his imperious Adelaide form, claiming today’s shortened race following a brilliant start and a healthy lap one lead.

Though the chasing back came back to the Ranbuild Porsche driver, he managed his position and then survived a late race restart and a one-lap dash to the line to claim his fifth win of the season.

Hedge finished second however it was a key pass by Max Vidau that has delivered this weekend’s title showdown between he and Walls.

Vidau sliced his way past Walls on the opening lap of the race, relegating the title leader to fourth place in a decisive move.

Walls was fourth and Alex Davison fifth, with Ryder Quinn continuing his career-best weekend in sixth position.

Fabian Coulthard, Dylan O’Keeffe, Angelo Mouzouris and Bayley Hall completed the top-10.

The race finished two laps early following an accident from Matt Belford at the notorious Turn eight on the fifth lap.

Belford’s ID Group car appeared to touch the inside kerb, which caused him to oversteer into the outside barrier with the resulting impact causing his left rear to depart.

He then spun across the circuit before making relatively light contact with the inside fence, the Victorian emerging unscathed.

That set up the one-lap dash to the line that saw Wood claim the victory and the title battle take another dramatic turn.

Behind that the pulsating Pro-Am battle saw Shahin jump to an early lead, topping Flack and Cook for the opening two laps.

He then dropped behind the pair to finish third, while Flack led home what has now become his main title rival to claim the race win.

Tim Miles recovered to fourth in the Pro-Am class despite contact at turn one that saw him spinning down to the back of the field.

All results remain provisional following several post-race investigations currently underway by Motorsport Australia officials.

The final race of the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will be held on Sunday at the VAILO Adelaide 500 and will be shown live on Fox Sports 506, Kayo and the Seven Network around Australia.

Wood wins Enduro Cup thriller in Adelaide as title battle builds

23-lap thriller decides Endurance titles, closes up championship fight

DALE WOOD has withstood 23-laps of searing pressure to win the opening race in Round 8 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship today at the VAILO Adelaide 500. 

The Victorian started his Ranbuild / EBM Porsche from the outside of the front row of the grid and beat teammate and title contender Callum Hedge into the Senna Chicane – only to then spend the first half of the race defending from the quick young Kiwi.

Wood withered multiple attacks from Hedge before Vidau was the next to have a crack within the final stanza of the race – yet Wood was able to withstand that too. It was his fourth win of the year, sixteenth of his career and first since he took a clean sweep of the Darwin round in June.

Wood led home Callum Hedge, who took points out of championship leader Jackson Walls in both qualifying and today’s 23-lap race.

Trailing by 21 points entering the round, Hedge now needs to find 14 points across the final two races should he wish to win the title.

Walls’ day was a story of recovery after only qualifying his Objective Racing entry in 8th position.

His race, however, was much more fruitful as he took advantage of several incidents in front before making several key overtakes to climb his way to third place at the finish, minimising his points loss.

It was a fighting drive from the Sydneysider who will now start directly behind his closest rival in tomorrow’s sprint.

Alex Davison came through to finish fourth in his Scott Taylor Motorsport entry while Ryder Quinn was fifth aboard the Game Over entry in his best ever Carrera Cup race.

Max Vidau finished sixth, however ran as high as second in another storming drive from the South Australian.

The Tyrepower TekworkX Motorsport driver raced his way to second position in the early stages and was challenging for the lead at turn nine when he spun after riding the inside kerb – spinning through a full 360 degrees before recovering into the fight.

Others with promising if challenging races included Bayley Hall, who ran at the front, copped a 15-second penalty for turning Fabian Coulthard around.

Coulthard was spun while challenging inside the top five, while Hall’s race unravelled further when he was hit from behind by Dylan O’Keeffe – his endurance cup hopes disappearing when he copped a 15-second time penalty before ultimately finishing 9th.

A fired-up Hall recovered to 11th, re-setting the Carrera Cup lap record in the process.

The SP Tools Pro-Am battle was similarly combative, with the result coming down to the final lap when Dean Cook and Sam Shahin clashed while battling for the lead – the result currently under investigation.

Adrian Flack came through that drama to finish second to consolidate his championship lead.

With two races remining, Jackson Walls now provisionally leads the championship and Equity-One Pro class by 14 points, with 120 up for grabs across the final two races.

In SP Tools Pro-Am Flack provisionally leads Dean Cook by just 18 points.

The Endurance Cup titles went the way of Callum Hedge (Equity One Pro) and Adrian Flack (SP Tools Pro-Am) in a double title success for Earl Bamber Motorsport.

Shortened practice offers few clues for weekend

Rain adds to Adelaide challenge in sole Thursday practice session

A RED FLAGGED and wet-weather opening practice session has offered little in the way of a form guide as the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia returned to the VAILO Adelaide 500. 

South Aussie hope Max Vidau topped the abbreviated session which was held in pouring wet conditions.

His 1m35.2686s lap was some 15 seconds behind the Carrera Cup lap record on the Adelaide Parklands circuit, showing how challenging the conditions were.

Drivers completed no more than four laps in the session prior to a red flag flying for Simon Fallon, who found the wall at Turn 8 aboard his Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic Motor Racing entry.

Fallon was uninjured, with the team currently assessing the damage to his car post accident.

Callum Hedge ended the session second outright – 0.09 behind Vidau – with Ryder Quinn and Bayley Hall next.

Dean Cook led the way in the SP Tools Pro-Am, with fellow title rivals Sam Shahin and Adrian Flack next in the order.

The lone practice session was the only on-track activity for the championship in Adelaide on Thursday, though Friday will be a bumper day on track.

Action starts early with a second practice session at 8:05am, followed by Qualifying at 10:35 – with separate sessions for Equity One Pro and SP Tools Pro-Am to set the grid.

The Endurance Cup finale will then be decided with the race commencing at 3:25pm local time.

All three sessions will be shown live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sport.

The two races on Saturday and Sunday will also be shown live on the Seven Network around Australia.

All titles on the line as massive Carrera Cup finale set for Adelaide

Pro, Pro-Am and Endurance Cup titles all to be decided in huge Porsche showdown

CHAMPIONSHIP and Endurance Cup titles in both classes will be on the line when the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia heads to the VAILO Adelaide 500 this weekend for an epic season finale. 

The championship in Equity-One Pro Outright and Endurance, plus the SP Tools Pro-Am overall and endurance titles will be decided across three races this weekend with all results still on the table.

It’s set to be a thrilling conclusion to one of the most broadly competitive Carrera Cup championships yet held in Australia, with seven winners from seven rounds to date.

In the outright battle, Jackson Walls leads Callum Hedge by just 21 points, with a possible 181 up for grabs this weekend.

Dylan O’Keeffe remains in mathematical chance for the championship in third, 167 points from the lead – however is a better shot at claiming the Enduro Cup prize for the year with a strong result in Friday afternoon’s longer race.

There, he leads Hedge by 17 points with Walls a further five points further back in third position.

In the SP Tools Pro-Am class a dramatic Surfers Paradise round has given Adrian Flack a handy, but by no means insurmountable lead, in the championship heading to Adelaide.

He leads Dean Cook by just 23 points, with Sam Shahin a further 28 in arrears in third position heading to his home race.

The three drivers are separated by the equivalent of less than a second-placed race finish this weekend, adding to the pressure.

The SP Tools Pro-Am Endurance Cup is no less settled, with just 13 points separating Adrian Flack from second-placed Dean Cook, with Shahin also in contention.

All results will be on the table this weekend at the traditionally unpredictable Adelaide Parklands circuit, with the Carrera Cup Championship returning for the first time since 2020.

The championship will look to set an all-time record to conclude it’s 20th year following seven different winners from seven rounds so far – the championship never having seen eight from eight in a single season.

Drivers with strong Adelaide experience yet to claim a round win this year include Fabian Coulthard (BTW Porsche Centre Melbourne), Nick McBride (Hallmarc Team MPC) and local hope Max Vidau (Tyrepower TekworkX), while Christian Pancione (Supercheap Auto) and Angelo Mouzouris and teammate Simon Fallon (Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic Motor Racing) are others looking for a breakthrough round win this year.

This weekend marks the first time that the Type-992 Generation Porsche GT3 Cup Car will have competed on the Adelaide streets.

As such, the existing qualifying (1m21.9019s – Dale Wood) and race (1m21.2003s – Cooper Murray) lap records are expected to be toppled this weekend.

The Carrera Cup field hits the track for a single practice session on Thursday prior to a busy Friday at the VAILO Adelaide 500.

There, they will practice, qualify and stage the Enduro Cup race that will decide that element of the championship battle. Sprint races on Saturday and Sunday then decide the Championship.

All sessions from Friday will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo, while Saturday and Sunday’s races will also be broadcast on the Seven Network around Australia.

ENTRY LIST – Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, Round 8. 

Vidau Signals End of Carrera Cup Journey

South Aussie's journey to end where it started this weekend in Adelaide

Max Vidau and Danny Stutterd are set for the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship finale this weekend at the Adelaide Street Circuit with TekworkX Motorsport.

South Australian Vidau will line up for the fourth street circuit of the season, where he and TekworkX have been particularly strong in 2023. The Tyrepower backed driver has won three races so far this year, with victory at the Australian Grand Prix followed by a pair of wins at the Reid Park Street Circuit in Townsville.

Vidau’s first ever Carrera Cup race was at the Adelaide 500 in 2020, where the hometown hero was an impressive fifth on debut.

“I was lucky enough to start my Carrera Cup journey on the streets of Adelaide, I’m excited to end my journey there. Ready for more exciting things next year,” said Vidau.

“A home race to end the year is cool, with friends and family around it should be a good time. Adelaide’s my favourite street circuit, it has a perfect balance between a traditional race track while maintaining the street circuit characteristics.

“The car has had a rebuild since the Gold Coast, so we’ll ensure the car is in the window in practice one and then press on in to the weekend. It requires a similar setup to Townsville, both tracks have a fast section while retaining the need to stop and rotate quickly across the bumps.

“The Adelaide 500 always has a great atmosphere, I’m keen to get stuck in and enjoy the weekend,” concluded Vidau.

Stutterd returns to the category after missing the previous round on the Gold Coast. The 2018 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge champion enjoyed a strong outing in that category’s final round recently, taking out the round victory around Mount Panorama.

The Pro-Am front runner will be able to draw on prior experience around the Adelaide Street Circuit, highlighted by starts in the Australian GT Championship.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship wraps up the season at the VAILO Adelaide 500 from November 23-26.

Hall gets the TAG Heuer boost for Adelaide

TAG Heuer livery for Bayley Hall in Adelaide

THE PORSCHE Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia’s newest round winner has got himself a brand-new livery. 

McElrea Racing’s Bayley Hall will sport the colours of long-time Porsche Motorsport Australia partner TAG Heuer this weekend at the VAILO Adelaide 500, which doubles as the final round of Australia’s top one-make championship.

Hall powered to a pair of race wins and the overall victory in the most recent round of the championship on the streets of Surfers Paradise, his first in Porsche competition and the seventh different winner from as many rounds to date this year.

His stunning recent form has been recognised with the addition of the iconic brand to his program this weekend, with his 992 GT3 Cup Car resplendent in a stunning black and red livery that showcases the well known TAG Heuer brand.

Hall has climbed to fifth in the championship and sits well within striking distance of a top three finish in what is just his second full year of Porsche competition. The young Queenslander has also climbed to third in the Michelin Junior points standings with a round to go.

TAG Heuer are a major partner of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship with their support including backing the prestigious TAG Heuer Pole Award at each round.

Hall will be on track for practice this Thursday at the VAILO Adelaide 500, ahead of qualifying and racing commencing on Friday.

BAYLEY HALL – TAG Heuer Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car

“I am honoured to show off a brand-new look this weekend with long-time Porsche Motorsport Australia partner, TAG Heuer, on my car at the Adelaide 500.

“It’s the final weekend of the year and time to give it everything I’ve got. To have this brand on my car is incredible and I am hungry to represent them successfully.

“The win on the streets of the Gold Coast was one I will never forget. For me, it was a great benchmark to know I am on the right track in my career, and now it’s a case of keeping my eyes forward and working hard to make those weekends a normality.

“Like many juniors this weekend, it will be my first taste of the Adelaide street circuit and I can’t wait to hit the track. I have many reasons to be thrilled about this upcoming weekend, but I am very keen to see the new Tag Heuer livery out on track and around the paddock.’

“Tag Heuer is a major prestige international brand that has been working closely with Porsche motorsport since 1963. It is an exciting time in my career, and I’m honoured to represent this iconic brand and respect the work they do in our Carrera Cup Championship as category sponsors.

“Tag Heuer’s presence in the motorsport industry around the world is immense, and to see the work they have put into the new Porsche x Tag Heuer Carrera ChronoSprint is amazing.”

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Matt Campbell confirmed for GT World Challenge finale in Adelaide

Carrera Cup champion returns Down Under in bid for Porsche title

EMA Motorsport will travel to the final round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS with a revised line-up at the wheel of the #1 Porsche 911 GT3 R.

Reigning champion Yasser Shahin will be joined for the VAILO Adelaide 500 weekend by Porsche works driver, Matt Campbell.

Queensland-born Matt joins the team for the sixth and final round of the season, as Yasser and EMA Motorsport hold an outside chance to clinch the title.

Just 22 points off the lead, Yasser currently sits third in the championship. The announcement means that Matt will sign off the season with the team, and the car, that he started out with this year.

The 28-year-old helped fight to a podium finish with the #911 of Manthey EMA at the Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hours, having debuted with the team during 2022 at the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa.

Yasser holds third in the title race, having claimed three wins and three further victories so far this season, alongside Garnet Patterson. Matt joins for the final push for the series, holding significant local knowledge of the Adelaide circuit, having raced there extensively in his early career.

He has gone on to score significant results across the world at the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 R, including outright victory at Bathurst in 2019 and the IMSA GTD Pro championship title last year.

This year has seen Matt play a key part of the Porsche 963 in the GTP programme with Penske Motorsport, standing on the podium four times, including a race win, in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship.

Matt Campbell, Porsche 911 GT3 R #1:

“It’s been a busy season, and great to racing in Australia to sign off the year, back with EMA Motorsport.

“The team has had a great year, and I’m looking forward to helping with the final fight for the GT World challenge Australia title push. We started things off back in February with the podium at Bathurst, and looking forward to being back with the team, in the GT3 R, around Adelaide. It’s one of my favourite tracks from growing up, and is a special place to be heading back to.”

Yasser Shahin, Porsche 911 GT3 R #1:

“I’m really looking forward to driving with Matt. His rise within Porsche is the stuff of legend in Australia, and we expect to be right up there for the 500.”

New Zealand to feature on 2024 Carrera Cup Calendar

Taupo to become second international venue to host Carrera Cup

THE PORSCHE Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will race in New Zealand for the first time in 2024.

Embracing a huge groundswell of Kiwi interest in the series, Australia’s top one-make category will follow the Repco Supercars Championship across the Tasman in 2024 and join the ITM Taupo Super400 program on 19-21 April next year.

It will be just the second time that the championship will have competed outside of Australia.

Porsche Carrera Cup Australia has remarkable New Zealand heritage dating back to the inaugural champion, Porsche Motorsport Australia hall of famer, Jim Richards.

Eight Carrera Cup Australia titles have been won by New Zealand drivers; Richards’ 2003 success followed by Fabian Coulthard’s in 2005.

Five-time champion Craig Baird is the most successful driver in Carrera Cup history, claiming titles in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Jaxon Evans won the crown in 2018 and is the most recent Kiwi title winner, however young star Callum Hedge is in contention to claim the 2024 title at the upcoming season’ finale at the VAILO Adelaide 500.

10 different New Zealanders have won 152 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia races since the series’ formation in 2003.

Multiple championship-winning team McElrea Racing is owned by noted New Zealand racer and team owner, Andy McElrea, while Earl Bamber Motorsport competes under the Team Porsche New Zealand banner.

The EBM squad just claimed the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge championship, with young stars Marco Giltrap and Zac Stichbury already announced to step into Carrera Cup next year.

The Taupo Circuit will be the 18^th to host a round of the championship and only the second outside of Australia, following the visit to the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia in 2017.

New Zealand will be the second stop on the full 2024 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship calendar, with the full schedule to be released in due course.

Barry Hay – Motorsport Manager, Porsche Cars Australia

“Returning to an overseas venue has been on the agenda for the championship for some time, but it needed to be the right venue, the right time and the right place. This ticks all of those boxes and so much more and we’re proud to be taking one-make Porsche racing back to New Zealand in 2024.

“Following the Supercars to Taupo for the first ITM Taupo Super400 event made all the sense in the world, and we have worked closely with the Repco Supercars Championship, Porsche Motorsport New Zealand and our teams and competitors to make the trip achievable.

“Carrera Cup has such incredible Kiwi heritage and DNA and while we are Carrera Cup Australia, we are fiercely proud to represent New Zealand as well – as witnessed with the teams and drivers who come from across the Tasman to race with us.

“It’s going to be an incredible trip for our teams and drivers and a great experience to take the show on the road to another country.

“The Kiwi fans will have plenty of local to cheer for in our field next year and I am sure they are all relishing the chance to watch another Kiwi sporting star beat up on the Aussies in New Zealand!”

Hall makes it seven from seven with Gold Coast win

Flack rockets to Pro-Am Championship lead as all roads lead to Adelaide

HOME TOWN hero Bayley Hall has become the seventh different winner from seven Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia rounds in 2023, adding his name to the ever-expanding winners list with an emphatic performance on the streets of Surfers Paradise. 

The 20-year-old from the Gold Coast swept to both race wins in a dramatic day of racing to claim both his maiden race and round victories in Carrera Cup.

Seven winners in seven consecutive rounds equalled an all-time Carrera Cup record, while Hall also became the eighth different race winner of the season so far.

Hall led Dylan O’Keeffe and teammate Jackson Walls home in the overall and Equity-One Pro class honours, as the latter also climbed back into the championship lead heading into the Adelaide finale.

Walls now leads Hedge by 21 points with Dylan O’Keeffe remaining in mathematical calculation for the title in third, 167 from the lead.

Meanwhile, a clutch victory for Adrian Flack saw him claim the final race, the Gold Coast round and also the championship lead in the combative SP Tools Pro-Am Class.

Flack won the round ahead of Dean Cook and Sam Shahin, with the title a firm three-way fight going into the finale.

Flack leads Shahin by just 15 points with Cook a further eight further back in third.

The final round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will be held on the streets of Adelaide at the VAILO Adelaide 500 on November 23-26.

RACE 2

BAYLEY HALL claimed his maiden Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia race victory in a wildly dramatic enduro cup race on the streets of Surfers Paradise. 

Hall took advantage of a battle for the lead between Callum Hedge and Dylan O’Keeffe to claim the victory after the former was penalised five seconds for running through the turn one-two-three chicane, and after passing the latter.

O’Keeffe had got down the inside of Hedge at Turn one, the Kiwi short-cutting the chicane in the process.

He resumed in front, while Hall passed O’Keeffe for second. Hedge crossed the line first, however was relegated down the order with the penalty at the end of the race, handing the lead and the victory to Hall.

Hedge’s penalty dropped him to 11th position while Jackson Walls was classified second and O’Keeffe third.

In Pro-Am, Sam Shahin failed to finish following a spin at turn eleven.

As he recovered, he was hit by Rodney Jane while Matt Belford spun in avoidance and was subsequently hit in the door by Tim Miles.

Shahin went to pit lane and was waiting to resume before the race was red flagged by an even more significant impact a few laps later.

The enduro race was cut short due to a massive crash at turn eleven that started when Alex Davison and David Wall made contact.

That spun Wall into the tyres, his car collected by Davison and Simon Fallon. Simon Fallon was also claimed, as was Harri Jones – who in turn was hit from behind by Liam Talbot.

There was a heated exchange between Wall and Davison, the pair having to be separated by Jones.

RACE 3

BAYLEY Hall converted pole to a second race win with a comprehensive and professional performance in a Sunday afternoon sprint race on the Gold Coast. 

Starting from pole, the McElrea Racing driver led all the way under pressure from teammate Jackson Walls to claim the win, with Fabian Coulthard third and on the race podium for the first time since his title-winning 2005 season.

Race three was a clean affair with a freight train of cars in the leading battle.

Dale Wood was making solid ground through the field however was a victim of the turn one-two-three chicane, spinning his Ranbuild Porsche and narrowly avoiding heavy contact with the wall.

That left O’Keeffe fourth and Christian Pancione fifth.

Callum Hedge finished sixth to recover championship points following his earlier kerb-cutting penalty in race two.

Alex Davison, Ryder Quinn, Luke Youlden and Ange Mouzouris completed the top-10.

In SP Tools Pro-Am Adrian Flack resisted pressure from Cook and Shahin for much of the race, the three locked together for all 16 laps with flack ultimately getting the victory.

Hall claims maiden win in dramatic Carrera Cup enduro

Maiden win for McElrea driver in dramatic Sunday session

BAYLEY HALL has claimed his maiden Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia race victory in a wildly dramatic enduro cup race on the streets of Surfers Paradise. 

Hall took advantage of a battle for the lead between Callum Hedge and Dylan O’Keeffe to claim the victory after the former was penalised five seconds for running through the turn one-two-three chicane, and after passing the latter.

O’Keeffe had got down the inside of Hedge at Turn one, the Kiwi short-cutting the chicane in the process.

He resumed in front, while Hall passed O’Keeffe for second. Hedge crossed the line first, however was relegated down the order with the penalty at the end of the race, handing the lead and the victory to Hall.

The Queensland teenager becomes the eighth different winner of the dramatic season in a race that has thrown the title battle wide open.

Hedge’s penalty dropped him to 11th position while Jackson Walls was classified second and O’Keeffe third.

Provisionally, Walls now assumes the championship lead for the first time since June with a single point his advantage over Hedge.

Pro-Am is similarly dramatic with Sam Shahin failing to finish and now holding just a three-point lead over Adrian Flack heading into race three.

Shahin had a spin at turn eleven and as he recovered was hit by Rodney Jane. Matt Belford spun in avoidance and he was hit in the door by Tim Miles.

Shahin went to pit lane and was waiting to resume before the race was red flagged by an even more significant impact a few laps later.

The enduro race was cut short due to a massive crash at turn eleven that started when Alex Davison and David Wall made contact.

That spun Wall into the tyres, his car collected by Davison and Simon Fallon. Simon Fallon was also claimed, as was Harri Jones – who in turn was hit from behind by Liam Talbot.

There was a heated exchange between Wall and Davison, the pair having to be separated by Jones.

All drivers were checked by medical and released, while Talbot was taken for precautionary scans for a sore neck.

Results remain provisional pending further enquiries from race officials.

Hedge builds margin in interrupted Surfers opener

Liam Talbot continues Pro-Am form to claim race one victory

CALLUM HEDGE has extended his Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia title lead following an interrupted opening sprint race on the Streets of Surfers Paradise. 

The young Kiwi started from pole and led the field into turn one before surviving two Safety Cars and ultimately claiming his fifth race win of the season in the Equity One Pro class.

In SP Tools Pro-Am, Liam Talbot jumped polesitter Adrian Flack at the start to claim his third successive race win in the race within a race.

Race one was punctuated by several Safety Cars as the busy Surfers streets were their usual brutal best.

Hedge made the best start from pole, however second-placed Luke Youlden was slower away, gobbled up by a fast-starting Dylan O’Keeffe who rocketed from fourth to second by the time the field slowed for turn one.

The first pause in racing came after Pro-Am runner Matt Belford spun and made light contact with the barriers at the exit of the Beach Chicane on the second lap of the race.

That followed an unfortunate incident at turn two that saw Harri Jones, Angelo Mouzouris and Thomas Maxwell three wide, the contact ultimately ending the race for all three.

Following the restart, Hedge led the field back to green with O’Keeffe and Wall following the Team Porsche NZ entry.

Fabian Coulthard and Dale Wood then made contact at turn four, the resulting contact dragging in an unfortunate Max Vidau’s TekworkX entry.

The South Aussie ace was tipped across the circuit and into the barriers, while Alex Davison also copped damage while taking evasive action.

That forced all three out of proceedings and deployed the Safety Car once again.

Ultimately the field finished under yellow, Hedge leading O’Keeffe and Wall to the line.

Provisionally, it builds his six-point series lead to 35 heading into tomorrow’s pair of races.

The result was also significant for Wall: the third-placed result the best finish for the former champion since Townsville earlier this year.

Youlden finished fourth with Bayley Hall fifth and Jackson Walls sixth.

The latter moved up one spot from his qualifying position following a full-send move at turn eleven on the opening lap, slicing down the inside of the left hander to gain the position prior to the Safety Car deployment.

Alex Davison limped his car home in seventh, ahead of Christian Pancione, Nick McBride and Courtney Prince.

The BWT / Porsche Centre Melbourne driver scored her first top-10 finish of the season in today’s race.

SP Tools Pro-Am saw Talbot win from Flack, with Shahin third – moving up one spot from his qualifying position.

As opposed to the outright fight, it further closed the margin in the Pro-Am title race heading into tomorrow’s two races.

Sunday will see a pair of races complete round 7 of the championship with the Enduro Cup race starting at 8:30am local time.

The final sprint will then commence at 12:55pm, with both races live on Fox Sports and Kayo, and the latter race also live on the Seven Network around Australia.

Unpredictable day sets up unpredictable weekend on the Coast

Dry in practice one, rain in practice two in Surfers Paradise

THE PORSCHE Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia form guide is as clear as the Gold Coast sky following two unpredictable and weather-affected practice sessions today at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

Two 25-minute sessions were held today with the first dry and the second wet – leaving the real competitive order less than certain heading into qualifying on Saturday morning.

Practice 1 was run in overcast and blustery conditions though the threat of rain diminished as the session unfolded.

Dale Wood ended quickest in his Ranbuild / EBM entry, just 0.04 seconds quicker than championship leader Callum Hedge and 0.05 seconds quicker than Alex Davison, who was third.

Dylan O’Keeffe and Luke Youlden completed the top five, with Harri Jones, Christian Pancione, Bayley Hall and Simon Fallon completing the top-10.

Jones was the big story of the session however as his #12 car caught the kerb and then the tyres on the exit of the beach chicane on his seventh lap.

The impact saw his car stranded and red-flagged the session while the recovery was completed.

Jones was OK and the car will be repaired and returned to the circuit for Qualifying on Saturday.

In SP Tools Pro-Am Adrian Flack was quickest and an outstanding 13^th outright, with Liam Talbot, Dean Cook, Matt Belford and Sam Shahin the top five.

A large front swept across the circuit moments before the second practice session, turning the circuit from dry to soaked in seconds.

The field fitted Michelin wets for the session which was remarkably completed without any stoppages.

A drying circuit saw times begin to tumble as the session unfolded with Callum Hedge’s late flyer putting the championship leader on top.

Simon Fallon was a strong second in his Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic entry with Fabian Coulthard putting all his experience to good use in third aboard his BWT / Porsche Centre Melbourne entry.

Angelo Mouzouris was a strong fourth in the sister Sonic entry with Max Vidau fifth.

Ryder Quinn was a stout sixth ahead of Thomas Maxwell, Pancione, Nick McBride and title contender Jackson Walls in tenth.

Sam Shahin led the Pro-Am runners in 12^th overall in front of Rodney Jane and Adrian Flack.

Only a few minor spins punctuated an otherwise clean session, with no stoppages.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will qualify on Saturday morning (9:45am local time) at the Gold Coast 500 before the first race at 2:25pm local time.

Both sessions will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo, with the race also live on Channel 7.

Jones confirms full-time 2024 return, launches own team

Jones Motorsport to contest full 2024 Carrera Cup Championship, with Harri leading the charge

Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup driver and reigning Carrera Cup Australia Champion, Harri Jones, will return to Australia fulltime in 2024 with ambitions to forge his new team, Jones Motorsport, into one of the greats of Porsche Motorsport Australia.

The 24-year-old Queenslander will be back in familiar territory next year to compete in his fourth season of Australia’s top one-make category. However, this time his pursuits on track will coexist alongside his commitments as a Team Manager and Coach.

Jones Motorsport will enter the full 2024 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship and will also look to expand into Michelin Sprint Challenge as well.

Jones said that options were in front of him to remain in Europe for 2024, but the opportunity to return to Australia and expand Jones Motorsport alongside competing was too strong.

“I have a massive passion for motorsport and that goes beyond just driving the car,” said Jones. “I see some exciting opportunities to innovate and develop a team that can help drivers in all aspects of their career.”

“Personally, I feel I can bring something quite unique to the team. I of course have a background as a driver, having won multiple championship on the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid, but I also have years of experience as a driver coach and engineer, and have learned a lot from my time over in Europe this year.”

Jones has had a successful season competing at the top level of Porsche one-make racing worldwide. Driving under the banners of BWT Lechner Racing – the most successful Porsche Supercup Team in history – and Scherer Sport PHX, Jones raced alongside Formula 1, WEC and DTM at some of the largest Motorsport events of 2023.

“I have had a great year, it’s honestly been better than I could’ve ever imagined,” said Jones.

“Racing at Monaco and Spa was for sure a highlight, but it was in the final round of Supercup at Monza where I felt like things just clicked. I finished P4 outright and P1 Rookie and came just one point short from taking out the Rookie Championship.”

Jones has had a huge amount of track time this year. Between the two full-time championships, and a couple of one-off appearances, he has competed across 20 race weekends.

“The intensity of a European racing program is just something else. No where else in the world are you in the car every week. Needless to say, I feel pretty battle-hardened.”

Whilst overseas, Jones says his love for the Porsche platform has grown and he is excited to be back on the Carrera Cup Australia grid in 2024.

“Carrera Cup Australia is my favorite category in the world. I have raced across the globe, but to be in Australia, in Porsches, on some of the best tracks in the world is absolutely a dream come true.”

The Jones Motorsport team recently had a successful debut at the Bathurst 1000. With Harri behind the wheel, the team claimed Pole Position and a trio of second place finishes in what was one of the most competitive Porsche Carrera Cup Australia fields of all time.

“I’d heard about all of the hard work the team had been putting in whilst I was overseas,” said Jones.

“But when we arrived at Bathurst and I witnessed it all paying off for our debut on track, it was just amazing. There’s a lot more to come and I know we are just getting started on what will be an incredible journey.”

Watch Harri and the Jones Motorsport team in action at the Gold Coast 500 this coming weekend, October 27 to 29.

Faces new and returning join Carrera Cup title battle in Queensland

Pro, Pro-Am championship battles on the line with two rounds to go

NEW and returning faces will join a Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia grid heading towards a title showdown, this weekend on the Gold Coast City streets. 

As leader Callum Hedge and closest rival Jackson Walls resume their battle for the 2023 championship, the Surfers grid gets an injection of new and existing talent for the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 this weekend.

The Gold Coast has traditionally hosted the series’ finale, the title being decided on the tough street track every year except for the Covid-affected 2021 season however with two rounds remaining, this weekend offers the prospect of being critical for both the Equity One Pro and SP Tools Pro-Am class title fights.

The 28-strong field includes Porsche expert Luke Youlden, who will deputise for Danny Stutterd aboard the #23 TekworkX Motorsport entry this weekend.

With the SP Tools Pro-Am regular away with family commitments, Youlden – a three time Carrera Cup race winner – will drive this weekend with support from long-time team backer, MDE Communications and Electrical.

Youlden finished eighth in last year’s championship in a season that included a race win in Townsville.

“I’m excited to get back behind the wheel, my last race was the Gold Coast in 2022 and I thought I drove pretty well at that one, even if the results didn’t particularly reflect it,” said Youlden.

“It’s hopefully a positive for Max and Thomas as well, having a third pro driver, to help them out a bit. Three heads are better than one, looking at data and trying different things to find the speed. I’ve got a fair amount of experience with lots of co-drives around there, so I don’t expect the year out of the seat will affect me to much.”

While the experienced Youlden returns, a Carrera Cup rookie will make his Gold Coast debut in a step up from regular competition in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia.

17-year-old Marcos Flack will make his Carrera Cup debut this weekend driving for regular team, Sonic Motor Racing.

The son of former Pro-Am class contender Damien, and nephew of current contender Adrian Flack, Marcos currently sits sixth in the Sprint Challenge standings with a round to go.

After qualifying on pole in the opening round, Flack has finished third in five of the last six races against one of the strongest Sprint Challenge field the series has seen.

“It will be a good experience. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Flack.

“It’s all in preparation for next year. My aim is to do Carrera Cup in 2024. There are a few details to lock away, but this will give me a good head start for next year.

“The circuit will be difficult. It’s my first time at a street track, so my main aim will be to learn the track, enjoy the experience and keep the car straight.”

Meanwhile, defending champion Harri Jones returns to the scene of his title win last year in the second of two planned outings aboard his Jones Motorsport entry, having finished second to European rival Harry King at Mount Panorama two weeks ago.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia field heads to the Gold Coast with the Pro and Pro-Am title battles on a knife’s edge with two rounds and just six races remaining.

Having missed Bathurst, Callum Hedge leads Jackson Walls by just six points with 360 still up for grabs across the final two rounds.

The fight for third is equally intense with third-placed Dale Wood just nine points in front of Max Vidau, and only 37 in front of Sandown winner, Dylan O’Keeffe.

Six different drivers have won the six rounds contested this year, one short of equalling an all-time Carrera Cup record.

In the SP Tools Pro-Am fight, Sam Shahin holds a narrow 28 point lead over Adrian Flack with two rounds remaining.

Dean Cook sits third and is only 44 points from the series lead – less than one full race.

Flack (Grand Prix), Cook (Darwin, Sandown) Shahin (Townsville, The Bend) and Liam Talbot (Bathurst) have shared the wins in the Pro-Am class this year.

Talbot will return to the championship aboard the Moutai car for Wall Racing once again this weekend.

Last year, Callum Hedge claimed the Gold Coast round in what served as a climactic final round of the championship.

Harri Jones sealed his title with a consistent performance, however the star was arguably his nearest title rival Aaron Love, who proved you can overtake on the tight street circuit.

Starting 15th after getting caught out in qualifying, Love scythed his way through the field in race one and then took just a few laps to race his way to the lead in the second on Sunday morning, before winning convincingly.

Meanwhile, Dean Cook claimed Pro-Am honours last year in a title finale that saw three different drivers lead the title after each of the three races, Geoff Emery ultimately claiming the crown.

Practice 2, TAG Heuer Qualifying and all three races will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506, Kayo and Sky Sports NZ this weekend.

Races 1 and 3 will also be broadcast on free-to-air via the Seven Network around Australia.

ENTRY LIST – ROUND 7
Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, Queensland

Luke Youlden returns to Carrera Cup for Gold Coast cameo

Multiple winner to deputise for Danny Stutterd this weekend

Luke Youlden will return to the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship this weekend at the Gold Coast 500, alongside TekworkX Motorsport teammates Max Vidau and Thomas Maxwell.

It marks 12 months since Youlden last raced, when he contested the final round of the 2022 Carrera Cup season on the Surfers Paradise street circuit. The return comes as a one-off appearance with Youlden taking over the #23 campaigned so far this year by Pro-Am Danny Stutterd, who misses the Gold Coast round due to family commitments.

Youlden, a co-owner in TekworkX, has worked closely with the Carrera Cup squad throughout the year in his role as Team Manager.

“I’m excited to get back behind the wheel, my last race was the Gold Coast in 2022 and I thought I drove pretty well at that one, even if the results didn’t particularly reflect it,” said Youlden.

“It’s hopefully a positive for Max and Thomas as well, having a third pro driver, to help them out a bit. Three heads are better than one, looking at data and trying different things to find the speed. I’ve got a fair amount of experience with lots of co-drives around there, so I don’t expect the year out of the seat will affect me to much.

“I expect Danny will still have an integral role within the team on the weekend, and I know full well that I’m going out to do the best I can for myself and for Danny in his car. If we can help out Thomas and Max in their efforts as well, then that’d be perfect for the team,” concluded Youlden.

Maxwell has tackled the streets of the Gold Coast on one prior occasion, in his 2019 Carrera Cup season. The Spitwater backed driver currently sits ninth in the points, with two rounds to go.

“What an awesome setting for a track, it’s got all the atmosphere, vibes, the entertainment and the track is one of the sketchiest places on the calendar to put a lap together,” said Maxwell.

“No tyre bundles are good, hopefully we go through a few less splitters and radiators. I’m interested to see how these cars handle the big kerbs down the back, being a bit stiffer than what I drove in 2019, I think they’ll be a bit of a handful.

“The experience from Luke and just having a third Pro car there to try things and provide more data is invaluable. He’s got a year in these cars under his belt, so it’ll be great, I can’t wait to see him in action. Keen to get stuck in, and turn our results around,” concluded Maxwell.

Vidau is fourth in the championship leading into the Gold Coast, 145 points off the series lead. The Tyrepower driver has been in top form on the street circuits in 2023, taking a victory at the Australian Grand Prix and two more in Townsville – one of just two drivers to win on multiple circuits so far in 2023.

“I’m pretty stoked to be running with Luke again, and to get back to a street circuit,” said Vidau.

“Luke and I were as fast as each other pretty much all season in 2022, massively keen to have his support again for this one and have his input. I couldn’t be happier to be without the tyre bundles though, the Porsches do way too much damage if you hit them and they could ruin your weekend pretty quickly.

“We were fast in practice here last year, but we didn’t get a chance to see how we faired across the rest of the weekend thanks to a blown tyre in qualifying. We’ve been quick on the street circuits all year, it’s always fun to get it up against the walls and throw it over the kerbs.

“Championship wise, we’d need a bit to go our way, but we’ll go out and do our thing. See where we land at the end of the weekend,” concluded Vidau.

Round seven of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship takes place at the Gold Coast 500 from October 27-29.

Marcos Flack set to make Carrera Cup debut at Surfers with Sonic

Teenager to graduate from Sprint Challenge this weekend

Porsche junior stand-out Marcos Flack will make his debut in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship at the Gold Coast street circuit this weekend.

Flack, 17, has been a leading competitor in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge series in 2023, impressing some of his more experienced rivals in what is his debut racing season in tin top competition.

With one round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge remaining, Flack sits sixth in the standings including a pole position and five podium finishes.

Flack will compete in the Pro Class on the Gold Coast and will drive a fourth Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 992 for Team Sonic, joining regular team drivers Simon Fallon, Angelo Mouzouris and Pro-Am ace Rodney Jane.

“It will be a good experience. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Flack.

“It’s all in preparation for next year. My aim is to do Carrera Cup in 2024. There are a few details to lock away, but this will give me a good head start for next year.

“The circuit will be difficult. It’s my first time at a street track, so my main aim will be to learn the track, enjoy the experience and keep the car straight.

“I have done a test in the Carrera Cup car, and they aren’t a lot different to my regular Sprint Challenge car. Fundamentally, they are the same. The brakes are better on the Carrera Cup car, but I think I will be able to adjust to it pretty quickly.

“For me, there’s been a lot of positives to take out of Sprint Challenge this year. We’ve shown good pace, we’ve had some incidents, but the last two rounds we’ve shown that we have podium pace when everything goes in our favour.”

Flack will race the Porsche that Mouzouris drove in his debut Carrera Cup season last year.

Carrera Cup will be part of a huge Gold Coast street race weekend that includes the Repco Supercars Championship, Sports Sedans and the V8 Superutes.

Record numbers tune in to building Carrera Cup title battle

Large audiences consuming epic Carrera Cup season as title battle builds

BIG GRIDS, compelling racing an increasingly competitive championship battle are drawing more eyeballs than ever to the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia in 2023. 

The championship has seen a significant increase in viewing audiences this year, both on the series’ extensive TV package on Fox Sports, Kayo Sports and the Seven Network, but also on series-owned digital channels as well.

The news comes off the back of a record-breaking Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend which was the most-viewed Carrera Cup round of at least the last five seasons.

The Bathurst round reached more than 4 million people in total across practice, qualifying and three races.

This includes an average national audience of 516,000 people watching Sunday morning’s Repco Bathurst 1000 curtain raiser, peaking at 1.026 million nationally.

An even larger national audience of 544,000 people watched Race two on Fox and the Seven Network around Australia on Saturday, making it the most viewed Carrera Cup race in the last five years.

Six rounds into the championship, broadcast audiences are up 64% on the same point of last season, with two blockbuster rounds at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 and VAILO Adelaide 500 to come – both events featuring coverage on free-to-air and Subscription TV.

Consumption of Porsche Motorsport Australia content has also increased online with a 25% increase in followers and a more than 87% increase in audience reach this year compared to 2022.

On track, the competition has been as competitive as ever with the championship recording six different winners from the six rounds contested this year.

It’s just the fourth time in series’ history there have been six different winners in six consecutive rounds, while the last time there were seven winners from seven rounds was in 2014.

The Bathurst event could also turn out to be pivotal in the championship battle with McElrea Racing’s Jackson Walls scything championship leader Callum Hedge, who races for Team Porsche NZ / Earl Bamber Motorsport.

Hedge’s Equity-One Professional class points lead down to just six heading into the final six races while the top five drivers remain in title calculations heading to the Gold Coast at the end of October.

Meanwhile, the SP Tools Pro-Am championship is even more competitive with the top three drivers – Sam Shahin, Adrian Flack and Dean Cook – now covered by just 44 points heading to the Gold Coast.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship resumes at the Gold Coast 500 on October 27-29, while the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia returns to the circuit this weekend at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

BARRY HAY – Motorsport Manager, Porsche Cars Australia

“We’re surfing a wave at the moment and to get the validation that people are watching and engaging with our championship is such a good thing for our partners, but especially for our teams and drivers,” Hay said.

“Bathurst was an incredible weekend for the championship and we had thousands of people coming through the paddock every day.

“We have a great relationship with the team at Supercars TV who are working really hard on making the on-air product as good as it can be for us, and not just the main game.

“It’s a world class product that is the envy of other one make championships around the world, so we’re thrilled lots of people are watching.

“We’ve also worked hard on our own channels, and with our partners at AirTime Media, to ramp up our video content this year which has been very successful in drawing more people into our product.

“We’re not stopping here – We still have four rounds to go between the two series and it looks like both are going to finish with a bang. We can’t wait.”

Sources: Futures audience reporting / OzTam / Regional Tam

Harry the new Bathurst King with Mount Panorama sweep

Clean sweeps for King, Liam Talbot in Bathurst round

HARRY KING had never seen Mount Panorama’s 6.213km of undulations before Wednesday, but that didn’t stop the 22-year-old British ace from sweeping his debut weekend in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia.

King delivered three wins, the round victory and a new Bathurst lap record this weekend in an emphatic championship debut for the three-time Supercup race winner.

It was EMA’s first Carrera Cup round win, while King became the sixth different winner from six Carrera Cup rounds this year.

He won the round and the Equity One Professional Class  ahead of Harri Jones – who finished second in all three races – and Kiwi Chris van der Drift in third.

Liam Talbot swept all three races in the SP Tools Pro-Am class to deliver a Bathurst round win aboard the Moutai Porsche, with Adrian Flack second and Matt Belford on the Bathurst podium in third.

Race 3 saw a repeat of the King-versus-Jones battle into Turn one, with the EMA driver once again claiming the ascendancy as they raced towards turn two.

Van der Drift challenged Jones before the 2022 champ was able to wrestle the spot away into Griffins.

The leading trio pulled away from the field with the two leaders in particular trading punch-for-punch lap times all race.

King managed a one-second margin early before Jones was able to close, both drivers lapping beneath the lap record in their intense battle for the lead.

Ultimately Jones had little to challenge the leader who managed a six-tenths margin on the final lap to complete his sweep, with Jones second and van der Drift third.

Jackson Walls continued his march forward to finish the race fourth and remove almost all of the deficit to championship leader Callum Hedge, the Kiwi now less than 10 points in front heading into the final two rounds.

Max Vidau was one of several drivers to survive a brush with the fence to finish fifth while Dylan O’Keeffe was sixth.

Simon Fallon raced his way to seventh position in front of Garnet Patterson, Angelo Mouzouris and Ryder Quinn in 10th.

Quinn headed a massive freight-train of cars behind him with Bayley Hall, Fabian Coulthard, Christian Pancione, Alex Davison and a recovering David Russell all dicing.

Talbot edged away to a comfortable victory in the SP Tools Pro-Am class to also complete the weekend sweep, with Adrian Flack second and Matt Belford third.

The trio also finished the round in that order with the Pro-Am championship, like the Equity One Pro battle, also closing up this weekend.

A short break in hostilities will see the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship pause for three weeks before resuming at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 later in October.

In the meantime, the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia will be in action next weekend at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

HARRY KING

“It’s an immense feeling. Doing one win alone on the Friday was good enough but to follow it up with another two and score three wins on the Mountain at Bathurst was a really incredible feeling and I’m super grateful to EMA Motorsport for giving me the tools to do the job.

“We proved our dominance in that race by setting a new lap record so I think we ticked nearly every box that could be ticked this weekend.

“This circuit is incredible. I didn’t expect it to be the way it was. It’s definitely a big challenge to learn with just a short free practice session and this is one of the highlights of my career so far.”

LIAM TALBOT

“It’s so special and to have the Sunday crowd already here for the 1000 just makes it even more unbelievable, I’ve got Goosebumps.

“I had a lot of cobwebs coming into my first round when everyone else was in round five, so I felt a bit rusty, but this place is special. I had the win at the 12-Hour, a win in GT and now wins in Carrera Cup – it’s been an unbelievable year here.”

King, Jones dogfight continues into Saturday at Mount Panorama

International rivals trade paint in intense battle for the Race 2 win

THE ongoing dogfight between international rivals Harry King and Harri Jones has continued into Saturday at Mount Panorama, the pair staging another intense dual for the win in race two of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia in Bathurst. 

An intense race saw the pair trading paint during the race and then words afterwards as they battled hard for the race win today, with a gripping finale now set up for tomorrow.

King won the race and the Equity-One Professional class over Jones and Kiwi Chris van der Drift, while Liam Talbot once again claimed victory in the SP Tools Pro-Am class ahead of Adrian Flack and Dean Cook.

Saturday’s race was held in bright, sunny conditions and featured a flat-out battle for the win from the moment the lights went out.

King and Jones started side-by-side for the nine-lap dash and traded paint through turn one, race one winner King narrowly hanging on through the exit of Hell Corner and the run up Mountain Straight.

Chaos unfolded behind as a concertina on the exit of the corner saw O’Keeffe and Coulthard make contact with the latter spinning across the bows of the pack and fortunately avoided by the majority of the field.

Also caught up in that incident was Rodney Jane, who had no luck in his milestone 200th Carrera Cup Australia race as he ended up with a heavy impact on the right hand side of Mountain Straight – though he was able to emerge unscathed.

The Safety Car was on track for three laps, with the intensity resuming on lap four as King led Jones to the green flag.

The pair again ran side-by-side into turn two in an incredible piece of racing as they remarkably both came out the other side.

They then ran nose to tail for the remainder with Jones throwing everything at his European teammate-come-rival, King strong enough to hold on and grab his second successive victory of the weekend.

The pair exchanged words post-race following their series of run-ins during the race.

Behind them, Chris van der Drift set the quickest lap of the race and ran with the leaders en route to third position, looming as a threat for Sunday’s finale’.

David Russell was a strong fourth in the next EBM car, passing Jackson Walls mid-race to secure his spot just outside the podium.

Walls’ was fifth, climbing two spots off the start to run fourth before Russell was able to slip past but continuing to nibble away at Callum Hedge’s championship lead.

Max Vidau charged from 10th to sixth, with Garnett Patterson impressing on his way to seventh position in the second EMA Motorsport Porsche.

Dylan O’Keeffe lost ground in the opening-lap dramas and dropped to eighth position with Ryder Quinn – a Personal Best 9th in his Game Over Porsche – and Simon Fallon completing the top-10.

Of those recovering through the field, Bayley Hall raced to 15th, David Wall to 16th and Fabian Coulthard to 24th after his opening lap spin.

In the SP Tools Pro-Am class, Liam Talbot made it two from two in the Moutai / Wall Racing car but had to work for the win today on the Mountain.

He and Adrian Flack battled early in the race with Flack leading until the restart on lap four, when Talbot assumed the lead.

Flack then fell into the clutches of Dean Cook with the pair running in close company to the line in the battle for second and third.

Matt Belford was a strong fourth while Sam Shahin was fifth, watching his Pro-Am class lead diminish in the process.

One more race completes Round 6 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship with the odds now heavily stacked towards the series delivering a sixth different winner from six rounds this year.

The final race, a 9-lap sprint, will commence at 9:30am tomorrow morning and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sport, Channel 7 and 7+.

HARRY KING

“So far my first trip to Australia has been quite pleasant! Two from two wins, I’m delighted with that and a great job by EMA Motorsport.

“I’m here as a guest and they’ve given me the tools to do the job, so it’s been a great so far.”

LIAM TALBOT 

“It was eventful! There’s stuff going on everywhere as there seems to be in Carrera Cup Racing. I got a really poor start and tried to survive through turn one. I dropped back to third, got second at turn two and then after the Safety Car I pressed on and got Flacky.

“It was maximum attack from there and I had fun in a Carrera Cup car around Bathurst.”

Harry the King of Friday at Bathurst with debut Aussie win

Liam Talbot takes Pro-Am win in entertaining Bathurst opener

INTERNATIONAL import Harry King has delivered EMA Motorsport exactly what they wanted when they drafted him into their second seat for this weekend’s Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia round at Mount Panorama. 

The 22-year-old English ace, a three-time winner in Porsche Supercup this year, got the jump from second on the grid and led all the way under pressure from reigning Aussie champion Harri Jones to claim a Bathurst win on debut in a 15-lap affair today at Mount Panorama.

It was the first win for EMA Motorsport in Carrera Cup and makes King the seventh different winner in the Equity-One Professional class from 15 races this season.

Meanwhile, another driver racing without the pressure of title expectations succeeded in the SP Tools Pro-Am class, Liam Talbot leading home Adrian Flack and Sam Shahin in Carrera Cup’s race within a race.

The race had action from start to finish, with King getting the jump from second on the grid and Harri Jones slow away from pole.

There was drama behind as a slow-starting David Wall was clipped by Bayley Hall on the start line, both cars immediately out of the race.

A frenetic start saw King disappear out in front but furious racing behind as Jones battled to stay in touch with the leaders as he was attacked from all sides.

Jackson Walls made up four spots on the opening lap while Max Vidau found himself dropping down the order.

Jones’ quickly got back to second position and set out in pursuit of King, who built a two second margin on the opening lap.

He set a new lap record (2m05.8363s) on the sixth lap of the race and closed to within half a second of the leader, though was unable to work his way past.

The pair pulled a large margin over the field as they battled for the lead with King ultimately sneaking home to win by half a second, with Jones’ second.

Chris van der Drift finished third on his first Aussie Carrera Cup start having spent the entire race battling for the final spot in the top three with Dylan O’Keeffe.

O’Keeffe had led the battle – that included Fabian Coulthard and Jackson Walls – for most of the race, with the pair swapping spots briefly at the Chase prior to van der Drift finally asserting himself two laps from home.

Coulthard finished fifth and Jackson Walls sixth in an important drive for his championship hopes with leader Callum Hedge away.

David Russell was next, with Dale Wood, Garnet Patterson and an ailing Max Vidau finishing 10th.

The TekworkX driver had dropped back through the field from third on the grid and salvaged a top-10 finish at the end with apparent damage on his car.

Liam Talbot claimed a lights-to-flag victory in the SP Tools Pro-Am class as he continues to deputise for Luke King in the Moutai Racing car from Wall Racing.

Talbot led home a large battle pack that included several Pro-Am contenders mixing it with Equity-One Pro class runners throughout the race.

Adrian Flack ultimately finished second with class leader Sam Shahin third on the road.

Matt Belford was next and Danny Stuttered fifth despite a five second penalty for a start line infringement – the Victorian having earlier run towards the front of the Pro-Am pack in the early laps.

Dramas for Sandown winner Dean Cook saw him off at The Chase, damaging his front splitter and dropping him to seventh at the finish.

The field returns tomorrow afternoon for race two, a 9-lap sprint set for 3:15pm local time and broadcast live on Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sport and Channel 7 around Australia.

HARRY KING

“It feels pretty good. A win anywhere is special but to win on the Mountain of Bathurst is an incredible feeling. It’s definitely up there with one of my proudest wins. I got a great start off the line and controlled the pace from then on in. Harry was catching but I was managing the gap because there’s a high risk of a Safety Car.

“I’m certainly proud of what I achieved and for EMA Motorsport, I’m so grateful to come out here.

“The shorter races are a bit less physical on the drivers, but I think the drivers will be pushing to try and make up those positions.”

LIAM TALBOT

“I wasn’t sure what happened, but it was full chaos! I chose this lane, that lane and it all sort of worked out.

“Got a good start, but the start was chaos. I had no real strategy, I looked behind and it was Danny Stutterd behind me, I knew I could trust him and I just managed my race from there. I didn’t push too hard and had a little bit in reserve which is always good.

“When it comes to tomorrow’s shorter races.. I’m a safe person, I’m not going to go maximum attack and not lock up all four wheels in the first corner. I’m not fighting for a championship but the other guys are so they’re going to need to remember that.”

Jones smashes Bathurst record to grab Carrera Cup pole

Quickest ever Bathurst lap delivers returning champion TAG Heuer pole on the Mountain

BATTLE-HARDENED from a year in Europe, Harri Jones has returned to the championship he won last year and delivered an emphatic ‘I’m back’ to the rest of the field, scoring the TAG Heuer pole award at Mount Panorama in style today. 

Jones’ punched out a 2m04.6672s flyer on his sixth of nine laps in a pulsating qualifying session to score his third career pole and set the quickest ever lap of Mount Panorama in a Porsche GT3 Cup Car in the process.

RESULTS: Qualifying, Mount Panorama

Jones’ edged out his Porsche supercup teammate Harry King by 0.2 seconds to snare the top spot in the first of two rounds he’ll contest this year for his own Jones Motorsport stable.

It was his first pole since the Bathurst round in 2021, Jones’ going through his 2022 title-winning season without having scored a TAG Heuer Pole Award.

King was impressive on his Mount Panorama debut, qualifying on the front row in his EMA Motorsport entry.

It’s the best Carrera Cup qualifying performance for the team and puts the three-time Supercup race winner alongside his European teammate for tomorrow’s first race.

Max Vidau was best of the series’ regulars in third for TekworkX Motorsport, surviving a brush with the wall at Reid Park to jump into the top three at the very end of the session.

Vidau had earlier topped the sole, 50-mintue practice session earlier in the weekend.

The top three cars all lapped beneath Aaron Love’s 2022 Carrera Cup qualifying record, while Jones and King were the only two to dip into the 2m04-second window.

Sandown winner Dylan O’Keeffe qualified fourth to continue his strong run of recent form aboard his Dexion / GWR Australia entry.

Another Bathurst ring-in, Kiwi Chris van der Drift, qualified fifth as he deputises for championship leader Callum Hedge while he chases racing success in the United States.

The three-time Asian champion was strong from the outset and jumped into the top five on his fifth qualifying flyer.

Nick McBride was a strong sixth for Hallmarc / Team MPC, mirroring Vidau’s effort to jump up the order on his final flyer.

Fabian Coulthard’s BWT entry from Porsche Centre Melbourne made it seven different teams in the top seven, while Dale Wood, David Russell and Thomas Maxwell completed the top-10 and the first group of Equity-One Pro class runners.

In the SP Tools Pro-Am Class, another part-timer topped the charts as Liam Talbot grabbed the top spot as he continues to deputise for Luke King in the Moutai entry from Wall Racing.

Talbot’s 2m07.5001 flyer was a stunning lap and saw him a considerable margin ahead of the next Pro-Am runner in Adrian Flack.

Championship leader Sam Shahin was third in his repaired The Bend Motorsport Park car while Dean Cook and Rodney Jane – both title contenders in Carrera Cup’s ‘race within a race’ were next.

Thursday’s 20-minute qualifying session ran without incident with most electing to run a single set of Michelin tyres ahead of tomorrow’s 15-lap Endurance Cup race.

That race starts at 2:20pm, and will be shown live on Fox Sports, Kayo, Sky Sport NZ and Channel 7 on free-to-air in Australia.

HARRI JONES

“It’s really good to be back here at Bathurst, it’s my favourite track in the world. Pole position, the first time for the team in Carrera Cup – it felt incredible.

“What a day, what an event, what a lap – bring on tomorrow.

“It’s certainly special. I’ve been in Europe all year and heard about all the hard work the guys back home have been putting in, but to come back and see it pay off first time out is really special. This one is for them and hopefully there’s a few more to come as well.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow – I’ve got my teammate from Europe Harry King on the front row with me. We’ve had some great battles this year and looking forward to some more this weekend.”

LIAM TALBOT

“Any lap you get here is special, a couple of laps before I had to find a little bit of time, some tenths, and then the dash was up a second and I thought ‘we’re on here’.

“The car just kept getting better and better and I was building confidence, while still keeping some margin. There’s more time to be found.

“The car just feels so good and I can’t wait to go racing. I don’t want anyone to pinch me in case I’m dreaming!”

Double-ton milestone approaches for Carrera Cup stalwart Jane

Just third driver in series history to approach 200th race milestone

TWO-TIME SP Tools Pro-Am Class champion Rodney Jane will reach a major Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia milestone should he start at least two races at Mount Panorama this weekend. 

The Victorian-based Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic Motor Racing driver is set to contest his 200th Carrera Cup race this weekend, becoming just the third driver in series’ history to achieve the milestone.

Only David Wall (230) and Marc Cini (368) have started more races in Australia’s top one-make category than Jane.

Jane made his Carrera Cup debut in the categories debut season, 2003, and raced in the category through to its temporary hiatus at the end of the 2008 season.

As well as winning the Pro-Am title in 2006 and 2007, Jane finished 8th outright in the 2008 championship, 9th in 2004 and 10th in 2006.

He stepped into what is now the Supercars Super2 series following Carrera Cup’s pause, before making his Porsche return in 2013 in the two-driver Pro-Am event at the Porsche Rennsport festival at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Driving with Nick Percat, the pair won the first of two one-hour enduro races giving Jane his first outright race victory in the championship, the pair also finishing third overall for the round.

He returned for the Pro-Am event the following year, this time driving with Nick McBride at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, before making a full-time Pro-Am class return in 2022, again driving with Sonic.

Jane is one of the most successful Pro-Am driver in series history with two titles, 32 Pro-Am race wins and victories in 10 Pro-Am rounds.

He holds series’ records for most Pro-Am wins in a row (12, in 2006), pole positions (16), pole positions in a row and pole positions in a single season (both 7).

Jane currently sits fourth in the 2023 SP Tools Pro-Am championship, well within striking distance of the top three drivers.

Throughout his time both competing and enjoying the category from afar, Jane’s presence has been notable thanks to the long-term sponsorship of the Sonic team by Bob Jane T-Marts.

Bob Jane-backed cars have won three Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia championships – in 2007 with David Reynolds, followed by Nick Foster in 2015 and Jordan Love in 2019.

As well as Jane’s own car, the iconic branding also appears on the Sonic cars driven by Simon Fallon and Angelo Mouzouris this year.

Six Carrera Cup Champions to headline Bathurst grid

180 Carrera Cup race wins on Bathurst entry list

A RECORD SIX Porsche Carrera Cup Champions with nine titles in four different series will headline a 30-strong field entered for Round 6 of the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship at Mount Panorama. 

The Bathurst grid is the most broadly accomplished Carrera Cup Australia grid in the series history, and one of the most deeply stacked with talent of any Porsche series globally this year.

For the first time in the series 20 year history, four former Carrera Cup Australia Champions will be represented on the grid.

They will be joined by drivers to have won Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux (Belgium / Netherlands / Luxemburg).

Between them, the Bathurst grid have claimed 180 Carrera Cup race wins globally.

The return of 2022 champion Harri Joins to the grid will see the Queenslander join 2004 Australian champion Alex Davison, 2005 champion Fabian Coulthard and 2017 champion David Wall on what will be one of the most stacked Carrera Cup grids in series history.

Meanwhile the addition of three-time Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Champion Chris van der Drift, who will deputise for Callum Hedge in the Team Porsche NZ / EBM entry, adds further one-make Porsche success to the field.

Van der Drift won the Asian title in 2015, 2017 and 2018 to become one of the region’s most successful Porsche racers and currently sits third in the 2023 title battle with a round to go.

EMA Motorsport has secured the services of 22-year-old young star Harry King for a Bathurst cameo, the British ace having claimed the 2020 Carrera Cup GB title and the 2022 Benelux title before claiming three wins and third position in this year’s Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

King has won 29 Carrera Cup races in his career to date, including Supercup race wins at Monaco, Monza and Hungary this year.

The record-setting Aussie attack includes four former champions and an enormous strike rate of success in the local championship.

Harri Jones’ returns to the series battle-hardened following duel campaigns in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Championships in Europe this year and will race for his own team, Jones Motorsport, at Bathurst.

Davison will return for Scott Taylor Motorsport, while Coulthard will drive his familiar BWT Porsche Centre Melbourne entry and Wall his own Monochrome-backed entry for Wall Racing.

The four drivers alone account for 85 race victories and 28 round wins between them across two decades of one-make Porsche racing in Australia.

In total, the Bathurst field accounts for wins in more than 30 percent of all Carrera Cup Australia races ever held, with 12 former race winners currently entered.

The championship heads to Bathurst having featured five winners from the past five rounds, just the fourth time in series history that has occurred.

Following Jackson Walls’ win by countback at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Dale Wood, Alex Davison, Callum Hedge and Dylan O’Keeffe have claimed victories overall this year.

The SP Tools Pro-Am fight is equally compelling though current leader Sam Shahin faces a race against time to get to Bathurst.

His The Bend Motorsport Park-backed 992 GT3 Cup Car remains under repair following the race-ending crash at Sandown, when he was collected by a flying Nick McBride, who in turn had been hit by another car.

Shahin leads Sandown winner Dean Cook by 33 points with Adrian Flack a further 37 points back. Rodney Jane is only 17 points behind the top three heading to Bathurst.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia field hits the track on Thursday for practice 1 at 8:55am, the 50-minute session the sole hit out before qualifying later that afternoon at 3:45pm.

Race 1 will commence at 2:20pm on Friday afternoon over 15 laps, doubling as the Enduro Cup race for the weekend.

Race 2 starts at 3:15pm on Saturday with the final 9-lap sprint the curtain raiser to this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000 at 9:30am on Sunday.

All sessions will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo Sport, while all three races will also be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network around Australia.

ENTRY LIST, Round 6, Mount Panorama, Bathurst

Supercup star Harry King joins Bathurst grid

EMA Motorsport sign two-time Carrera Cup Champion for Bathurst campaign

EMA Motorsport will return to a full complement at the next round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia at Bathurst, as young British racer, Harry King, takes his place in the team’s second Porsche Cup Car.

Heading to Mount Panorama for round 6 of the championship, Harry joins the team for his Australian racing debut, having delivered impressive performances throughout 2023, including wins in the Mobil1 Supercup.

Harry will join EMA Motorsport’s Carrera Cup season regular, Garnet Patterson, running in the sister #19 car. With this exciting addition to the driver line-up, EMA Motorsport is looking to improve on results moving forward to 2024, following a less than ideal year in Carrera Cup, compared to 2022.

“I am delighted to be welcomed to EMA Motorsport ahead of Bathurst. The prospect of racing in Australia really excites me, and to measure myself against the Carrera Cup Australia competition is something I am eager to experience,” Harry King said.

“It is great to confirm the drive with EMA Motorsport after my successful weekend in Austria – but all quite surreal! I hadn’t anticipated to be racing on the other side of the world in my career yet, so to do it at Bathurst, in a Cup car, is a great way to do it.

“Aside from my own goals and motivations for the weekend in-car, I don’t know what to expect outside of the car, so I’m really going to embrace the experience.”

Harry arrives on the Australian scene having been extremely successful in the GT3 Cup car, since making his debut in 2020.

In his first year, the 22-year-old from Windsor, England, claimed top honours in the prestigious Carrera Cup Great Britain. This was followed, in 2022, with a dominant run across the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux with seven wins from eight races on his way to claiming the title.

Alongside this, he also took four podiums in the highly competitive Mobil1 Supercup, and progressed to score three race wins in the 2023 campaign, including around the streets of Monaco.

Round 6 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia, the Repco Bathurst 1000 race weekend, takes place, 5-8 October 2023.

New backer for David Russell’s Carrera Cup campaign

Premium quality automotive tool brand PK TOOL will be joining highly experienced Porsche Carrera Cup and leading Supercar endurance race co-driver David Russell at Mount Panorama this year.

The PK TOOL logo will appear prominently on the sides of Car #99 which is prepared by Earl Bamber Motorsport, a team that has enjoyed success this season across its highly competitive three car stable.

PK Tool is one of several renowned professional automotive specialty tool brands supplied to the auto repair industry and DIY enthusiasts across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region by Pro-Kit.

Established in 1984, Pro-Kit is a proud Australian, almost four-decade strong family owned and operated company.

Russell is one of the fastest Porsche Carrera Cup drivers in Australia and has a particularly strong record at Bathurst in this ultra-competitive category along with Supercars, Australian and International GT and Production Car racing. He has gained outright wins, podiums, fastest laps and class victories at Mount Panorama across all of these categories across his successful career. Russell raced to third in the Porsche Carrera Cup championship last season and has taken the Porsche Carrera Cup runner-up honours twice before in both 2014 and 2008.

The PK Tool sponsored driver will be performing double racing duties at Mount Panorama alongside his three Porsche Carrera Cup sprint races at Bathurst. Russell will be joining Supercars Championship leader Brodie Kostecki in the Coca-Cola Erebus Motorsport Camaro, seeking to go one better than their superb second place at last weekend’s Sandown 500 in Melbourne. (Russell and Kostecki finished fourth in the 2023 Bathurst 1000 and third in 2022). PK Tool will be joining him for the ride with helmet signage across his Porsche Carrera Cup and Supercar racing efforts at Bathurst from October 5 to 8.

“We are very excited to be promoting our premium quality, trade-proven tool brand, PK TOOL with such an accomplished driver at Bathurst for the first time in our family company’s 38 year history,” stated Pro-Kit General Manager William Zaarour.

“The entire Pro-Kit team are looking forward to watching our car competing in each of the three Porsche Carrera Cup races at such an iconic circuit and to be joining David Russell in his Bathurst 1000 co-drive as well. We wish him and his teams every success heading into the biggest motorsport weekend of the year,” Mr Zaarour added.

David Russell welcomes PK TOOL aboard his Cup Car at Australia’s great race.  “It is great to welcome Australia’s PK TOOL range to the world’s fastest one-make motor racing category at the most famous race weekend of them all.

“I have had some fantastic Porsche Carrera Cup races at Mount Panorama, including race wins, podiums and fastest laps and I am hoping to add more to my tally in October as a PK TOOL Ambassador,” He said.

(Team release)

Chris van der Drift to super-sub for Hedge at Bathurst

Three-time Asian champion to join Aussie field for Aussie Carrera Cup debut

Team Porsche New Zealand / Earl Bamber Motorsport has announced that three-time Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Champion Chris van der Drift will be replacing Callum Hedge at Bathurst for Round 6 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia.

Callum Hedge is the current Carrera Cup Championship leader and will miss the famous mountain circuit due to a clash with a Formula Regional Americas round at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).

Van der Drift is the most successful Carrera Cup Asia driver ever and will be instantly competitive when he drives Hedge’s #17 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car at Bathurst.

Hedge leads both the Formula Regional Americas championship and Porsche Carrera Cup Australia following an exceptional 2023 racing season that has seen him claim 16 wins and 31 poles from 41 race starts.

This speed and consistency has placed Hedge in a difficult position when deciding which event to compete at, with the potential prizes on offer for claiming the US-based championship an impossible lure to resist.

“It is a huge shame to have to miss a round in Australia. Especially when it’s such a competitive championship,” said Hedge.

“Over the last two rounds, I’ve had some good consistency and have built a reasonable margin where I could still be in with a chance despite missing Bathurst. The aim is to wrap up the championship in America over the Bathurst weekend, then come back, shift my focus for Gold Coast and Adelaide and try to get the job done here.”

The 19-year-old Kiwi currently has a healthy lead in both championships, and is ultimately looking to win both should the cards fall his way.

Coming off the back of a challenging round at Sandown in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, Hedge currently leads rival Jackson Walls by 116 points, with 180 on offer at the Bathurst round.

It means that even if Walls’ wins all three races at Bathurst, Hedge will only trail by 64 points heading into the final two rounds.

Bathurst marks Round 6 of the eight-round championship, with the final two rounds being held at the Gold Coast and Adelaide street circuits. Hedge’s prior form at street circuits gives him confidence in being able to continue to fight for the title despite sitting out the Bathurst round.

Although anything can happen in the remaining three rounds, Hedge’s international racing aspirations helped him to solidify his championship lead in Formula Regional Americas, with a part-funded drive in Super Formula Japan on offer to the winner.

Hedge, competing in the #17 Ligier JS F3 car supported by the Giltrap Group, Tony Quinn Foundation, and Tasman Motorsport Group, has had an exceptional season in the United States, scoring nine wins from 12 races. Callum currently holds a 55-point advantage, with 75 points on offer across three races.

“It was an incredibly tough decision to decide whether to miss a round in Australia or the USA. Once I got the Porsche Shootout ticket, we decided that the Formula Regional Americas prize, a $600,000 Honda Super Formula scholarship, was what we wanted to secure next, and if all went to plan, we could still get the Carrera Cup Australia championship as well” Hedge continued.

EBM Team owner, Earl Bamber is very happy that a Team Porsche New Zealand scholarship graduate has had such success on the international stage.

“First of all, it’s really exciting for Callum as a young driver to have pathways – one with Porsche, and one in single-seaters. It’s amazing that at such a young age, he is so adaptable to be able to swap between two different race cars, and be quick in both” said Earl Bamber, team owner of Earl Bamber Motorsport.

“As a team, after securing Australia’s Porsche Global Shootout nomination, our goal remains to try and secure our first championship in Australia, with the support of Team Porsche New Zealand. It is and has always been the goal since we started this team. Although it’s a bigger challenge with Callum missing Bathurst, we still believe in Callum and his ability to consistently be at the front. We equally support Callum with his international endeavors. It’s what the Team Porsche New Zealand scholarship is all about, and we’d never get in the way of one of our drivers chasing their dreams.”

Hedge will be replaced by 3x Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Champion, Chris van der Drift aboard the Team Porsche New Zealand GT3 Cup Car. Van der Drift is the most successful driver in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia history and will make his Carrera Cup Australia debut at Mount Panorama.

“For our fill-in driver, we’re really excited to announce that Chris van der Drift will be joining us for Bathurst. He is a long-time competitor in Carrera Cup racing, and it’s fantastic to be able to have him in one of our cars. He’ll be a really welcome addition to Team Porsche New Zealand Earl Bamber Motorsport, and his knowledge and experience in these cars will help him adapt to Bathurst quickly. He is part of the Giltrap Motorsport and Porsche family so it’s going to be a pleasure to have him drive for us,” said Bamber.

Van der Drift is, however, no stranger to a Porsche racing at Bathurst, having raced a Cup Car at the circuit four times in the Bathurst 12 hour – finishing 2nd in Class B in 2019.

“When I heard of this opportunity, I jumped at it straight away. I’ve known Earl for many years, so it’s awesome to be finally driving for his team. I have been driving the same 992 Cup Car in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia this season, so I know the car well, and I’m very excited to be able to drive one at one of my favorite tracks in the world. A huge thanks to Team Porsche New Zealand and everyone who made this happen. To Callum, I promise to look after Larry. Hopefully, we’ll keep it at the front, like Callum has been able to do all year.”

Hedge gets ticket to Europe to take on Porsche Shootout

Team Porsche NZ young gun to take on world's best later this year

Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ) scholarship recipient Callum Hedge has been announced as Australia’s nominee for the annual global Porsche Junior Shootout in Europe later this year.

Hedge earned the nomination after going head-to-head with nearest rival contestant Jackson Walls at the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia in Melbourne at Sandown Raceway. This round marked the cut-off for the championship nomination and the title was up for contention as just 32 points separated the pair in the Junior standings following four intense rounds previously.

There was a close battle between Hedge and Walls since Albert Park’s opening round, with the championship lead only changing hands in the most recent race, held at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

Hedge provisionally secured the position at Sandown after race two as he stole the victory from Dylan O’Keeffe in the final corner of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia enduro cup race.

The Porsche Junior Shootout puts the top junior drivers from global Porsche one-make championships head-to-head, with the winner claiming a scholarship prize to contest the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Championship in 2024. The winner of the Porsche junior shootout is usually announced at the annual Porsche ‘Night of Champions’ event at the end of the year.

The sports car manufacturer’s exemplary junior programme has been one of the most successful of its kind in motorsport. This initiative has paved the way for many talented youngsters to pursue professional careers as works drivers, producing numerous world champions and Le Mans winners in the process. Earl Bamber won the Porsche Junior Shootout in 2014 as a nominee of Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and went on to race Supercup and win the 24 hours of Le Mans as a Porsche Factory driver.

Hedge is the third Kiwi from Porsche Carrera Cup Australia to earn the ticket, following the footsteps of Andre Heimgartner in 2012 as well as Jaxon Evans in 2018 who managed to win the shootout.

Hedge is competing in his third season with TPNZ and Earl Bamber Motorsport after debuting with the team in the Porsche Sprint Challenge feeder series in 2021. In 2022 he took the top Rookie honours and second place in the Michelin Junior Drivers’ standings in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia – finishing in 6th place overall in the championship.

Callum Hedge:
“To win the Michelin Junior Championship, and secure the ticket to the Porsche Junior Shootout for me is huge. This has been my goal since I first drove a Porsche. To realise that goal is a testament to the hard work put in by Earl Bamber Motorsport and Team Porsche New Zealand, I really have to thank them for believing in me and knowing that I was capable of doing what we set out to do.”

“I look forward to being the first Team Porsche New Zealand driver to contest in the Porsche Junior Shootout and I will be working as hard as I can to represent them and Porsche Carrera Cup Australia to the best of my ability.”

Earl Bamber Motorsport Owner, Earl Bamber:
“Congratulations to Callum and everyone at Team Porsche New Zealand. Personally, I went through the route with Porsche and that’s where I got my chance to become a factory driver, so I think it’s a dream come true for any young driver to have that shot and chance in their career.”

“As a team, we are really proud of Callum. I would like to say a huge thank you to Porsche New Zealand for making these chances possible for young drivers, as this passion isn’t seen by any other sponsor and manufacturer. It’s special for a New Zealander to have this opportunity, and hopefully, it’s the first of many who will get the chance in future years to come.”

Porsche New Zealand General Manager, Greg Clarke:
“We are proud to see Callum secure the seat in the international shootout as has proven himself over the last 3 years in the TPNZ scholarship program. He showed his potential in Carrera Cup last year, and has continued to grow to take out the top spot this season.”

“Competing in the global shootout is the ultimate achievement for our scholarship program as it opens the opportunity to climb the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid. We are really looking forward to seeing Callum represent New Zealand in Europe later this year. ”

Porsche Motorsport Australia, Motorsport Manager, Barry Hay:
“The Michelin Junior battle has been fierce all year since the season started at the Australian Grand Prix and we knew from the outset of the year that whoever we sent from Australia, would be a great candidate. Callum has put it all together across the last two rounds at Tailem Bend and Sandown and that has earned him the right to go to the Shootout. He’s shown he has what it takes.”

“We can’t wait to see how he goes against the best young Porsche drivers in the world. We back the level of our championship alongside any in the world, so we know he will do us proud and be a real contender to win the Junior Shootout this year.”

Elated Team Owner Opens Up on Double Sandown Carrera Cup Victory

Sydney team hailing double Sandown success in record-breaking weekend

An ecstatic Garth Walden has opened up on his GWR Australia team’s double victory in Round 5 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia at Sandown on the weekend, a result he says has been a decade in the making.

Dylan O’Keeffe won the Pro Class round with victories in two of the three races, while a trio of top three finishes for Dean Cook enabled him to clinch Pro-Am honours.

The GWR Australia team has been a mainstay of Carrera Cup since 2014, initially running a single car for Ash Samadi. The team continued as a single-car operation until 2019, when it grew to two cars, before expanding to become a three-car outfit in 2022.

Walden said the Sandown result is one of his finest moments as a team owner.

“We’ve won championships in other categories like Radical Cup and achieved class wins in GT and the Bathurst 6 Hour, but I’ve always rated Carrera Cup as one of the most prestigious categories in Australian motorsport,” Walden said.

“The driving talent in Carrera Cup is genuinely world class, and the teams are some of the most professional and well-resourced in the country, so to succeed against such elite opposition at Sandown was one of the most special moments I’ve experienced as a team owner and the culmination of what I’ve been working towards when I started GWR a decade ago.

“We have a dedicated crew at GWR and they had to work tirelessly to repair Dylan’s car after he was involved in a crash at Tailem Bend, but now they get to enjoy the fruits of their labour.”

Walden paid tribute to the efforts of O’Keeffe and Cook in delivering the team’s stunning result.

“Dylan is by far the best driver I’ve ever had in one of my Carrera Cup cars, he is just an exceptional talent behind the wheel,” Walden said.

“Since he joined GWR at the beginning of last year, he has lifted our team to a new level and we now go into every weekend expecting to be fighting for poles, podiums and wins. He’s threatened to deliver a big result on a few occasions and at Sandown it all came together – he dominated the weekend on raw speed.

“Dean’s driving ability is not to be underestimated either. The Pro-Am class in Carrera Cup features some of the best non-professional drivers in the world, and while Dean is relaxed out of the car, he’s very competitive on the track and has excellent awareness when he’s involved in battle packs.

“In the final Sandown race, he positioned his car perfectly to avoid an accident that claimed a couple of his rivals, and that was key in enabling him to secure the Pro-Am round win.”

With the round win boxes ticked, Walden said the next goal for GWR in Carrera Cup is a championship, something he hasn’t ruled out for 2023.

“Dylan has had a tough first half of the season with various incidents in all of the first four rounds, but he made up a lot of ground this weekend while the championship leaders had dramas of their own, which shows you’re never out of it,” Walden said.

“Meanwhile, Dean is only a handful of points off the Pro-Am lead, so that championship is well within reach.

“To win the Carrera Cup championship would well and truly be GWR’s greatest achievement as a race team, and our Sandown result shows it’s a goal well within our grasp.”

Sonic Motor Racing Services enjoy success at Sandown

Sandown provided a successful ending for Sonic Motor Racing Services in the latest round of the Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

Situated a half an hour drive from Sonic’s workshop in Bayswater, Sandown is the home circuit for the squad and pre-event test at the venue provided confidence for the trio of Bob Jane T-Marts-supported drivers.

Simon Fallon led the way for most of the weekend as he continues to build on an improved season.

Achieving ninth in qualifying, Fallon progressed throughout the weekend by scoring a pair of eighths and a fourth to cap off the weekend, just falling short of the podium as he aims to cement a top 10 finish in the championship standings.

Luck deserted Angelo Mouzouris at Sandown after qualifying 12th, but a couple of spins in the opening race led to a 16th place finish in the Pro class. A superb comeback driver in Race 2 ensured a finish inside the top 10 for Mouzouris as he drove to ninth.

An opening lap incident in front was avoided by Mouzouris as he emerged sixth. He was well placed to advance further when a radiator was punctured forcing him into retirement thought to be caused by the Turn 1 incident.

Pro-Am contender Rodney Jane enjoyed a successful weekend as he qualified fourth to be just 0.186s behind the pole time, but a spin in Race 1 dropped him to ninth.

Jane elevated to fifth in the 30-lap mini-enduro, before leaving the best until last when he avoided opening lap chaos to hold off a stern challenge to achieve his first Pro-Am Class win of the year.

The next round for the Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship is at the fabled Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit at Bathurst on October 5-8.

QUOTES

Simon Fallon
#777 Bob Jane T-Marts/Sonic

“It wasn’t the best weekend, but not the worst,” Fallon described.

“We recovered well on Sunday to go from eighth to fourth, but on Saturday we struggled. We lost splitters early in both events and unfortunately our pace wasn’t really there.

“It was a good result to end up fourth in the end, but looking to move forward to Bathurst.”

Angelo Mouzouris
#999 Bob Jane T-Marts/Sonic

“I guess you could say this weekend was one of those character building ones,” Mouzouris summarised.

“We were quick in practice, but didn’t really put it together in qualifying and Race 1. The next race was good, we made up six or seven spots to finish ninth, while in the final I got caught up in an opening corner incident through no fault of my own. I had the smallest little graze on the front bumper and popped the radiator, so we decided to not risk any further damage and park it.

“It was a really unfortunate way to end the weekend, however there are many positives. We’re quite quick now and figured out the car, so I’m in the right headspace to move forward.

“I can’t wait for Bathurst, we’ve been quick there in the past as I scored a Super2 pole there, so it’ll be good to get back there to do laps in the Cup Car.”

Rodney Jane
#77 Bob Jane T-Marts/Sonic

“Michael and the Sonic boys have put a great car together, which makes it a lot easier for me as a driver,” credited Jane.

“We’ve got to string it together and make use of the tools they give us. I think I had that at the start of the first race and I had that incident to put us a fair way back.

“I managed to luckily miss the opening corner incident to emerge first and in a slightly shortened race we managed to lead the next eight or 10 laps to win. Persistence paid off as I finished third for the round.

“I really appreciate what the team at Sonic did and now we’re heading to Bathurst, which I’m really looking forward to going there.

“It’s the second time I’ve been there in the last 10 years, so I’m really looking forward to racing there and I’ve got a bit of work to get my pace up to see how we go.”

Hedge steals Enduro cup thriller in final corner

Flack rebounds from race one dramas to take Pro-Am win in Enduro Cup race

CALLUM HEDGE has stolen the victory from Dylan O’Keeffe in the final corner of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia enduro cup race at Sandown Raceway. 

Starting third, Hedge played for time in the 28-lap race before picking off Bayley Hall for second within the final 10 laps.

He then set about early leader Dylan O’Keeffe, who had controlled the pace from the outset and had established a handy lead before Hedge moved himself into second position.

Hedge flew in the final laps, cutting O’Keeffe’s 1.9 second lead to nothing by the time the pair started the final lap.

The Race 1 winner defended into the Turn 9 passing opportunity, but had to watch as the Team Porsche New Zealand driver sliced up the inside into the final corner in a last-ditch effort to grab the win.

He crossed the line just 0.1 seconds in front of O’Keeffe to spectacularly win – making amends for his race one start-line penalty that dropped him from first to third in the final standings of the Sandown opener.

The win – coupled with a non-finish from Jackson Walls – also provisionally sealed a ticket to Europe as Carrera Cup Australia’s representative in the Porsche shootout.

O’Keeffe finished second and leads the round points heading to Sunday’s race three decider, while Bayley Hall finished on the podium for the second time today.

The battle for the minors was just as intense for the leading fight with Dale Wood edging out David Russell for fourth – solidifying third place in the championship in the process.

Fabian Coulthard was sixth, while Max Vidau charged 10 spots from his starting position to finish seventh following his race one non-finish.

Simon Fallon – missing a front splitter – Angelou Mouzouris and Thomas Maxwell completed the top-10.

Jackson Walls’ Michelin junior hopes ended when he and David Wall made contact at Turn nine on the opening lap.

Walls’ was penalised for the contact, however never made it back to pit lane as radiator damage forced him to shut his car off on the back straight, ultimately classified a non finisher. Wall made it back to the pits however was unable to resume.

The fight for SP Tools Pro-Am honours was just as tough as Adrian Flack was another to complete a Saturday comeback to claim the win.

He stormed from the back of the grid to win the race over Dean Cook, who lead a good chunk of today’s race before Flack slipped past.

The Pro-Am fight evolved into essentially a four-car fight by race’s end with Sam Shahin and Liam Talbot all in the mix in a competitive battle.

Shahin leads the Pro-Am battle by a single point heading into tomorrow’s decider, with Cook and Talbot in close company.

O’Keeffe leads Hedge and Hall in the Equity One Pro round standings prior to tomorrow’s race, while Callum Hedge has extended his lead in the championship to more than 100 points going into the final race.

That final race will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506, Kayo and Sky Sports NZ on Sunday.

O’Keeffe claims race one following Hedge penalty

Sam Shahin extends Pro-Am title lead with strong class win

DYLAN O’KEEFFE has won his first Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia race in a year after a jumped-start penalty for Callum Hedge denied the young Kiwi race one success at Sandown.

Hedge won the start and the subsequent drag race into turn one over polesitter O’Keeffe, however officials deemed the start to be too good and penalised the Team Porsche NZ driver five seconds for the infringement.

That allowed O’Keeffe and McElrea young gun Bayley Hall to settle in behind the New Zealander with the trio running line astern to the line in that order.

The penalty dropped Hedge to third, while O’Keeffe claimed his first win since Sandown last year and the third of his Carrera Cup Career.

Hall’s second position represented his best ever Carrera Cup race, eclipsing his previous best of sixth position comfortably.

Hedge’s third – coupled with Jackson Walls’ run to tenth position – saw him extend both his championship lead and his margin in the critical Michelin Junior Championship ranks heading into race two this afternoon.

David Russell and Dale Wood completed the top five, with the latter also moving to third in the championship by virtue of a non-finish from TekworkX star Max Vidau, who hit the wall on the exit of turn three on the second lap.

A puncture in a rear tyre was determined to be the cause of the accident that saw the Tyrepower driver limp back to the lane but retire the car.

Fabian Coulthard, David Wall, Simon Fallon, Christian Pancione and Jackson Walls completed the top-10.

In SP Tools Pro-Am, Sam Shahin led confidently to another race win to build his championship lead.

He led home Dean Cook and Liam Talbot in a wild Pro-Am affair that saw intense battling for the minor steps on the class podium throughout the 16-lap affair.

Matt Belford and Tim Miles survived a late moment at turn one to finish fourth and fifth, respectively, while Rodney Jane ran strongly early in the race before he was caught up in an incident and dropped down the order.

Adrian Flack had a slow start but recovered well before he too was involved in a spin, dropping him back down through the field by race’s end.

Race 2 will be the next instalment of the Enduro Cup series on Saturday afternoon, with live coverage on Fox Sports 506, Kayo and Sky Sport NZ.

O’Keeffe charges to record Sandown pole

Sam Shahin scores Pro-Am pole for second time this year

DYLAN O’KEEFFE and Sam Shahin have split the TAG Heuer Pole Awards in qualifying for Round 5 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship at Sandown Raceway. 

O’Keeffe grabbed his first Equity-One Pro class pole since Winton 2022 with a stunning performance in the 12-minute Pro session, his 1m08.6980s flyer the quickest ever Cup Car lap of Sandown.

The Victorian driver set his benchmark on his sixth flyer in the session with a lap time good enough to withstand others attempting to beat it. He ultimately grabbed the top spot by just 0.10s with Callum Hedge second for Team Porsche NZ and Earl Bamber Motorsport.

O’Keeffe’s stunning lap came after topping practice earlier in the day, and broke Earl Bamber Motorsport’s stranglehold on pole positions this year.

Second represented Hedge’s fourth front row effort from five sessions this year, -a position made even more important given his tenuous lead in the Michelin Junior standings that will be decided this weekend.

Max Vidau will line up third for race one, with a returning David Russell fourth and Bayley Hall fifth. The margin between Hedge and Hall in fifth was just 0.09 seconds.

Fabian Coulthard was sixth, making it five teams on the first three rows of the grid for race one, while David Wall, Dale Wood, Simon Fallon and Nick McBride rounded out the top-10.

Michelin Junior contender Jackson Walls could only manage 13th aboard his Objective Racing / McElrea entry, though the Sydneysider was only 0.5s away from pole.

In the SP Tools Pro-Am battle, an unpredictable session saw Shahin bank his 1m10.1162s best on his seventh of 10 completed laps.

Dean Cook, however, narrowly missed grabbing pole with his 10th flyer falling 0.02 seconds away from beating Shahin in the closest session of the year.

It was Shahin’s second pole of the year, the seventh of his career and closes the South Australian driver with Adrian Flack, who has scored three, in the battle for the overall TAG Heuer Pole Award this year.

Adrian Flack was third, having missed running earlier today with steering rack issues aboard his Agas National-supported EBM entry, and just 0.10s from pole position.

Rodney Jane was fourth in his Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic entry, his strong middle sector performances putting him 0.18s of pole.

On his return to the championship – deputising for Luke King – Liam Talbot qualified fifth but only 0.20 seconds from pole. Matt Belford was sixth and just 0.3 from Shahin’s benchmark, with Tim Miles, Daniel Stutterd, Drew Hall and Marc Cini completing the leaderboard.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia field will race twice on Saturday at the Sandown 500, with the first race at 10:0am and the second at 3:25pm. Both races will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.

Aussie Michelin Junior Bayley Hall to get USA Porsche shot

Carrera Cup North America adventure at Laguna Seca and COTA

PORSCHE Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Michelin Junior Bayley Hall will get his first shot at international racing later this month when he heads to compete in the United States. 

The McElrea Racing driver will link with his team’s Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America squad for two key rounds of the American championship, adding two high-profile US events to the final four rounds of this year’s Carrera Cup Australia title race.

Hall will compete at the iconic Porsche Rennsport Reunion event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 29-October 1, before journeying to the Circuit of the Americas in Texas for the support event at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix on October 20-22.

Hall will slide into McElrea’s #24 North American entry alongside another local graduate – Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge winner Tom Sargent.

Sargent has already scored several pole positions and podium finishes this year and sits second in the North American Championship.

Hall has impressed in domestic Porsche competition this year, scoring three top-10 round finishes in what is effectively his second full year of one-make Porsche competition.

He qualified a career-best third in Townsville and finished fifth overall last time out at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia and sits less than 60 points outside the top four in the championship.

Hall has already completed a pair of tests in the United States, including one at Road America in Wisconsin in July.

He then recently travelled to Texas for a two-day test with McElrea at the Circuit of the Americas ahead of the round there later this month.

Carrera Cup North America uses identical cars to the Australian championship, save for the addition of ABS braking.

Hall will be in action this weekend at the fifth round of Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne, Victoria.

BAYLEY HALL

“This opportunity to race with my home team on an international scale will be I’m sure, very eye opening but an experience I am very grateful to take head on and make the most of every minute.

“The United States are so passionate about sports and I cannot wait to experience that for myself from the drivers side’ and immerse myself in it”

“When I was 7 years old, I made my Dad take a detour on a USA family holiday to visit Laguna Seca but I have never been to Texas, so yes I’m very excited. I’m very much looking forward to this incredible experience, and ticking off another 2 iconic tracks from my bucket list that I had set goals to race on,’

“There are a few differences in Carrera cup North America. Most notable ones are that the cars use ABS and have rolling starts, which is different from Carrera Cup Australia. Also they have two 45 minutes races over the weekend which will provide plenty of laps to learn and grow from.”

“I’ve taken inspiration from both Scott McLaughlin and Shane Van Gisbergen who have both raced in the US and rustled some feathers. I’m excited for when it’s my chance to do the same.”

“The American championship is still extremely competitive, and it will be a great challenge for me to adapt to the tracks as quickly as possible and also endeavour to make a name for myself in another country.”

‘The Porsche driver selection program is another incentive in the Michelin Junior Program and it allows a pathway to the IMSA GTD program. My ambitions are to work towards a seat in the GTD program and Andy and my team believe that this is one step in the right direction”

ANDY McELREA

“Last year we threw Bayley into the deep end in Carrera Cup due to Covid not allowing a Sprint Championship for him to learn from, he pretty much had to learn how to drink from a fire hose and he certainly did.

“This year he’s been able to gain another level of confidence by building on his experience from last year, he’s done everything we’ve asked of him, he’s a brilliant student & he’s exceeding our expectations. He’s fast, he’s dedicated & he’s hungry.

“The opportunity to test in America arose & like Bayley always does, he grabbed it with two hands & impressed at the test, opening up this opportunity to race in the North American Carrera Cup.

“It will be a challenge for him but he’s proven his adaptability skills over the last 18 months & we can’t wait to see what he can do.”

Major Junior prizes on the line at Sandown

Hedge and Walls to battle for European Shootout ticket this weekend

THE FIRST major prize of the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will be up for grabs when the one-make Porsche pack descends on Melbourne’s Sandown Raceway in Victoria this week.

Australia’s nominee for the annual Porsche Junior Shootout will be decided at Sandown, with the top driver in the Michelin Junior Championship following this weekend’s round to head to Europe later this year.

The Porsche Junior Shootout puts the top junior drivers from global Porsche one-make championships head to head, with the winner claiming a scholarship prize to contest the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Championship in 2024.

Just 32 points separate Team Porsche New Zealand / Earl Bamber Motorsport young-gun Callum Hedge from Objective Racing / McElrea ace Jackson Walls in the Junior standings following four intense rounds to date.

The pair have claimed junior honours in nine of the 11 races contested so far with Sandown to decide who gets the ticket to Europe.

TekworkX driver Max Vidau sits third in the outright championship and junior standings thanks to two race wins and retains a mathematical chance at the Junior prize, 171 points from the lead with 180 up for grabs this weekend.

The remarkable battle between Kiwi hedge and New South Wales ace Walls has waged since Albert Park’s opening round, with the championship lead only changing hands in the most recent race, held at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

There, Hedge claimed his first round win of the season after Walls spun out of second position in the penultimate corner of the weekend while battling for the lead.

11 drivers from the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia have tackled the shootout since 2012, with two – Matt Campbell and Jaxon Evans – winning it and the subsequent ticket to Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

Harri Jones was the most recent nominee, tackling the shootout in 2022 and progressing to Supercup last year.

While attention is on the Michelin Junior battle this weekend, the ongoing fight for Equity One Pro class and the SP Tools Pro-Am battles will continue as the season moves into the second half.

Hedge leads Walls in the overall championship, with the young pair enjoying a healthy margin back to third-placed Vidau.

Darwin winner Dale Wood is within striking distance of the top three, however.

There has yet to be a repeat round winner this season while five different drivers have won races.

In Pro-Am, Sam Shahin is just 47 points clear of Adrian Flack following a strong win at his home track last time out at The Bend.

Flack, in turn, has Dean Cook and Rodney Jane in close company in third and fourth, respectively.

The Sandown entry list loses Alex Davison – damage to the Scott Taylor Motorsport Porsche from The Bend enough to force them to the side-lines until Bathurst – and Chris Pither, but gains the EMA Motorsport entry of Garnet Patterson, who returns to the grid for the first time since round two in Darwin.

On-track action commences on Friday with two practice sessions and the two-part qualifying session, prior to the first two races on Saturday.

Sunday will conclude the fifth round with the third race, just prior to the start of the Sandown 500.

All three races, plus qualifying and practice two on Friday, will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo in Australia, and Sky Sports NZ.

AUSTRALIAN PORSCHE JUNIOR SHOOTOUT NOMINATIONS:

2012 – Andre Heimgartner
2014 – Sam Power
2015 – Nick Foster & Richard Muscat
2016 – Matt Campbell (Won Shootout)
2017 – Dylan O’Keeffe
2018 – Jaxon Evans (Won Shootout), Dylan O’Keeffe
2019 – Jordan Love
2021 – Cooper Murray
2022 – Harri Jones

ENTRY LIST – Round 5 (Sandown Raceway)

Giltrap, Stichbury step up to Carrera Cup in 2024

Team Porsche NZ continue young driver program into new season

Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ) is pleased to announce that the Carrera Cup Australia scholarship driver for the 2024 season is Zac Stichbury.

Zac has graduated from competing in the 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge through the scholarship programme, to the main scholarship seat in the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia series.

In his first year competing with TPNZ, Zac is currently ranked third in the 2023 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia. The 991.2 GT3 Cup Car has been a stand-out on the grid after Zac unveiled the iconic Whittaker’s Chocolate ‘Peanut Slab’ themed livery earlier this year.

In addition, it has been announced that Marco Giltrap is also going to compete for Team Porsche New Zealand in 2024 in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia season. After 4 of 6 rounds in the 2023 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Championship, Marco Giltrap is currently leading the series. Earl Bamber Motorsport will be managing both drivers in the 2024 season, increasing the driver count for the Carrera Cup Australia grid to two for TPNZ in 2024.

Zac Stichbury:

“I’m so excited and grateful to step up into the scholarship’s main seat next year. It’s such an amazing opportunity and I can’t thank the team at Porsche New Zealand and EBM enough for their ongoing support and guidance. I’m looking forward to continuing learning and developing in these last few rounds of Sprint Challenge this year to end on a good result leading into competing alongside Marco in Carrera Cup next year”

Marco Giltrap:

“I am extremely excited to be joining Team Porsche New Zealand for another season, joining Porsche Carrera Cup Australia next year. We have already achieved so much this year and I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve for the rest of the 2023 and 2024 season.”

Applications for the 2024 TPNZ Sprint Challenge Scholarship Driver are now open

Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ) is opening the application process for its scholarship programme to support a young Kiwi motorsport talent to drive in the 2024 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series.

This will be the fourth year that Porsche New Zealand is running the scholarship program, after the success of Matthew Payne in 2021 and Callum Hedge and Ryan Wood in 2022. In 2023, Zac Stichbury has been driving in the Sprint Challenge scholarship seat, however it has been announced in 2024 he will be graduating into the Carrera Cup seat which has been held by Callum Hedge for his second year in 2023.

Applications are open until 30th September 2023. To apply for this scholarship, candidates will need to attach a CV as well as a 300-word summary of why they should be the next Team Porsche New Zealand Driver. A short list of applicants will then be chosen for interviews and assessments before a final selection will be made.

Please Note: This is a junior Scholarship program and applicants must be between the age of 16 – 21 as of January 1st, 2024, and must be a resident or citizen of New Zealand.

Further information, as information on how to apply is available at porsche.co.nz/teamporschenz

Earl Bamber Motorsport Owner, Earl Bamber:

“We’re proud of what both TPNZ Sprint Challenge drivers have been doing in 2023, and now looking into 2024 it’s amazing to be able to confirm Zac Stichbury and Marco Giltrap the TPNZ program moving up to Carrera Cup Australia. The program has been incredibly successful so far with all our previous drivers now stepping up as professional racing drivers. It’s something that we as a team and Porsche New Zealand have been proud to be part of and ultimately the reason why the program was started.”

“And now we’re excited that we are opening 2024 allocations for the Porsche Sprint Challenge seat. This category has been really great to nurture our drivers in year one of the program, so we are excited to see what young talented drivers from New Zealand will apply for 2024.”

Porsche New Zealand General Manager, Greg Clarke:
“Both Zac and Marco have proven themselves as strong competitors in the 2023 Sprint Challenge series. With just two races to go, we’re proud to see both drivers currently ranked in the top 3 for the series and hope to see both on the podium at the end of the season. We’re pleased to announce that they will both be competing for TPNZ next year in Carrera Cup, the leading Porsche single-make series in Australia.”

“With Zac graduating to the scholarship seat for Carrera Cup 2024, it leaves us with an opportunity to take on a new young Kiwi driver for next year. The Sprint Challenge scholarship seat is the perfect opportunity for promising drivers to kick-start their motorsport career like we have seen many of our previous TPNZ drivers do in the past 3 years.”

About Team Porsche New Zealand
Team Porsche New Zealand was formed by Porsche New Zealand in conjunction with Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) in late 2019 to provide young New Zealand talent the opportunity and pathway to advance their motorsport career in Australia. The scholarship programme sees drivers competing in the Carrera Cup Australia which is a key component in the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid, and the feeder series, the Porsche Sprint Challenge.

The team is based in Brisbane and run by EBM, whose principal is two-time Le Mans 24-hour winner Earl Bamber. Earl himself progressed his motorsport career via the Porsche Pyramid through Carrera Cup Asia, Porsche Super Cup, and ultimately as a factory driver for Porsche in both the World Endurance Championship and the North American International Motor Sports Association.

Each year a scholarship will be offered to support an exciting young New Zealand talent achieving a seat in the 992 GT3 Sup Car in Carrera Cup Australia, and a second driver in the 991.2 GT3 Cup Car in Sprint Challenge Australia. The combination of Bamber’s international motor racing and Porsche Motorsport experience provides a unique opportunity to develop their skills and succeed.

Jones takes Monza rookie win in Supercup finale’

Carrera Cup Australia champion secures second in Rookie title

VICTORY in the rookie class has seen reigning Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Champion Harri Jones fall narrowly short of claiming the title in a dramatic conclusion to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup finale at Monza. 

Jones finished fourth in a wild Supercup showdown at the Cathedral of Speed, taking the rookie class win for the first time and just falling short of a podium finish following a frenetic last-lap battle with home-town hero, Simone Iaquinta.

With Rookie Championship leader Allesandro Ghiretti out of the race, Jones needed to finish third outright in the race to overhaul the 15-point deficit to the class lead.

He qualified fifth but started third following a host of grid penalties for key rivals.

After running fourth in the early laps, Jones found himself back in third position following a late-race restart, with Iaquinta just behind.

The Italian, with nothing to lose, and Jones engaged in a dramatic battle that included banging doors on the start-finish straight and at the turn one chicane.

Jones’ led his rival as the final lap commenced however lost the spot following the second of the two Lesmo right-handers, narrowly missing third place and the rookie title.

Still, the result was the strongest of Jones’ debut Supercup season.

“I’m really proud of myself and really proud of the team with our best result of the year in P4 and to take the Rookie win as well,” Jones said.

“(Lechner Racing) took the teams championship and another drivers’ championship as well and it was great to be part of that.

“It’s been an amazing year, and I’m really looking forward to coming back to Bathurst and Gold Coast to take everything I’ve learned over here and really apply it.”

BWT Lechner Racing teammate Harry King won the race, denying runner-up Larry ten Voorde the championship after points leader – and Lechner teammate – Bastian Buus struck issues and finished down the order.

Fourth still represented Jones’ best result of a solid Supercup rookie season that saw him claim six top-10 finishes from the eight races, ending the year ninth overall in the standings.

With the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Season complete, Jones’ will turn his attention to a pair of quickfire Porsche Carrera Cup Germany events in the coming weeks – the first at the Sachsenring and the second a return to the Red Bull Ring in Austria – where he raced in Supercup earlier this year.

Jones will then return to Australia and the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship in October as Jones Motorsport makes it’s debut in the championship.

The defending champion will race at Bathurst and the Gold Coast this year for his own team.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns at the Sandown 500 in two weeks time.

Hedge claims The Bend, title lead in dramatic Sunday

Sam Shahin claims Pro-Am round in style at home circuit

CALLUM HEDGE needed a big weekend at The Bend in Round 4 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship – and boy did he deliver. 

The young Kiwi completed a clean-sweep of the round at the South Australian venue to not only become the fourth Equity-One Pro class winner from four different rounds this season, but rocket himself into the championship and Michelin Junior series standings in the process.

Hedge claimed the round over Simon Fallon and Christian Pancione – who took his first round podium – as erstwhile series leader Jackson Walls spun out of podium contention on the final lap of the final race.

Meanwhile, home-town hero Sam Shahin won two of the three races to take the SP Tools Pro-Am round at The Bend to extend his points lead.

Shahin took the Pro-Am fight over Dean Cook and Adrian Flack to extend his championship lead at the half-way point.

Sunday was a tale of two races as the 20-lap Enduro Cup race was a relatively straightforward affair before the crazy broke loose in the third race.

The enduro cup race was decided in the first six corners as Hedge out-dragged Walls into turn one and then managed the race lead from there.

Simon Fallon made up two spots off the start to leap to third position, while Christian Pancione backed up his race 1 result with another fourth.

Max Vidau charged to fifth place in a bid to keep the championship leaders in viewing distance, while Dylan O’Keeffe was relegated back to sixth. Bayley Hall, Dale Wood, Garth Tander and Nick McBride completed the 10.

Cook got the jump in Pro-Am in the enduro race and then spent the remaining 35-minutes defending from attacks from Sam Shahin.

The pair finished in that order with Rodney Jane claiming third – Adrian Flack striking issues and finishing behind Matt Belford, in fifth.

Race three was a less straightforward affair as drama at turn one eliminated six cars from the race and delivered the first Safety Car of the weekend.

The incident claimed Alex Davison, Ryder Quinn, David Wall, Dylan O’Keeffe and Chris Pither, while Luke King was forced to pit for damage.

Wall in particular was knocked skyward as he tried to take evasive action as cars spun into the outfield between turns one and two.

Following a lengthy Safety Car the race resumed with Hedge holding off Walls and Fallon, who had started quickly and briefly challenged for the lead on the race start prior to the turn one incident.

The leaders held the status quo for the remaining laps until the final two corners, when Walls had a lunge at Hedge in Turn 17 as the pair raced to the flag.

The pair were side by side however the Objective Racing Porsche apparently clipped the inside kerb, turning him around and out of contention for the round podium.

That elevated Fallon to second – and the same result for the round – while Max Vidau raced his way to third on home turf.

With Christian Pancione and Garth Tander completing the top five, Walls recovered to finish 12th however missed out on the round podium.

The Pro-Am affair was just as unpredictable as Rodney Jane found himself leading following the Safety Car restart.

However an off on lap five saw him tumble down the order with Shahin in the perfect position to capitalise and grab the lead – and ultimately the win. Matt Belford finished second for the race and Flack third.

At the half-way point of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, Callum Hedge now provisionally leads Jackson Walls by 37 points in the Equity-One Pro class following a significant swing in the standings this weekend.

Max Vidau remains third while Sam Shahin continues to lead the SP Tools Pro-Am class.

The next round of the championship will see the field return to the iconic Sandown Motor Raceway in Suburban Melbourne on September 15-17, at the return of the iconic Sandown 500.

Hedge flies from fourth, Shahin wins in 100th race

The Bend opener delivers milestone win to milestone man on home circuit

CALLUM HEDGE scored pole, lost three spots with a penalty but rebounded perfectly to claim the opening race in a busy day for the young Kiwi, as the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship launched into Round 4 at The Bend. 

Meanwhile, a fairy tale story unfolded behind as The Bend’s own Sam Shahin jumped from second on the SP Tools Pro-Am grid to lead Adrian Flack the whole way to claim the race victory in his 100th Porsche Carrera Cup race.

RESULTS: The Bend Motorsport Park

The 11-lap opener at The Bend was a straightforward affair that was highlighted by a blinding opening lap from Hedge, who was disappointed after a post-qualifying penalty relegated him from pole to fourth on the grid.

The Team Porsche New Zealand driver wasted little time racing to the front, however, thanks to a flying start and a series of decisive moves that saw him leap from fourth to first in the first four corners.

Hedge, who sits second in the championship, then edged away from closest rival Jackson Walls to claim his first Equity-One Professional class race win of the season, the third of his career and first since the Gold Coast last year.

He was also the fifth different driver to claim a race win this season. Crucially, it also pulled more championship points out of leader Jackson Walls, who shaded the young Kiwi home in second.

Walls’ set the quickest lap on his way to second position having jumped pole man Dylan O’Keeffe on the opening lap.

O’Keeffe finished third for his best result of the season so far and his first top five finish of the year.

Christian Pancione matched his career-best result with fourth in the Supercheap Auto car from McElrea Racing, while Simon Fallon was a solid fifth in his Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic entry.

The top-10 was completed by Bayley Hall – in his best result of the year – Dale Wood, Max Vidau, Nick McBride and Garth Tander in his first solo Carrera Cup start.

Luke King continued his forward march to 11th position while Fabian Coulthard raced his way to 12th position, having earlier qualified only 17th.

Tough days for key contenders included a rough race for Townsville round winner Alex Davison, who survived a wild ride off the road at Turn 8 to limp home in 22nd.

The SP Tools Pro-Am fight was also decided on the first lap as Shahin jumped class polesitter Flack.

He pulled away in the early laps before a return of serve from the latter saw he – and the chasing Dean Cook – close as the race unfolded.

The pair battled for the race lead in the closing laps though Shahin was able to hold on to win and extend his championship lead in his milestone 100th Carrera Cup race.

Flack was second and Cook third – mirroring the effort from his Equity-One Professional class teammate Dylan O’Keeffe.

Rodney Jane and Matt Belford completed the top five in class in race one.

Round 4 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship continues tomorrow with two races, including the next instalment in the Enduro Cup series on Sunday morning,

Race 2 commences at 10:40am local time with the second following at 2:35pm.

Home-town heroes on top in The Bend practice

Times tight in Friday shootout as field prepares for half-way point of series

A FRIDAY afternoon happy hour with all the intensity of qualifying highlighted the opening day of running in round four of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship at The Bend Motorsport Park. 

Taking advantage of a fully dry circuit and new slick Michelin tyres, the South Aussie form guide was established in a flat-out practice session that ended with local hero Max Vidau quickest with a 1m49.9507s flyer aboard his Tyrepower / TekworkX Motorsport entry.

RESULTS: Practice 1 & 2

That lap was two-tenths quicker than Aaron Love’s 1m50.12s pole time from 2022.

The first of two practice sessions was staged on a wet and drying circuit meaning practice two was the only time for teams to understand their cars on new rubber ahead of a key qualifying session on Saturday morning.

Vidau timed his run to perfection at the end of practice to go quickest, while Angelo Mouzouris was a rapid second aboard his Bob Jane T-Marts / Sonic Motor Racing machine.

Mouzouris hovered in the top half of the top-10 for most of practice before his final flyer elevated him to second.

Just 0.0415s split the pair as a sign of things to come tomorrow.

Fabian Coulthard continued his charge to the front of the field in third, with championship leader Jackson Walls fourth. Four teams held the top four places.

Christian Pancione ended his day in fifth position – just 0.16s from the quickest time – with Dylan O’Keeffe, David Wall, Bayley Hall, Simon Fallon and Callum Hedge completing the top-10.

Making his solo Porsche Carrera Cup debut, Garth Tander was 14th outright today, exactly one second from the quickest time.

While Vidau was narrowly quickest in the Equity-One Pro class, it was another South Australian on top in SP Tools Pro-Am.

Sam Shahin topped the Porsche ‘race within a race’, his 1m51.1139s best just 1.1 seconds away from the quickest time outright.

Shahin will start his 100th Porsche Carrera Cup Australia race tomorrow in race one as he seeks to build on his Pro-Am class lead.

His nearest rival for title honours, Adrian Flack, was second in Pro-Am with Dean Cook third and Rodney Jane fourth, just in front of Matt Belford.

The pair of practice sessions were largely uneventful today as the 28-strong field prepares for qualifying and race one on Saturday.

Qualifying commences at 10:35am local time with Race 1 to follow at 3:20pm.

Both sessions will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.

Title race reaches half way with critical round at The Bend

Home-town hero to reach milestone mark at home circuit

A CRITICAL fourth round of the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will play out this weekend at The Bend Motorsport Park’s OTR SuperSprint. 

The championship reaches the half-way point with both the Equity-One Pro and SP Tools Pro-Am classes finely poised with new contenders presenting themselves at every round.

Three different drivers have claimed the three rounds held so far, while four drivers have claimed the eight full races contested.

The 30-strong field for The Bend’s annual round includes the Carrera Cup return of Garth Tander, who will drive an SP Tools-backed car for Grove Racing and Earl Bamber Motorsport.

Tander has a single Carrera Cup round start to his credit – in a two-driver Pro-Am event at Sydney Motorsport Park back in 2016 – however is expected to take little time to get up to speed this weekend.

Also returning to the championship is Ryder Quinn, who missed the most recent round in Townsville following accident damage sustained in Darwin earlier this year.

The Queensland-based driver returns with a new livery and sponsor, Game Over now backing his McElrea Racing-prepared 992 GT3 Cup Car.

The remainder of the 30-strong field remains vastly as per the most recent round as Jackson Walls holds a narrow 20-point lead in the outright championship.

The Objective Racing / McElrea driver holds the narrow lead over fellow Michelin Junior, Team Porsche New Zealand’s Callum Hedge.

A strong weekend in Townsville has TekworkX Motorsport’s Max Vidau third in the championship as he heads into the first of two home events this year.

Speaking of home events, The Bend Motorsport Park will see a milestone for one of the circuit’s founders, Sam Shahin.

The South Australian driver will record his 100th Porsche Carrera Cup Australia race start in the first of three races this weekend, becoming just the 27th driver to reach the century milestone.

Shahin has won 18 SP Tools Pro-Am class races in his career, including a pair at The Bend last year that allowed him to claim the round victory at his own circuit.

Another addition to The Bend’s grid will be Indiran Padayachee, who will make a welcome return to the championship following a hefty crash at Albert Park during the season opener.

Padayachee recently contested a round of Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia in Sydney prior to his Carrera Cup return this weekend.

This year marks the fifth time that Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia will have raced at The Bend Motorsport Park, the series having made its debut there in 2018.

The circuit has been the happy hunting ground of Sonic Motor Racing, who have dominated proceedings on the fast and flowing 4.9km layout.

Sonic have won three of the four rounds contested at the venue, including last year that saw Aaron Love score pole, win all three races and claim the weekend overall.

Michael Almond (2018) and Jordan Love (2019) are other Sonic winners at the venue, while the team has claimed nine of the 12 races held there.

Jordan and Aaron Love also hold the circuit lap records, too: Aaron the qualifying benchmark (1m50.1212s, 2022) and Jordan in racing conditions (1m50.7966s, set in 2019).

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will contest three races this weekend, with all three and Saturday’s all-important qualifying session to be broadcast live, ad-break free on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports, and Sky Sports NZ.

ENTRY LIST – Round 4, Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship
The Bend Motorsport Park

Garth Tander joins The Bend grid in SP Tools-backed Porsche

Bathurst champion to drive Grove Racing entry in next Carrera Cup round

Grove Racing are excited to confirm that Garth Tander, will participate in Round 4 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship at Tailem Bend.

Proudly backed by SP Tools, Tander will sport the number 87, also run by his son Sebastian who currently competes in the SP Tools Australian Karting Championship with the Grove Junior Team and TanderSport.

The highly experienced and respected Supercars Champion has five Bathurst 1000 wins to his name, he will race in the Carrera Cup series for a one-off round in an Earl Bamber Motorsport prepared Grove Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car.

Tander is no stranger to the Tailem Bend circuit having last year scored a P4 finish in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia. In addition to his impressive racing resume, Tander is an expert analyst as part of the broadcast team for Supercars Media.

The opportunity to race in the ultra-competitive Carrera Cup Championship is valuable for Tander as he steps up his preparation for his co-driving duties in the endurance rounds at Sandown and Bathurst with Grove Racing.

Grove Racing have had a long association with Porsche Racing currently competing in the Porsche GT3 challenge with Oscar Targett, Intercontinental GT3 challenge in a Porsche GT3R992, and over 10 years of Carrera Cup Australia competition.

Stephen Grove said:

“It’s important for Garth to have the opportunity to get some miles prior to the enduro rounds and Carrera Cup is the perfect platform. To have a driver of Garth Tander’s experience pilot a Grove Racing 992 Porsche Cup car at Talem Bend is exciting for the whole team”.

Garth Tander said:

“I’m really excited to do a sprint round of Carrera Cup at Tailem Bend. I have raced Carrera Cup in the Pro-Am event that they used to run back in 2016. Obviously doing a championship sprint round is a whole other deal, and I am under no illusion that its going to be incredibly tough. I know how tough the championship is and how strong the drivers are within the championship, so I know it’s going to be a steep learning curve, but I am really excited about that opportunity.

Having SP Tools on the car is a great honor; I have a long-standing relationship with SP Tools and it is great to have them on the Porsche. They are great supporters of motorsport and I certainly hope to do them proud.”

Many thanks also to Stephen and Brenton Grove. Getting racing miles prior to Sandown and Bathurst is important and I can’t think of anything better to prepare me for those two Supercar endurance racing events than to jump into the middle of a very tough Carrera Cup championship right in the deep end and having a go, so thanks very much to them for giving me this chance.”

Tom Tucker, CEO Austech Industries said: 

“SP Tools and Garth have a long racing history with many podiums as a result. When the opportunity arose to partner up again, we were more than happy to oblige.

“It will be great to see Garth show his skills in the new 992 GT3 Porsche. Let’s hope our partnership sees Garth back on the podium where he belongs.”

Garth will hit the track in his SP Tools Porsche for the fourth round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship from August 18 to 20 forming part of the OTR SuperSprint which will also host the 9th Round of the Repco Supercars Championship.

You can follow Garth’s Carrera Cup debut via the Grove Racing and SP Tools social media channels.

Jones confirms Bathurst, Gold Coast return

2022 Champion to tackle premier rounds in family team this October

Reigning Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Champion and current Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup driver, Harri Jones, is returning to the Australian one-make championship in October this year, in what will be familiar colours but a brand-new team.

Jones is currently living and racing in Europe, competing in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and Carrera Cup Germany, with top teams BWT Lechner Racing and Scherer Sport PHX respectively.

He is returning to Australia for two of the most iconic rounds of the season – the Repco Bathurst 1000 and Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 – however for the first time will be driving under his own team, Jones Motorsport.

The Queenslander will be racing in familiar colours, with existing major partners Hastings Deering and MacKellar Group backing the youngster’s new endeavour.

“The Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 500 are two events I always look forward to most on the Carrera Cup Australia Calendar,” says Jones.

“I’m so excited to be returning as the reigning Champion and to expand our team with the support of our amazing major partners, Hastings Deering and MacKellar Group.”

Reflecting on his time in Europe so far, Jones has grown immensely through the intense level of competition across both the Supercup and Carrera Cup Germany championships.

“My time in Europe so far has been incredible,” says Jones. “I’ve been fortunate enough to join forces with the best teams in Porsche one-make racing worldwide and race in not one, but two incredibly competitive championships.

“I’ve developed so much as a racing driver and have gained so much experience within the sport. I’m confident that we will be able to put that all to good use and showcase our team back on home soil.”

MacKellar Group and Hastings Deering were pivotal to Harri’s success in the 2022 Championship through their support and have remained by his side throughout his European debut.

“I’m so grateful for the continued support from my partners and their commitment to backing me through this next phase of my racing career,” says Jones.

“This year marks five years with the MacKellar Group and my second year partnering with Hastings Deering. Both companies have really embraced the partnership across their respective teams, which has been brilliant for me to also be a part of personally.

“I’m so excited to be racing again on home soil, in front of my partners, friends and family. It’s certainly something I’ve missed a lot whilst overseas. And to be coming back to race for my own team adds a whole new level to it, I honestly can’t wait.”

Speaking about the ongoing partnership, Jason Smith, Executive General Manager – Resource Industries of Hastings Deering, said, “We are extremely proud to continue our partnership with Harri Jones.”

“Harri embodies the qualities and values that resonate deeply with our company. His commitment to excellence, tireless work ethic, and passion for motorsport aligns perfectly with our own dedication to delivering outstanding machinery solutions to our customers.”

Having supported Harri since his debut in Porsche racing back in 2019, MacKellar Group are also excited to see him back on the Aussie racing circuit.

“As MacKellar Group extends its support to Harri Jones for another exhilarating season, we are immensely proud to stand side by side with a fearless driver whose determination and unwavering passion embody the values we hold dear,” said Chairman, Duncan MacKellar.

“Together, we drive towards excellence, pushing boundaries, and achieving remarkable victories on and off the track.”

In the first few races of his debut year overseas, Jones has already made his mark on the European racing scene. Classified as a Rookie within both Championships, he has already claimed 5 Rookie podiums and multiple top 5 outright finishes.

With a bright future ahead of him, it’s clear that Jones’ talent continues to shine through among the best, no matter the geography.

The Bathurst 1000 will be held from October 5-8 followed by the Gold Coast 500 three weeks later from October 27-29. To continue to follow Harri’s progress, follow his social media accounts and subscribe to his monthly newsletter at www.harrijones.com.au.

Davison takes Townsville win with last-race stunner

Sam Shahin wins SP Tools Pro-Am battle in North Queensland

ALEX DAVISON has claimed his first Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship round win since 2016 thanks to a stunning start in the final race of Round 3 in Townsville. 

Davison had chased Race 2 winner Max Vidau hard earlier on Sunday but launched perfectly in the finale’ to grab an early lead which, coupled with Vidau being shuffled down the order on the opening lap, helped deliver him his first win since June 2016.

Vidau finished second overall and Jackson Walls third in a critical weekend for his championship and Michelin Junior title hopes.

Meanwhile, Sam Shahin claimed an impressive win in SP Tools Pro-Am after race one and two winner Adrian Flack failed to finish the final race with damage.

He was joined on the podium by Matt Belford, in second, and the ever-consistent Rodney Jane in third.

Both winners were emotional while celebrating on the Townsville podium with today’s victories especially meaningful to both Shahin and Davison. a

Davison’s win was the 17th round win of his stunning career while his race 3 victory was his 48th in Carrera Cup Australia.

He’s the third winner from the three rounds held this year and fifth different winner from the last five rounds.

Shahin, meanwhile, broke Adrian Flack’s two-round winning streak to inject more life into the Pro-Am fight.

Sunday’s two races were hard-fought affairs with Vidau leading home Davison and Hedge in the Enduro Cup opener earlier in the morning.

Hedge gained three spots early to make up for his race one penalty, while Walls finished fourth and just off the podium to add to his points haul.

Though he couldn’t take the overall round win, Vidau’s race two victory gives the Tyrepower TekworkX driver an early advantage in the Carrera Cup Enduro Cup campaign points tally.

Adrian Flack won the SP Tools Pro-Am class over Shahin – who had a damaged front splitter – and Dean Cook to take an early lead in the Enduro Cup series.

Race three was a typical sprint with Davison’s fast start launching him to a lead he’d never lose.

Vidau found himself on the wrong side of the road on the opening lap shuffle, allowing Walls, Hedge and Fabian Coulthard to sneak through.

Fifth position ensured he finished behind Davison in the round, however saw him claw points back on his closest title rivals following a tough round in Darwin last time out.

Coulthard’s fourth was his best finish since returning to Carrera Cup while Chris Pither’s sixth was a similar milestone.

David Wall, a charging Thomas Maxwell, Luke King and Nick McBride completed the top-10.

After winning the first two races, Adrian Flack couldn’t go further than the opening lap in race three as damage from the first-lap battles saw him forced to pit lane and out of the race.

That handed the advantage to Shahin, who claimed the race win and the round overall.

Jackson Walls leaves Townsville with an extended, 20-point lead in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship as the series heads to The Bend Motorsport Park for round four.

Callum Hedge sits second while Max Vidau’s pair of wins see him climb back to third. Dale Wood drops to fourth in the standings while Alex Davison has climbed to sixth.

Meanwhile, Sam Shahin takes a narrow lead in SP Tools Pro-Am heading into Round 4, with Flack and Jane in close company.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship resumes at The Bend’s OTR SuperSprint this August 18-20.

ALEX DAVISON

“I can’t even tell you how this even feels, I’m a little bit emotional to be honest. I’m just so thankful to Scott and Rebecca Taylor for the opportunity to drive their car. I’m back with my mate Ash Seward from ASM, we raced together in 2017 so it’s awesome to be back winning races with him.

“I love racing. I’m on the wrong side of 40 but I still love it and I still feel I’m driving well but it becomes more difficult to keep life balanced and make sure you’re earning a living and to keep chasing the driving opportunities I still have a passion for. I just feel really lucky and fortunate that I’m still getting opportunities like this, I’m driving with my brother at DJR at the Enduros which this helps prepare me for as well.

“I haven’t raced full time for quite a few years now and I often think that I’m not going to get the opportunity to do it again.

“There’s been a lot going on in my private life too the last few years, so all combined, it means a lot.”

SAM SHAHIN

“There was a lot going on, as there always is at Townsville. Lots of white smoke and I’m not sure whether to go left or right and sometimes you make good decisions, and sometimes you get caught out.

“Today that went my way on a couple of accidents in front of me and I just kept my head down and focussed on doing the basics right. I didn’t get the year off to a great start, and I really needed this. The weekend had been a bit up and down but I was really focussed on doing a good job today.

“It’s a special anniversary for me, we’re doing this for lost ones today, so I’m very proud to be carrying the first place trophy home.”

UPDATE: Vidau takes Race 1 win, Hedge penalised

Post-race penalty elevates TekworkX driver to second career win

A post-race penalty to Callum Hedge has elevated Max Vidau one position to claim victory in the opening Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia race in Townsville. 

Vidau had followed Hedge to the line in race one, however was elevated to the win after Hedge was penalised five finishing positions for a breach of the driver briefing instructions – no breaking of traction from Turn 13 on the formation lap.

It elevates Vidau to his second career victory, backing up his maiden race win at the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year.

Hedge, meanwhile, was relegated to sixth position as a result of his penalty.

The change to the result elevates Alex Davison to second, David Wall to third, Fabian Coulthard to fourth and Jackson Walls to fifth.

The finishing positions of Race 1 are also the starting positions for Race 2, meaning Vidau and Davison will make up the front row.

Further penalties were applied to David Wall, as a result of his contact with David Russell at Turn 6.

Wall was penalised 15 championship points for his role in the incident.

David Russell’s car has been withdrawn from the event, however Simon Fallon and Bailey Hall will return to race tomorrow following overnight repairs on their Sonic and McElrea entries, respectively.

Full revised results will be issued on Sunday morning.

Race 2 commences at 8:35am on Sunday morning with live coverage on Fox Sports, Kayo and Sky Sports NZ.

Hedge on top early in Townsville

Adrian Flack on top in tight Pro-Am fight on North Queensland streets

CALLUM HEDGE has picked up where he left off to top practice for Round 3 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship on the streets of Townsville.

The young New Zealander topped the second – and quickest – of two, 25-minute practice sessions today in his Team Porsche NZ / Earl Bamber Motorsport Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car today at the scene of his maiden Carrera Cup win twelve months ago.

Hedge won the third race and the round overall in Townsville last year, the first of his Carrera Cup Career.

Twelve months on, his 1:13.6669s topped the times on Friday by a tiny 0.05 seconds, with David Wall a narrow second aboard his Monochrome / Wall Racing entry.

Hedge was naturally also quickest in the Michelin Juniors and the Equity One Pro class runners.

Darwin winner Dale Wood was was third quickest today, having earlier topped practice one.

Wood this morning unveiled a brand-new livery and sponsor, Ranbuild, for his EBM-run entry today.

David Russell and Fabian Coulthard completed the top five on overall times, with Thomas Maxwell, Dylan O’Keeffe, Angelo Mouzouris, Alex Davison and Max Vidau completing the top-10.

Championship leader Jackson Walls was 13th, though only 0.6s away from the quickest time.

The end of the second practice session turned into something of a mini-shootout with most contenders running new Michelin tyres late in the day, ahead of the all-important qualifying session on Saturday morning.

The tight fight in SP Tools Pro-Am continued in practice today, Adrian Flack topping Dean Cook by 0.08 seconds today.

The Pro-Am pair were exactly one second away from the quickest outright time showing their high level of competition this year.

Matt Belford was an impressive third with Sam Shahin fourth and Rodney Jane fifth, Marc Cini, Tim Miles and Daniel Stutterd completing the order.

Earlier, Cook had topped Practice 1 by the same 0.08 seconds he trailed in FP2, Shahin and Belford in close company in the opening hit out.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns for qualifying tomorrow morning, ahead of the opening of three races tomorrow afternoon.

Qualifying will be shown live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports, with Channel 7 also showing Race 1 on free-to-air.

CALLUM HEDGE

“It was a pretty good start. i didn’t drive very good this morning, I kept trying to drive it like a single seater and it tu4rns out this thing isn’t a single seater car.

So I tuned that up for practice two. I didn’t start off well on the used tyres but re-set and went on some greens and felt really comfortable. I got a nice bunker lap and that helped.

“Last year this was a track I was looking forward to, purely because it looked like a good track on the TV, but to get that breakthrough result set up a strong of success for me in the back half of last year.

“The goal is to do the same and get on the round podium, and the championship lead.”

ADRIAN FLACK

“It’s always a good way to start. this track is always quite frightening to start with and as the rubber comes down you feel a little more comfortable out there, so a good way to start,

“I was thinking to myself, can these guys slow down- it was getting on the edge there at the end. It’s a good start, I love the track and looking forward to the rest of the weekend here.”

Carrera Cup heads to Townsville as title form guide builds

Series returns to the streets as Enduro Cup kicks off

THE PORSCHE Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship heads to Townsville in North Queensland this weekend for Round 3 of the championship. 

It comes two weeks after Dale Wood swept the weekend in Darwin, scoring pole position, three race victories, the round in Equity One Pro and setting a new lap record in the process.

In SP Tools Pro Am, Dean Cook claimed the round win without winning a single race – the ‘race within a race’ delivering three winners from three starts last time out.

It’s a trend seen before in Townsville, with six different winners from the last six races at the Reid Park street circuit venue.

Round 1 winner Jackson Walls currently leads the championship by just five points over the resurgent Wood – with Callum Hedge a further 13 points further back.

In SP Tools Pro-Am, Adrian Flack enjoys a narrow lead over Dean Cook and Sam Shahin, who sit equal on points in second and third, respectively.

This weekend will also see the first race in the Carrera Cup Enduro Cup, Sunday morning’s encounter to be held over 28 laps.

Action commences on Friday with a pair of practice sessions ahead of TAG Heuer qualifying on Saturday morning.

Qualifying will again be split into separate segments for SP Tools Pro Am and Equity One Pro contenders.

Race 1 will launch on Saturday afternoon with two further races on Sunday to complete the round.

Races 1 and 3 will be shown live and free on the Seven Network, while the remaining sessions following Practice 1 will also be broadcast live and ad-break free on Fox Sports and Kayo.

FAST FACTS – Townsville

• There have been four winners from the past four rounds, dating back to Bathurst last year. They are Aaron Love (Bathurst), Callum Hedge (Gold Coast), Jackson Walls (Melbourne) and Dale Wood (Darwin). The last time there were four different winners in four rounds was the start of the 2022 series, which ultimately turned into a streak of seven winners from seven rounds, before Aaron Love dominated the end of the year.
• Townsville last year was the scene of Jackson Walls’ first race win and round podium finish. He enters this year’s round as the championship leader, having finished first and third in the two rounds held so far this year.
• Both of Walls’ podiums have come on a countback: He won in Melbourne on a countback, however lost second in Darwin to Callum Hedge for the same reason. Countbacks are decided based on which driver finishes higher in the final race.
• Dale Wood’s Darwin win was the first ‘clean sweep’ of a round in his career, the race three win coming in his 100^th Carrera Cup race – the first time any driver has won in their milestone century affair.
• While Wood was happy history repeated in Darwin, he will be hoping the same is not the case in Townsville this year: in 2022, Wood qualified sixth however was a non-finisher two laps into the opening race, salvaging finishes of 15^th and 16^th in the final two races, respectively.
• Five (completed and official) races into the championship and only three drivers have finished all of them inside the top 10! Jackson Walls has not finished lower than third so far this year, while Dale Wood (lowest of 5^th) and Callum Hedge (lowest of 4^th) have also been the kings of consistency in the top five. Every other driver has a finish outside the top 10, or a non-finish, to their credit. Fabian Coulthard finished in the Top 10 every race in Darwin, but missed the Grand Prix.
• Rodney Jane’s race win in Race 2 was his first in Pro-Am competition since Bathurst, 2008 – a gap of 5362 days. It is the longest period between race wins in Carrera Cup history.
• Fabian Coulthard’s return, meanwhile, came after more than 6,400 days since his last race in the championship in November 2005 at Phillip Island. It’s the longest period between Carrera Cup Australia race starts in series history.
• David Wall set the Townsville lap record last year, re-setting a more than decade old benchmark and what was one of the oldest records in the series history, dating back to 2011. Lap records have been set at both rounds so far this year.
• Last year was the second time in two seasons that Townsville has featured three winners from three races and was the scene of maiden Carrera Cup race wins for Jackson Walls and Callum Hedge, and the Hedge’s first round win.
• There’s guaranteed to be a first-time SP Tools Pro-Am round winner this weekend; there are no former Townsville round winners on the grid this weekend.
• Dylan O’Keeffe is completing Dry July this year on account of one of his key supporters – GT racer Mike Sheargold – recently being diagnosed with Bowel Cancer. Sheargold, who is a major supporter of Garth Walden Racing via his RAM Motorsport brand, had the cancer detected early and underwent a successful operation to remove it. O’Keeffe will complete Dry July to help raise funds and awareness for Bowel Cancer Australia.

Grove Racing, Bamber, ready for 24 Hours of Spa

Stephen & Brenton Grove to be joined by Earl Bamber and Anton de Pasquale for around-the-clock epic

It’s the most anticipated endurance race with the world’s best drivers and manufacturers taking to the iconic Spa Francorchamps Circuit for the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

Father and son duo Stephen and Brenton Grove, along with Anton De Pasquale and Earl Bamber will continue their international GT campaign this month taking part in the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa forming part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.

The squad has been sharing the driving duties across the IGTC rounds which have so far included the Bathurst 12 Hour and the Kyalami 9 Hour. They also participated in the Dubai 24 Hour early this year where they placed an impressive P4, just shy of a podium. In addition, they took to Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for a round of the GT World Challenge Australia bringing home a P2 result.

The team took to Spa Francorchamps circuit last month to undertake a mandatory 2-day test. Anton helped push the Porsche to second in the fourth and concluding session, finishing just 0.092s from another Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) in P1 showing impressive potential for the Bronze entry.

The Grove entry placed 64th, 47th, 44th and 2nd across the four sessions with the annual 24 Hour race set to be held from June 29-July 2.

The Grove’s are not unfamiliar with the Belgium circuit with the duo competing alongside Matt Payne and Adrian de Silva back in 2022.

The crew will be supported by the team at Earl Bamber Motorsport as they have been for the last two rounds of the series as well as Penrite Racing car #19 Race Engineer, Jack Bell who has previously worked alongside the Groves in their Porsche Carrera Cup Campaign in 2022 as well as Super2 series.

The event will be held from June 29-July 2.

STEPHEN GROVE:

“This is the ultimate GT endurance race in the world with the best GT drivers and teams on a complex and challenging track. The team will race a new generation 992 GT3 Porsche race car.

“It’s a long and challenging race with over 70 GT cars that always have weather challenges over the 24 hours. It is great to be joined by Brenton, Anton and Earl – all extremely capable drivers, and I look forward to working with Earl Bamber Motorsport.”

BRENTON GROVE:

“It is a massive event which will no doubt bring its challenges but we are confident in the package we have and the car has shown strong pace throughout testing which is really encouraging.

“Anton, Steve and Earl are all incredibly capable drivers with a lot of experience so with that in mind and a strong crew, I have no doubt that we can bring home some silverware,” said Brenton.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Tuesday 27 June
14:55 – 17:55 | Bronze Test

Thursday 29 June

11:20 – 12:50 | Free Practice 1
18:10 – 19:10 | Pre-Qualifying
21:20 – 22:41 | Qualifying
23:00 00:30 | Night Practice

Friday 30 June

15:35 – 16:05 | Super Pole
19:55 – 20:25 | Warm Up

Saturday 1 July

15:30 – 16:30 | Start Ceremony
16:30 | Race

You can watch the sessions live via the website: https://www.crowdstrike24hoursofspa.com/watch-live

Clean sweep delivers Wood Darwin win in milestone weekend

Dean Cook claims unpredictable Pro-Am round win in Darwin

DALE WOOD has swept the weekend to take a commanding round win in Round 2 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, dominating proceedings in the Top End at Hidden Valley Raceway near Darwin. 

After taking pole and race one on Saturday, Wood won both of Sunday’s races to claim his fourth career round victory – and his second straight in Darwin.

RESULTS: Race 2, 3 at Hidden Valley

He completed his emphatic performance with a lights-to-flag win in race three, his milestone 100th in Carrera Cup competition.

To make matters even better, the Victorian also departs Hidden Valley with a new category lap record just to complete the sweep.

Wood’s pathway to victory came with a convincing drive in race two, leading from pole and pulling away from early pursuer Jackson Walls.

He then survived a mid-race restart to lead Callum Hedge home, with Walls third.

In Race three, Wood again led from pole however had to fend off a challenge from Hedge, who sent it around the outside of turn one at the start and very nearly wrestled the lead away from the Shannons / EBM Porsche driven by his teammate.

Once he had seen off the the threat from his young teammate, Wood was able to ease away in front to secure what was his 15th career race win – and seal the round result.

Walls and Hedge ended tied on points for second and third, with the latter securing the higher position by virtue of finishing second in the final race. The Kiwi was also the top Michelin Junior driver for the weekend and second in the Equity One Pro Class.

Walls, meanwhile, now moves into a clear – if narrow – championship lead heading into the third round in Townsville in three weeks time.

Territorian Thomas Maxwell enjoyed his best ever weekend and finished fourth outright in Darwin, while David Wall finished fifth overall.

Both of Sunday’s races were ultra competitive affairs with plenty of wild moments and ultra-competitive racing throughout.

Big movers included Simon Fallon, who charged his way from outside the top-10 in qualifying through to fourth position by the end of race three.

David Russell was another big mover on Sunday, charging through the field to 6th position.

It was a challenging weekend for Max Vidau, who came into the weekend co-leading the championship following a strong weekend at Albert Park. Chris Pither, Alex Davison and Bayley Hall were others – among many – to endure challenging weekends in the Top End.

A totally unpredictable weekend in the SP Tools Pro-Am class went the way of Dexion / GWR driver Dean Cook – who won the round despite not claiming a race win.

It was the Victorian drivers’ third career win and came in a weekend where three different drivers claimed the three races.

Sam Shahin claimed Race 1 on Saturday, while Rodney Jane claimed the second race in his Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic Motor Racing entry.

It was Jane’s first Pro-Am win since Bathurst, 2008.

The Victorian was then leading the final race until he came off the road with two laps to go, spinning out at turn eleven and handing the lead to Tim Miles.

Miles was then pounced on by Adrian Flack at turn one on the start of the final lap, the latter ultimately grabbing the race win.

Ultimately, Cook won the round without winning a race, with Shahin second and Miles on the podium in third for the first time since 2001.

Provisionally, Jackson Walls now has a five-point championship lead over Dale Wood, with Callum Hedge in third position a further 11 points back.

After a long break since the opening round of the championship at the Australian Grand Prix in March, the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship gets busy from here on in, with the next event in just three weeks on the streets of Townsville.

DALE WOOD – Equity One Pro class winner

“I don’t know what it is about racing here, but I’ll take it! We’re in a good place at the moment. Last year, we had a totally different car to what we had this year but we’ve learnt a lot. We have a pretty good package going on in the team, I was loving flying the new colours in Shannons and all my supporters.

“It’s just unbelievable. To go and do that, to get pole, three race wins and a lap record I’ll call that a good weekend. It’s bloody awesome, bring on the next one.”

DEAN COOK – SP Tools Pro-Am winner

“I think I only knew (about being the round winner) on the last lap, the boys gave me a call and I thought I’d better bring it home.

“I wasn’t there until Rodney might’ve made some errors and I jumped out, but only two or three laps to go. It’s been very nice to spray the champagne here in Darwin.”

Wood takes tense Darwin opener from pole

Sam Shahin takes Pro-Am win in Territory heat

THE Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship’s current Darwin king has continued his recent form, Dale Wood charging from Pole position to a race one win at Hidden Valley Raceway. 

Wood claimed the outright and Equity One Pro class win, while Sam Shahin won in SP Tools Pro Am.

Wood started his Shannons-backed entry from pole position and beat nearest rival Jackson Walls into turn one.

RESULTS: Race 1, Hidden Valley

He was never headed from there and despite searing race-long pressure from Walls was able to take a lights-to-flag win.

It’s the 13th of his Carrera Cup career and comes as he approaches his 100th race milestone tomorrow.

Walls’ – who was also the top Michelin Junior – moved into a clear championship lead by virtue of his solid second position, while local driver Thomas Maxwell finished third.

It was Maxwell’s first Carrera Cup top three finish, having previously finished fifth on three occasions.

Callum Hedge finished fourth but held off a freight train of key contenders to do so – including a race-long fight with David Wall that saw the pair swap positions on several occasions.

Wall was fifth, leading a freight train that included Nick McBride, Garnet Patterson and Fabian Coulthard.

Max Vidau – who charged from 14th on the grid – was ninth with Chris Pither 10th.

Several key contenders had issues, most notably the Dexion Racing entry of Dylan O’Keeffe, who started fourth however lost several positions early in the run from turn one to turn six on the opening lap.

Damage from contact then saw the Victorian head to pit lane and ultimately finish last, one lap down.

Alex Davison was another to lose positions early, the Scott Taylor Motorsport car slipping to 13th by the end of the race.

Bayley Hall was another with issues, running wide at turn six on the opening lap to drop down the order.

Running in clear air, Hall was able to set a new lap record as he tried to climb back through the field.

In the SP Tools Pro-Am Class, Polesitter Adrian Flack battled with Sam Shahin in the early stages with the pair swapping positions several times, before Shahin gained the ascendancy to score his first race win in Darwin.

Flack had led early however slipped off the road at turn one to drop to third position in the Pro-Am race.

That allowed the ever-consistent Dean Cook to climb to second position, shadowing Shahin home.

With Flack third, Matt Belford finished fourth and Danny Stutterd fifth.

With the fourth race of the season complete – the third to go the distance and be counted – Jackson Walls now moves into a clear championship lead over Wood and Hedge.

Two further races will feature on the betr Darwin Triple Crown tomorrow to decide Round 2 of the championship.

DALE WOOD – Equity One Pro Class winner

“The weekend started similarly to last year, but last year I stuffed up the start! It was pretty strong, I think on TV it might look like a bit of a procession but you’re working your butt off. Full credit to Jackson, he was dead set keeping me honest and I was working my butt off out there.

“No mistakes, that’s the ticket. You make a mistake, you’re going to pay for it. Car is bloody awesome, I love the new colours and I’m really enjoying it.”

SAM SHAHIN – SP Tools Pro-Am Class win

“It’s great to get a win. I had a pretty ordinary first round at the Grand Prix and had a lot of ground to make there. Flacky got in early, and he’s a class act, he’s a tough competitor and a very fair competitor. I had to work hard and for an old fella, I’m pretty happy with that.”

Wood, Flack score TAG Heuer Pole Awards in Darwin

Top four split by under one-tenth in thrilling TAG Heuer Pole Award shootout

DALE WOOD has charged to a repeat TAG Heuer pole award at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin, 12 months on from his last pole position in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship. 

Wood banked a 1m06.6637s flyer in the 12-minute Equity One Pro session and then watched as key contenders tried but ultimately failed to beat his time.

It was Wood’s fifth Carrera Cup pole and comes as he brings a new sponsor into a milestone weekend, where he celebrates his 100th Carrera Cup race.

Jackson Walls came closest, the Objective Racing driver falling just 0.05 seconds short of scoring his first pole – though second remains his personal best qualifying performance in Carrera Cup.

Thomas Maxwell qualified third – just 0.06 seconds from pole – while Friday fast-man Dylan O’Keeffe was fourth.

The top four cars were split by just 0.09 seconds, the top 10 by 0.3 seconds and the top 15 by 0.55.

Co-title leader Max Vidau was the big loser from the session, the Round 1 runner-up electing on a two-run strategy that ultimately fell just short of working – the Tyrepower car ending up just 14th.

In the SP Tools Pro-Am class, Adrian Flack’s 1m07.6831 best came under fire from several contenders in their dedicated session, run before the Pro class cars.

Sam Shahin came closest, falling 0.15s from pole, while Dean Cook was next just 0.03 seconds further back.

Rodney Jane was fourth with the top three split by a tiny margin, while Tim Miles, Matt Belford, Daniel Stuttered and Marc Cini completing the Pro-Am runners.

Race 1 will be held on Saturday afternoon and will be shown live on Fox Sports 506, Kayo and the Seven Network.

O’Keeffe, Flack top fast Friday at Hidden Valley

Quick times in hot conditions highlight practice day at Hidden Valley

DYLAN O’KEEFFE has topped fast Friday for the second round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship as the series returns to Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin. 

The Dexion / RAM Motorsport / GWR driver set a 1m06.8290s flyer late in the second practice session today to top an incredibly competitive grid that saw the top 20 quickest cars covered by just over 0.9 seconds.

RESULTS: Practice sessions 1 & 2

Adrian Flack, the leader in the SP Tools Pro-Am class after one round, topped the Pro-Am runners in practice and ended the day an outstanding 14th outright – and a full 0.5 seconds quicker than his nearest class rival.

Today’s pair of 25-minute sessions set the tone for qualifying and the first of three races that will be held tomorrow.

A host of contenders put new tyres on at the end of the second session with milestone man Dale Wood, who makes his 100th race start later this weekend, jumping to second late in practice two, just 0.008s behind O’Keeffe in the battle of the Equity-One Pro’s.

Round 1 winner Jackson Walls was third and first Michelin Junior driver with David Wall fourth and Hidden Valley lap record holder Christian Pancione fifth.

Alex Davison was next and followed closely by Fabian Coulthard, who was straight on the pace on his long-anticipated series return for BWT Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport.

Coulthard was in the top five in practice one and continued that form later in the day.

Bayley Hall topped the second session for a time before ending it in eighth position with Chris Pither and Callum Hedge completing the top-10.

The competitive diversity in the grid was shown with six different teams represented in the top-10.

Earlier in the day, David Wall topped practice one ahead of Nick McBride and Max Vidau, with Coulthard and Hedge next.

While Flack topped the Pro-am runners, practice two saw Sam Shahin second and Dean Cook third in the SP Tools-backed class.

Typically hot conditions at Hidden Valley saw several drivers trip up today as the circuit conditions changed throughout the day.

Moutai-backed Wall Racing driver Luke King had an off in turn one, making light contact with the tyres at Turn 10 before returning to the circuit after quick work from his team.

Christian Pancione then had a left-rear puncture on his Supercheap Auto car in practice two, while Matt Belford’s left front was also punctured following a trip off the road at turn one.

Braking for the tricky first corner was a notable challenge for everyone throughout the day.

Saturday will see the field qualify for the TAG Heuer Pole Award in the morning, with the SP Tools Pro-Am contenders to run first, followed by the Equity One Pro contenders.

The first of three races will be held in the afternoon, with both sessions to be shown live on Fox Sports, Kayo Sports and Sky Sports NZ.

Race 1 will also be shown on the Seven Network around Australia.

PREVIEW: Round 2, Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin.

Former champion joins the grid as Carrera Cup fight resumes at Hidden Valley

THE PORSCHE Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns to Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway for the 10^th time at this weekend’s Betr Darwin Triple Crown.

It’s the second round of the 2023 championship, with a long break between the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix in March and this weekend’s event in the top end.

Currently Objective Racing / McElrea Racing driver Jackson Walls and Tyrepower TekworkX star Max Vidau share the lead in the outright and Equity One Pro title races after scoring the same points at Albert Park, though Walls’ claimed his maiden round win on countback by virtue of winning the final race.

Kiwi Callum Hedge sits third in the standings aboard his Team Porsche NZ / Earl Bamber Motorsport entry with Dale Wood and Nick McBride completing the top five.

Meanwhile, Adrian Flack leads the SP Tools Pro-Am class after sweeping the two races contested in Melbourne, with Rodney Jane – fresh from a trip to race at Le Mans last week – and Dean Cook next.

The 28-strong Darwin field includes the return of 2005 champion, Fabian Coulthard, who joins BWT Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport’s Courtney Prince in a revised attack from the Melbourne-based team.

Coulthard joins fellow former champion David Wall (2017) and Alex Davison (2004) on the grid in one of the most packed fields of proven Porsche talent the series has ever seen.

The Darwin field accounts for 103 race victories – almost one quarter of every race the series has contested – and 38 round victories.

Davison is the only driver to have claimed multiple Darwin round victories, winning in 2004 and again in 2016.

While Coulthard links with Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport, the returning Melbourne Performance Centre squad will make a comeback to the championship this weekend following a more than decade-long absence.

The multiple GT World Challenge Australia title-winning outfit will field three cars, for Equity One Pro driver Nick McBride, and SP Tools Pro-Am contenders Marc Cini and Matt Belford.

Meanwhile, Dale Wood will become the 26^th driver to reach the ‘100 club’ of drivers to have started a century of Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Races.

Wood will reach the milestone in the third of three races this weekend.

The Victorian made his Carrera Cup debut in 2013 and has raced full-time in the series since 2018. The runner-up in the 2019 championship, Wood has won 3 rounds and 12 races in his career – his last race and round wins coming in Darwin.

Wood also has four pole positions – his most recent in Darwin last year as well.

Territorian driver Thomas Maxwell will also make his Hidden Valley return this weekend as he embarks on his second full season in Carrera Cup – the only local driver on the Porsche grid this weekend.

2023 marks the second year the current Type-992 Porsche GT3 Cup car will have tackled Hidden Valley’s 2.87km, the latest example of Porsche’s one-make racer establishing new qualifying and race lap records on its debut there in 2022.

Dale Wood (1m06.5556s) owns the qualifying record, while Christian Pancione (1m07.5065s) the race record.

Wood claimed the 2022 round at the venue, his most recent round and race wins in Carrera Cup.

The series will contest three races this weekend at the Betr Darwin Triple Crown.

All three days of racing will be broadcast, with action commencing on Friday with a pair of two practice sessions.

Qualifying will be held in two parts – for Pro and Pro Am runners – on Saturday morning before Race 1 on Saturday afternoon.

Races 2 & 3 will be held on Sunday, with the first and third races of the weekend to be shown live on the Seven Network around Australia.

All other sessions will be broadcast on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports this weekend.

ENTRY LIST – ROUND 2

HIDDEN VALLEY ROUND WINNERS

2003     Tim Leahey
2004     Alex Davison
2006     Craig Baird
2007     David Reynolds
2016     Alex Davison
2017     Jaxon Evans
2018     Dylan O’Keeffe
2019     Michael Almond
2022     Dale Wood

HIDDEN VALLEY POLE POSITIONS

2003 Jim Richards           1m10.4116s
2004 Jim Richards           1m10.4029s
2006 Alex Davison           1m09.5227s
2007 Alex Davison           1m09.4004s
2016 Matt Campbell       1m07.5609s
2017 David Wall               1m08.0158s
2018 David Wall               1m07.2438s
2019 Cameron Hill           1m07.4406s
2022 Dale Wood              1m06.5566s

HIDDEN VALLEY TAG HEUER PRO-AM ROUND WINNERS

2004 Stephen Borness
2006 Tony Quinn
2007 Rodney Jane
2016 Shane Smollen
2017 Sam Shahin
2018 Stephen Grove
2019 Adrian Flack
2022 Liam Talbot

Fabian Coulthard to join Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport

Former champion, Supercars winner joins Porsche squad for remainder of 2023.

FABIAN COULTHARD will return to the championship that launched his full-time Australian racing career, joining Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport for the remainder of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

The Gold Coast-based New Zealander will join Courtney Prince in a revamped two-car Porsche Centre Melbourne squad for the remaining seven rounds of the championship this year, with options to continue into the 2024 championship.

Coulthard claimed the 2005 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship for Greg Murphy Racing prior to embarking on his full-time career in Supercars competition.

Despite just two full-time seasons in the championship, Coulthard remains one of the most successful drivers in series’ history, with six round wins coming from just 18 round starts, and his 19 race wins from 53 races.

He won on his most recent Carrera Cup Australia race start, in 2005 at Phillip Island.

Coulthard remains attached to the Porsche brand as a regular member of the Porsche Sport Driving School coaching team in Queensland.

His addition to the team comes following a re-structure of the PCM squad following the opening round of the championship at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, with the end goal being a return of the squad to the very front of the grid.

As well as being an ambassador for the team and dealership, Coulthard will also support the development of Courtney Prince’s career.

Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport is a factory-owned dealership and is supported by the Porsche retail group.

The team is one of the most successful in Carrera Cup Australia history with previous champions, Craig Baird and Jim Richards. Operations have also recently moved into a stand-alone facility In Collingwood, Melbourne and the team have signed a multi-year partnership with global giant, BWT.

The next round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship continues at the Betr Darwin Triple Crown this weekend at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway.

Action will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sport this weekend.

CAMERON McCONVILLE – Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport

“We are genuinely excited to have Fabian on-board. He is a true pro and it’s just what we need to get PCM back to the pointy end of the field. When a seat became available, he was a natural fit for our brand having a long-term involvement with Porsche Cars Australia with the drive experience and of course, a former Carrera Cup Champion.

“We also need to thank Walkinshaw Andretti United for allowing him to drive with us for the remainder of the year alongside his Supercar enduro commitments.”

FABIAN COULTHARD

“I’m excited to sign with Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport and return to the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

“I’ve got fond memories of competing in one-make Porsche racing and it was a great time in my career as I established myself in Australia – I’m still very close with the brand, drive their product regularly and can’t wait to race the 992 GT3 Cup Car starting in Darwin this weekend.

“I was flattered that Cam and the team at PCM got in touch and I’m excited to be joining them to help push their program forward. They’ve always presented quick cars and I’m looking forward to working with Courtney and the whole team for the remainder of this year.

“I’m fortunate that Walkinshaw Andretti United can see the value in me racing this year and allowed me to race in this series. It’s a great way for me to keep sharp and race fit for the enduros later in the year.

“You don’t realize how much you miss racing until you don’t get the opportunity to race, it’s exciting to be back. It’s going to be a challenge to jump in at the deep end in Darwin, in a highly competitive field, but I can’t wait to get stuck in and get behind the wheel at Hidden Valley.”

DANIEL SCHMOLLINGER – Managing Director, Porsche Cars Australia

“Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport has a long history of winning in Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup and we are really excited that Fabian will drive for us and push for podiums and race wins.”

Larry Perkins reflects on 1984 Le Mans campaign as Bob Jane T-Marts returns to La Sarthe

Legend reflects on 1984 Porsche campaign at iconic enduro

Rodney Jane set to make Le Mans debut in Carrera Cup

Bob Jane T-Marts will make a return to the Le Mans event next weekend – 39 years after the brand last competed at the famous French event.

Rodney Jane will make his international racing debut when he competes in the Porsche Carrera Cup races at the Le Mans circuit at Le Sarthe, France, next week.

Jane will race in the one-make Porsche championship that is supporting the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans event – the world’s oldest active endurance racing event that is celebrating its centenary this year.

While this will be Jane’s international racing debut, the Jane family holds a special piece of Australian motorsport history at the 24 Hour of Le Mans event.

Back in 1984, Rodney’s famous father Bob Jane backed an Australian attack consisting of touring car heroes Peter Brock and Larry Perkins in a Porsche 956 in 1984.

Brock and Perkins, who won three Bathurst 1000s together, were an all-Aussie dream team for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but after qualifying the orange Bob Jane T-Marts Porsche 15th and running as high as fifth in the race itself, mechanical issues, and ultimately a crash, ruled the pair out.

Next week, Rodney Jane will get the opportunity to experience the fearsome 13.6km circuit, driving a Porsche identical to the entry that he races in the Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

It is exciting that for the first time in 39 years the Bob Jane T-Marts brand will appear at Le Mans after Bob, Peter and Larry’s ambitious attack.

In Australia, Jane competes in the SP Tools Pro-Am class of Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia for the Sonic Motor Racing Services team.

Jane is in his second season of competition after a 10 year lay off. Before his time away from the driver’s seat, Jane won two AM-class Porsche championships and after one round of the 2023 season, he sits second of the AMs.

The Carrera Cup practice sessions at Le Mans start on Wednesday (June 5), with more practice and qualifying on Friday followed by the one and only race on Saturday.

Rodney Jane

“This trip for me means more than just driving a race car at Le Mans,” said Jane.

“My father was instrumental in the careers of many racing drivers, including some of the best names in the sport and he played a pivotal role in getting Peter Brock and Larry Perkins to race there 39 years ago in a Porsche in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“Two Bathurst legends racing there was massive news at the time and I’d like to think that this trip is a small way to pay homage to that.

“I’m really excited for this adventure. It is really going to mean a lot to myself and the Bob Jane T-Marts business.”

Jones in the 10 in Supercup debut at Monaco

Rookie podium for Aussie champion on debut in top one-make tier

PORSCHE Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Champion Harri Jones has stood on the iconic Monaco podium in his Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup debut overnight. 

Jones, driving a BWT Lechner Racing Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car, finished 9th overall in the Supercup season-opener, and third rookie home – earning him a spot on the famous Monaco rostrum.

It was Jones’ second-straight podium appearance in International competition, having finished as top rookie driver in the opening round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany championship at Spa Francorchamps a few weeks ago.

Jones qualified 12th in Monte Carlo, just one second from pole, and slipped back two spots in the opening lap hustle.

He then was able to work his way forward through the field and back into the top-10, before a strong move up the hill through Beau Rivage on Supercup veteran Jaap van Lagen to secure ninth with a few laps remaining.

The race was won by Jones’ BWT Lechner Racing teammate, Harry King, who beat two-time champion Larry ten Voorde into turn one from second on the grid and was never headed from there. Bastian Buus, Jones’ other Lechner teammate, was third.

It’s a positive start for Jones, who embarks on his European career following a meteoric rise through the Porsche Pyramid in Australia.

He won the 2019 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge and then the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia championship – and represented Australia in the Porsche junior shootout – prior to heading overseas full-time this year.

The next round of Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup comes alongside the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on 7-9 July, while the next two rounds of the German championship come in quick succession – with a trip to Hockenheim (June 9-11) followed by a round at Zandvoort in the Netherlands on June 23-25.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway on June 16-18.

HARRI JONES: 

“It was an awesome race,” Jones said.

“I’m really happy with the result. We could have fought further forward if we had a few more laps but the Safety Car came out towards the end and we ended up finishing behind it.

“The Lechner Racing Team gave me a really good car this weekend. They ended up finishing P1 outright and P3 so they had a double podium so I’m really proud of the team and looking forward to Round 2 at the Red Bull Ring.”

New mini-documentary series on Type-992 GT3 Cup Car set to launch

Inner workings of Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia racer unveiled in new video series launching tonight

The first episode in a behind-the-scenes series delving into the inner workings of the stunning Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car – the car used in Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia – will go live this week.

The SP Tools Tech Series is a six-part mini documentary series, produced by Air Time Media, detailing the inner workings of the stunning 992-Generation Cup Car.

It will air across six short episodes, commencing tonight (Wednesday, 17 May) at 7pm AEST.

Hosted by Supercars TV personality Chad Neylon, the series was filmed earlier this year at Porsche Centre Melbourne with a brand-new car and is designed to give fans an insight into the inner workings of the stunning race car – and detail some elements that might not be commonly known.

Episodes include insight into the aerodynamics, powertrain, handling, interior and performance potential of the 500-plus horsepower Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car.

The SP Tools Tech Series will go live on the Porsche Motorsport Australia YouTube Channel and Facebook pages at 7pm this evening, Wednesday 17 May 2023.

The 992 GT3 Cup Cars will next be in action in Round 2 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship at the Betr Darwin Triple Crown this June 17-19.

Watch Episode 1 Below:

Jones leads Rookies in European debut

Strong start in Porsche Carrera Cup Germany season opener

2022 PORSCHE Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Champion Harri Jones has launched into his European racing career with a strong start at Spa Francorchamps. 

Jones scored finishes of fifth and seventh in the two Porsche Carrera Cup Germany races at the weekend and leads the rookie championship following the opening round in Belgium.

It was a positive start to his European campaign which builds into the opening round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup at Imola in three weeks’ time.

Jones’ drives for new squad, Team Scherer Sport PHX, in the German Championship which includes many of his Supercup rivals.

He’ll race for BWT Lechner Racing in the Supercup Championship this year, following in the footsteps of fellow Carrera Cup Australia graduates like Matt Campbell, Jaxon Evans and Jordan Love in contesting the top one-make category in the world.

“It’s been a really good start to the season. We had a top five finish in race one and we crossed the line in P7 today in our rather wet race two,” Jones said.

“We’re leading the Rookie Championship after Round 1 so it’s been an awesome start to the year.”

Jones now turns his attention to the opening round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, which will be held at the iconic Imola circuit alongside the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

“It’s been a whirlwind start to the year here in Europe,” Jones said.

“I moved to Salzburg (Austria, to be near the Lechner team) four or five weeks ago so far, we’ve been at five different racetracks with lots of testing and lots of new experiences. I’m learning the new teams, people and new championships.”

“Our next round is the first round of Porsche Supercup at Imola, which is back-to-back with Monaco which is going to be a pretty exciting couple of weeks for me.”

2022 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia champion Thomas Sargent will be back in action in the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America Championship next weekend as the series supports the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix.

In local competition, Round 2 of Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia will see the series’ join the Ned Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint later this month.

Sargent fights to second in Carrera Cup North America thriller

Quartet of P2 finishes has Aussie driver, team, second in standings after 4 races

A RACE win seems just around the corner as Aussie Thomas Sargent and McElrea Racing continued their impressive debut in the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America championship, leaving Long Beach with another pair of second-place finishes. 

The reigning Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia champion remains second in the championship with four races complete in the 2023 North American season, having finished second in each of them.

A fighting weekend for Sargent saw him score his first pole position and lead his first laps in the top one-make category in the United States, closing the margin to championship leader Riley Dickinson in the process.

Starting second for the opening, 40-minute race, Sargent slipped to third in the early running in what was a Safety Car-afflicted race.

The New South Wales driver was, however, able to regain second following a late-race restart, which is where he ultimately finished for the third consecutive race, while Riley Dickinson claimed his third-straight win.

Sargent started the final race from pole position – his first of the season – and led the field into turn one, logging his first laps leading the 30-plus North America field this year.

An early Safety Car packed the field up, allowing British driver Will Martin to execute a bold move at turn one to wrestle the race lead away from the McElrea driver.

Sargent then went on the offense, trading quickest laps with Martin as they battled for the lead.

A second Safety Car was called at half-race distance as Sargent’s McElrea teammate, Thomas Nepveu, hit the barriers at turn eight.

The restart saw Sargent launch an attack down the inside at turn one where, with just 12 minutes remaining, he sliced down the inside of Martin to briefly grab the lead.

Martin, however, got the undercut and regained the lead while Sargent was forced to fend off points leader Dickinson, the pair spending several corners side-by-side before the Aussie prevailed.

The pair continued to duel aggressively in the closing stages with a final-lap lunge not enough to move the resolute Martin from the lead: Sargent ultimately settling for second position for the fourth-straight race.

With nearest title rival Dickinson third, it closed the margin to the championship lead to just 18 points heading into the third round of the championship, to be held alongside the Formula One Miami Grand Prix in three weeks time.

TOM SARGENT

“Overall I’m pretty stoked – if you came into the weekend and told me I’d have a pair of P2s, having never been here, I would have been over the moon.

“But when you’re so close on both races, it hurts a little bit!

“We’ve never been here before, the team is brand new and we’re learning. -I’ve learned a lot race-craft wise and it’s been really good. I’ve learned from every race so far and that’s only going to make me better.

“We had the car speed, we had the fastest car here. I hit the wall pretty hard – very hard – on the second lap and from there the car wasn’t quite right, so I couldn’t force my way past Will.

“He defended really well and made it very hard for me. Awesome effort, a lot of work has gone into getting us here and making it happen, I’m pretty stoked and excited for the Miami GP.

“Everyone starts afresh there and it could be our best chance so we’re excited to go there.”

ANDY McELREA
Team Owner, McElrea Racing

“It feels like a win is just around the corner now, that was a great weekend and even though we couldn’t quite seal the deal, there’s only positives to take away from it.

“It’s another circuit where we have shown our cars are as competitive as everyone else, and Tommy drove really well all weekend. Getting a pole position was a big box to tick for us because, as we know, qualifying is so important in Carrera Cup racing.

“We had the quickest car in race two but couldn’t quite get it done, in the end but it was an excellent race regardless.

“Thomas Nepveu had a challenging weekend but every time he gets into the car he is getting quicker and closer to the front and we can see that internally. The boys are working really well together.

“We’re here for the hard racing, we love the battle and this shows again we are extremely competitive. It feels like a big result is just around the corner for us.”

Jones adds Carrera Cup Germany to 2023 program

German campaign adds to Mobil 1 Supercup program

Reigning Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Champion, Harri Jones, will join top European race team, Phoenix Racing – now a newly formed partnership as SCHERER SPORT PHX – for the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland.

Adding to his already secured Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup seat with twelve-time Porsche Supercup Teams Champion, BWT Lechner Racing, 2023 promises to be a pivotal year for the 23-year-old Queenslander, who has recently moved to Europe to focus full-time on racing.

“For me, it’s a very big step to be racing in Europe now,” says Jones.

“It’s always been my dream since I started motorsport eight years ago. This is the holy grail of motorsport and for me it’s a dream come true.

“My goal is to win the rookie classification and to continue to develop so that I can consistently fight at the front. I don’t know any of the circuits yet, and I haven’t competed against any European drivers. That will certainly be a challenge. But I have confidence in my abilities and the team. We will work very hard to be at the front everywhere, as quickly as possible.”

Jones will be one of ten rookies competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland this year, including teammate Matteo Ferrer-Aza from Italy.

Team Principal, Ernst Moser, is excited about what the new season will bring with both rookies on board.

“Even though this is the first year of the newly formed SCHERER SPORT PHX team, we can build on the Carrera Cup experience of the proven team from the past two years,” says Moser.

“We have two drivers who have never competed in the series before. Therefore, it will be an exciting season. It’s a great thrill to compete with such talented rookies.”

Project Manager Jean-Luc Tille believes Jones has what it takes to win the rookie championship this year.

“It’s cool to support a young driver from Australia with Harri,” says Tille.

“He has already shown in his home country that he can handle the Cup Porsche well. With him, we want to fight for the rookie title this year.”

Having secured a top seat in both the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Championships, Jones stands to compete in 16 race weekends this year, a big step up from 8 in 2022.

He has left nothing to chance and has been training and practicing intensively since January in preparation for the gruelling year ahead, both on track through the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East earlier this year, and off-track on the Simulator.

“I feel better prepared than ever before, now it’s time to go show the Europeans what we’ve got!”

The Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland season opener will commence on 27th April in Spa, Belgium, as part of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Walls claims Melbourne on countback with stunning Saturday win

Another wild race, as Adrian Flack sweeps SP Tools Pro-Am

JACKSON WALLS leaves the opening round of the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia at Albert Park with the Championship lead, after claiming the final race win.

The result saw the youngster tie on points with race one victor Max Vidau, however, Walls claimed the overall round win on a countback.

Adrian Flack meanwhile secured the SP Tools Pro-Am with a dominant performance, repeating his opening race victory, mixing it up with the Equity-One Pro class drivers.

The race commenced with a delayed start after Tim Miles broke a driveshaft on the warm-up lap.

When the action got underway, Walls and Vidau battled hard through the opening turn, with Walls gaining the upper hand and driving away from the field, with Callum Hedge slotting into third ahead of Dale Wood and Nick McBride.

Notable early battles featured Angelo Mouzouris and Bayley Hall, plus Christian Pancione and David Wall, which unravelled at the end of the fourth lap, when Pancione spun at turn 13, with Wall losing ground taking avoiding action.

McBride meanwhile made it past Wood at turn 11 on lap six, as light rain began to fall.

The first to hit the water was Walls at turn one on lap seven, which allowed Vidau to bridge the gap, before forging into the lead three corners later.

Not to be beaten, Walls retook the top spot at turn six, with Hedge joining the lead battle.

Wood then regained fourth position, as the rain became heavier, with the safety car called on lap eight, with the race being chequered flagged at the conclusion of the next circuit.

At the finish it was Walls from Vidau, Hedge, Wood, David Russell, who also made it past McBride in the closing stages and had to settle for sixth, with the top-ten rounded out by Mouzouris, Hall, Alex Davison and Garnet Patterson.

Behind Flack in the SP Tools Pro-Am ranks was Dean Cook, Rodney Jane, Sam Shahin and Matthew Belford.

The second round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship is set for Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway from June 16-18.

Jackson Walls, Equity-One Pro class winner:

“It’s not too bad to start the year off! Obviously, there is still a long way to go with the rest of the championship, but to start it on a high like this, I’m so thankful to everyone in the McElrea team, my parents, and everyone who supports me, it’s just awesome. There were definitely some mixed conditions out there, I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know where to brake, and it was just a guessing game the whole time. Luckily I got back past Max when I made a little mistake, and I brought it home safely.”

Adrian Flack, SP Tools Pro-Am winner:

“That was certainly an exciting race, I got a good start, but then I got tangled up with all of the pros in their racing. I got a bit of a lead from the Pro-Ams and tried to maintain it. I had to put a few moves on some of the pros at the end, but that was cool. The conditions were unreal, to go from a half-wet track back to a dry track, and picking the difference between the two was pretty hairy, but gees it was fun. I never came into the pits when it started to rain in practice, so hopefully, that paid off today.

Vidau breaks through for wet-weather maiden win

First win for TekworkX driver as Adrian Flack takes SP Tools Pro-Am

MAX VIDAU has sensationally claimed his maiden Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia race win, in a dramatic race at Albert Park on Friday evening. 

Adrian Flack claimed the SP Tools Pro-Am class in a wet weather race that was filled with action – making up for the non-event that was Thursday’s planned season opener.

Starting from the outside of the front row, the TekworkX driver made the best start and led Callum Hedge into the first corner on a circuit still drying from heavier rain earlier in the day.

Vidau pushed hard to build a margin early before conserving his rubber in the middle stanza while the remainder of the field battled.

Jackson Walls slipped to second early on, leaving Hedge to spend much of his race scrapping with Thomas Maxwell in a thrilling fight for third.

The pair battled through to the penultimate lap with Hedge fending off attack after attack before Maxwell slipped off the road with a lap to go following a mechanical issue.

That elevated Nick McBride to fourth, Dale Wood to fifth and David Russell to sixth, with Angelo Mouzouris, Bayley Hall, Alex Davison and Christian Pancione completing the top-10.

Out front, Vidau had enough tyre in reserve to hold out a charging Walls in the closing stages to finally claim his maiden Carrera Cup win, and first in Equity-One Pro – as well as being the leading Michelin Junior.

The South Australian had three times finished second and won last year’s Albert Park round without claiming a race win.

Flack’s win in the SP Tools Pro-Am class was the 19th of his career and opens his account for the 2023 championship.

He led home Rodney Jane and Matt Belford in the Pro-Am fight with Dean Cook and Sam Shahin – who survived an early race spin – fourth and fifth, respectively.

Maxwell, Dylan O’Keeffe (tyre) and Ryder Quinn failed to finish the 13-lap race.

The final race of the weekend will be held on Saturday evening at Albert Park, broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.

Max Vidau, Equity-One Pro class winner:

“I just got a good start, finally after that first one, it was a bit average, but I just drove away. The boys told me to conserve the tyres because they were probably getting a bit warm, so I just rolled out of it halfway through. I built a good gap, and it was an easy drive home. It was mentally hard, but on track it felt easy, it looked easy. Me and Rob, my Dad, we’ve been trying to do this for a long time, everyone has worked seriously hard, and I can’t thank them enough, I’m just excited to get it done.”

Adrian Flack, SP Tools Pro-Am winner:

“I got a really good start, I managed to go down the outside, I don’t know, I made up three or four spots straight out of the gate, and then I chased a few of them down as we went as well, that was awesome! It was slippery, but a lot of fun. It was quite hard when it started to rain a little bit, there was mud on the windscreen being pushed around by the wipers, but other than that, it was really really fun. Tomorrow I’ve just got to keep the momentum, when you’ve built a bit of confidence, you’ve just got to keep building on it.”

Dramatic end to opening day of Carrera Cup season

Red flag ends thrilling start as Hedge, Flack and Walls star on Day 1

A DRAMATIC start to the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship has seen the opening race declared early, following a lap two accident at Albert Park.

An incident involving the SP Tools Pro-Am class cars of Indiran Padayachee and Danny Stuttered at the back of the Albert Park circuit saw a lengthy recovery and also damage to the temporary walling, causing a lengthy red flag stoppage.

With time a critical factor on the Grand Prix program, the race was ultimately declared a non-event with results not counting.

To that point, a flying start had seen Jackson Walls’ launch into an early lead from the second row of the grid, flying past polesitter Callum Hedge and last year’s Melbourne round winner, Max Vidau.

Walls led the race at the time of the red flag however will have to replicate that launch again in tomorrow’s second race in a bid to claim his second Carrera Cup win.

Earlier, Hedge had scored his second consecutive TAG Heuer Pole Award, picking up from where he left off on the Gold Coast at the end of season 2022.

The Team Porsche NZ driver banked a record 1:48.0219 to score the top spot by 0.28 seconds over Vidau and Walls, with O’Keeffe fourth.

SP Tools Pro-Am pole went to Adrian Flack, who out-qualified Dean Cook and Tim Miles in the Carrera Cup ‘race within a race’.

Qualifying ended with a red flag after Simon Fallon’s Bob Jane T-Marts entry and a slower moving car made contact, tipping Fallon into a rollover at the end of the session.

Fallon emerged unscathed, however the young Victorian – a Porsche Michelin Junior – will take no further part in the weekend.

Meanwhile, double Bathurst 12 Hour winner Kenny Habul was also a withdrawal from the weekend following the flaring up of an existing back injury during practice.

“Unfortunately and old back injury has flared up at a very inconvenient time and I have to withdraw from the weekend,” said Habul.

“I have to thank TekworkX Motorsport for putting everything together for me for the AGP. I look forward to getting better and focussing on the Spa 24.”

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns on Friday for Race 2, the race set for a 6:25pm AEDT start, with coverage live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sport.

David Russell returns to Carrera Cup

Third-place finisher in 2022 joins Earl Bamber Motorsport

2022 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia race winner and top three Championship driver, David Russell, returns to the world’s fastest one make motor racing series this season with the highly competitive Earl Bamber Motorsport team.

This will be Russell’s 8^th season of Porsche Carrera Cup competition, with just one place remaining to be gained in his career title chase after achieving the championship runner-up result back in 2015 and two third place championship results in 2008 and 2022.

Last season’s result makes Russell the highest finishing driver from 2022 to return to the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship this season.

Racing with the same number as his Erebus Motorsport Supercar endurance race partner Brodie Kostecki, #99, the highly experienced racer is looking forward to the new season, his first in a non-single Carrera Cup car team of his long and successful career.

“It is very exciting to be joining forces with Earl Bamber Motorsport who are no doubt one of the best teams in Carrera Cup. This will be a first for me, being able to share data with other Pro category team mates, as I have competed as a single car entrant in the past. This has made it more challenging compared to being a part of the bigger multi-car teams,” Russell said.

“Finishing third in last year’s championship gives me great confidence to push for better results with my new team and car this season,” He added.

Earl Bamber Motorsport Team Manager Ben Jenkins is also excited about the latest addition to this major four car Carrera Cup team.

“David is an awesome addition to our team, he raced strongly to third in the championship last season placing him at the forefront of the field. He brings a wealth of experience and we now have three of the top seven drivers from the 2022 championship within our team.

“This places us in a great position and we are fired up for the season ahead,” Jenkins stated.

Russell is joined by long term partners Dayco Australia, Lago Corporation, SPM Investments and welcomes new partners JAX Tyres & Auto and Macpro Properties to his 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia challenge.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship begins at the 2023 Rolex Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend (March 30 to April 2) and extends across eight high profile Supercar rounds throughout the year.

Pancione welcomes Supercheap Auto as major partner for his Carrera Cup campaign

Victorian driver ready for home-town race

The mysterious person photographed in the passenger seat of Formula One star Oscar Piastri’s McLaren sports car on the streets of Melbourne in January has been unmasked.

While many observers of the viral image thought the mystery man was Daniel Ricciardo, he has now been revealed as Piastri’s lifelong friend Christian Pancione, who will line up for his third Carrera Cup season with sponsorship from leading Australian and New Zealand automotive retailer Supercheap Auto.

The Piastri and Pancione families have been inextricably linked through their shared business and motorsport interests, with Oscar and Christian developing a close friendship that continues today.

With the Carrera Cup season kicking off at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, Pancione is excited to be racing at the same event as his best mate.

“It’s a massive weekend for Oscar, being the first time that he’s raced at his home Grand Prix, so it’s very cool that I get to compete at the same event as him,” Pancione said.

“He’s obviously going to be very busy, but hopefully, he’ll have some time to watch our Carrera Cup races, and then naturally, I’ll be cheering for him in the F1 race on Sunday afternoon.”

The 21-year-old is thrilled with the support from Supercheap Auto, which joins existing partners VCM Performance and HP Tuners on Pancione’s McElrea Racing Porsche 992 GT3 Cup car.

“Supercheap Auto has a long involvement in motorsport sponsorship, backing some of the highest-profile drivers, teams and events in Australia, so their support is a big boost for our 2023 program,” Pancione said.

During his time in Carrera Cup, Pancione has demonstrated his talents, achieving seven top-five finishes on his way to ninth in last year’s standings.

Supercheap Auto sponsorship manager Justin Murray has recognised his abilities.

“We are SUPER excited to partner with Christian Pancione in this year’s Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia season,” Murray said.

“Christian has been super impressive coming through the junior ranks and is a future star.

“The Porsche Carrera Cup Series is a highly respected and successful category, and we’re pumped to make it super with Christian for the 2023 season.”

This weekend’s Carrera Cup season-opener at the Australian Grand Prix will consist of races on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, which can be seen live on Fox Sports 506.

FAST FACTS: Round 1, Albert Park

Everything you need to know about the opening round of the 2023 season

It’s race week! The opening round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship launches into action at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. 

Here’s all the fast facts, stats and info you need to know ahead of Round 1.

SERIES HISTORY

The first round of the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will be the 137^th round held in the history of the series since it began in 2003.

This year is the 17^th time overall that the championship has competed at Albert Park., though the events from 2003 to 2007 were not a round of the championship.

The circuit has featured on the Carrera Cup Australia calendar every year except one since the category began in 2003, regardless of whether it has hosted a championship or non-championship event. The only year it missed was 2021, when the event was not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

There have been nine different round winners at Albert Park in the last nine years – Craig Baird (2013), Warren Luff (2014), Steve Richards (2015), Alex Davison (2016), Cameron McConville (2017), Jaxon Evans (2018), Dale Wood (2019), Cameron Hill (2020 – one race only) and Max Vidau (2022).

2020 winner Cameron Hill is unique in being the only driver in series history to win a round contested over only one race – the 40-minute Enduro Cup race on Thursday that year the only one staged prior to the event’s cancellation.

Outside of Cameron’s 2020 victory, only two drivers have clean-swept a weekend at Albert Park with pole position and victory in every race – Alex Davison in 2003 and Jim Richards in 2005. No driver has managed the feat since the round became a part of the championship in 2008.

Max Vidau’s win in 2022 was not only his first in Carrera Cup competition and the first for TekworkX Motorsport, but it also came without winning a race; the first time that has happened in Aus GP history.

Davison is the king of Albert Park pole positions. He has four poles there – 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 – however none of these have been in the era of Albert Park hosting rounds of the actual championship.

Max Twigg has proven to be the king of the SP Tools Pro-Am category at Albert Park, winning the round five times at the Grand Prix venue (2008, 2011-2013, 2015).

GAPS AND MARGINS

The closest finish in a championship race at Albert Park came in 2018 when Dale Wood beat Jaxon Evans to the line by just 0.2735-seconds.

The biggest winning margin for a championship race at Albert Park remains 9.6411-seconds in Race 2 in 2011 when Craig Baird beat home Daniel Gaunt.

The smallest pole position-winning margin for a round at Albert Park came in 2015 with Nick McBride just 0.0028s faster than Matt Campbell. It is the second closest in series history, only 0.0001s off the record of 0.0027s (Alex Davison to Jonny Reid at Townsville in 2012).

The biggest pole margin at Albert Park in a championship round came in 2016 when Matt Campbell outqualified second-fastest Nick McBride by 0.5322s.

DRIVER MILESTONES

David Russell will start his 150^th PCCA race in Race 3 at Albert Park.
Dylan O’Keeffe will start his 100^th PCCA race in Race 1 at Albert Park.

NOTABLE

• The 30-strong Grand Prix field includes between them: 2 outright championships, 31 round wins, 111 round podium finishes, 94 race wins and 44 pole positions, plus 3 SP Tools Pro-Am titles. There’s a combined 756 rounds and 2126 races of experience on the grid.
• Alex Davison returns to the championship, bringing a second former champion to the 2023 field. He’s also the 2017 Pro Class Enduro Cup Champion. Alex’s first round win came at Eastern Creek in 2003. He holds PCCA records for most consecutive round wins (6), Most round wins in a season (6), most fastest laps (57/171 races) and most pole positions (15) – one of them (Townsville, 2012) by the smallest margin in PCCA history – 0.0027s.
• Kenny Habul, the reigning, two-time Bathurst 12 Hour winner and Intercontinental GT Challenge champion, makes his PCCA debut this weekend. It is believed to be the first time he will have raced a Porsche.
• Ryder Quinn is the first, third-generation driver to compete in PCCA, following in the footsteps of grandfather, Tony, and father, Klark.
• Courtney Prince will be the second female driver to race full-time in the championship and just the third overall.
• Chris Pither makes his debut in the championship. As well as being a long-time member of the Luke Youlden / Thomas Mezera-led Porsche Sport Driving School instructor squad, he’s also recently filled-in for series Driver Standards chief Karl Reindler at the opening round of Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge.
• Neither the Pro, Pro-Am or Michelin Junior winners are returning to defend their 2022 titles this year.
• 9 drivers on the grid graduated from Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge prior to racing Carrera Cup.

ALBERT PARK LAP RECORDS

Qualifying: Aaron Love (Sonic Motor Racing) 1m49.3236s – 2022
Race: Max Vidau (TekworkX Motorsport) 1m48.6349s – 2022

EMA Motorsport confirms GTWC Australia entry as part of further 2023 plans

Champion’s return headlines epic 2023 Carrera Cup Round 1 field

30-car field to line up at Albert Park for the start of a blockbuster season

FORMER Champion Alex Davison will return to face a new era of rivals when the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia championship commences at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. 

Davison, one of the most successful one-make Porsche racers in Australian history, will drive Scott Taylor Motorsport’s entry in Melbourne amidst a 30-car field confirmed today for the opening round of what shapes as a blockbuster 2023 season.

Davison, who will race in Carrera Cup for the first time since 2016, beat Jim Richards to the 2004 championship and in a more than decade-long Carrera Cup career amassed 16 round wins, 47 race wins and a record 15 pole positions.

He will join David Wall as one of two former outright champions on the Round 1 grid, taking on a fiercely competitive field of experienced racers, young rising stars and Pro-Am contenders fighting for their own class championship.

The Melbourne field includes 19 drivers in the Equity-One Pro class – 9 Porsche Michelin Juniors among them – and 11 in the SP Tools Pro-Am battle.

Six drivers – Luke King, Courtney Prince, Chris Pither, Kenny Habul, Garnet Patterson and Ryder Quinn – will each make their respective debuts in the championship at Albert Park.

Prince will be just the second full-time female competitor in Carrera Cup while Quinn will be the first third-generation driver to compete in the category, following in the footsteps of grandfather Tony and Dad, Klark.

Other notable changes include David Russell shifting teams to join an expanded line up at Earl Bamber Motorsport outfit this year.

Russell finished third in the championship last year and is the highest-finishing driver from 2022 to return in 2023.

Young Northern Territory driver Thomas Maxwell, who last raced Carrera Cup in 2019, returns with TekworkX Motorsport – one of several teams to expand their operations this year.

The Gold Coast squad will field four cars at the Grand Prix, with Bathurst winner Luke Youlden to take the reigns as team manager.

McElrea Racing (5), Earl Bamber Motorsport (4), Porsche Centre Melbourne (4), GWR / RAM Motorsport (3), Sonic Motor Racing (3), Wall Racing (3) and EMA Motorsport (2) all field multi-car squads, while Rennen Autosport and Scott Taylor Motorsport will each field a single car entry.

In the SP Tools Pro-Am fight, defending champion Geoff Emery currently sits on the side lines which opens up the always-competitive Carrera Cup ‘race within a race’ to a host of new contenders.

The Pro-Am battle is highlighted by an highly experienced group of contenders, though newcomer Danny Stutterd has just the single round start to his credit to date back in 2016.

The TekworkX driver has, however, raced in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge before making the step up this year.

Of last year’s Pro-Am contenders, runner-up Dean Cook and fourth-placed Sam Shahin both return this year, as does Matthew Belford, Adrian Flack, Rodney Jane, Tim Miles, Drew Hall and Marc Cini.

Indiran Padayachee returns to the championship while Bathurst 12 Hour winner Kenny Habul will make his debut in Melbourne.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia field will tackle three races across the Australian Grand Prix weekend, with all three broadcast live on Fox Sports 506.

Practice, qualifying and race one will be held on Thursday with race two on Friday and the finale’ on Saturday evening.

ROUND 1 – ENTRY LIST

Sonic Motor Racing Services reveals strong three-car line-up for 2023 Carrera Cup title

25th anniversary Porsche line up confirmed for Sonic

Sonic Motor Racing Services and Bob Jane T-Marts have confirmed a strong three-driver line-up for the 2023 Paytner Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

Simon Fallon, now in his third year in the Bob Jane T-Marts Porsche, will be joined by rising star Angelo Mouzouris in a twin Pro-class attack on the title, while Rodney Jane continues in the Pro-Am division – his second year back in the category after an almost decade-long sabbatical from competition.

Fallon has enjoyed strong improvement in Carrera Cup during his two years at the top-level of Porsche racing in Australia.

After winning the 2018 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, Fallon stepped up to Carrera Cup in 2021 and has since recorded a number of outstanding results, including podium finishes at Sandown.

Angelo Mouzouris gets his chance in the famous Bob Jane T-Marts colours after making his debut in the all-Porsche category last year.

Coupled with a season in the Super2 Series, Mouzouris proved fast in Carrera Cup, gaining a year of valuable experience.

In 2023, the former Australian Formula Ford champion is aiming to take the next step forward in his motorsport career, using the Bob Jane T-Marts Porsche as his platform to show his true potential.

While Fallon and Mouzouris will be looking to take their racing to the next level, Rodney Jane is also seeking further improvements in the Pro-Am class.

After focusing on business during the majority of the 2010s, Jane returned to the driver’s seat last year, chalking up a number of strong results in his class, including podium finishes in the Pro-Am class at Winton and Townsville.

In 2023, the Sonic team celebrates 25 years in the sport. The team has won 12 national Formula Ford titles, plus three Carrera Cup crowns and countless race wins.

All three of the team’s Carrera Cup titles have been with Bob Jane T-Marts entries, with David Reynolds (2007), Nick Foster (2016) and Jordan Love (2019) all tasting success with the team and brand.

Last year, Aaron Love went within a whisker of winning the title for Bob Jane T-Marts and Sonic, despite missing two rounds of the season.

The opening round of the 2023 Paytner Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will be held at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix from March 30 to April 2.

QUOTES

Angelo Mouzouris

“It’s cool to race the Bob Jane T-Marts car and I really can’t wait too get started and show the speed that we have,” said Mouzouris.

“We had a tough season in Carrera Cup last year, but I feel much better and more prepared this time around. I have the motivation to do it and I have regained that fire in my belly to have a decent crack.

“We’ve had a few test days to build on some elements. The tests were very productive and I’m confident that any weaknesses that we had has been turned into a strength.

“The Grand Prix is a great way to kick off the season. We had a pretty good first half of the weekend last year. I was running fourth on debut, but the results fell away after some incidents. We have a good base to work from and I’m excited to get out on track.”

Simon Fallon

“I’m certainly the most prepared I’ve ever been for a Carrera Cup championship,” said Fallon.

“Going into the Grand Prix, I feel like I’m in a good place and looking forward to it.

“We had a good few days testing and with some of the rule changes, we found something in the car and us drivers. It gave us some really good insights into the car, which are still pretty new to us – we’ve only had them for one full year – so there’s still lots of learning. It will be interesting to see how those changes roll out and where we land in the pack.

“For this year, we want to be pushing for podiums and wins, but the approach just needs to be that we focus on our own thing and see where we end up.”

Rodney Jane

“We are always looking for good humans to work with, and I feel we have that with Simon, Angelo and the Sonic team this year,” said Jane.

“If the two of our drivers work well together and drag me along with them, I reckon we are in for a good season.

“Simon showed some good speed last year and he has walked away from the year believing in himself. After seeing him in testing, I think he can do really well. He has the right attitude and we really want him to step up and have a crack at the championship.

“Ange had a great start to his career and is an impressive talent. We all know that he has the skills to do the job, so I’m looking forward to working closely with him. 

“For me, the testing that we did recently was really important. I’m still learning how to drive these cars because it’s not a natural thing to step back into after not doing it for a long time.”

Alex Davison to make Carrera Cup return at Australian Grand Prix

2004 Champion to deputise in Scott Taylor Motorsport #222 entry

The Scott Taylor Motorsport (STM) #222 GT3 Cup car will be driven by Alex Davison in the opening round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia, at the Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Scott Taylor sustained an injury during a recent triathlon event in Mooloolaba and has elected not to drive whilst he is recovering.

“The best approach is to ensure my injury is fully repaired and that means being responsible and practical. As much as I would love to be driving in the opening round, I am following professional advice,” Scott Taylor said.

“Alex Davison is a highly valued member of the STM team and I’m genuinely excited to see him representing STM.”

Davison has worked with Taylor for several years in a driver coaching role, as well as competing with the team in several Bathurst 12 Hour campaigns.

Alex won the 2004 Carrera Cup Australia Championship and remains one of the series’ most successful drivers in its 20-year history.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to jump behind the wheel of the STM Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car at Albert Park,” Davison said.

“Thanks to Scott and Rebecca for the opportunity to fill in while he is recovering.

“I’ve been fortunate to have had a lot of success at Albert Park in Carrera Cup in the past so it will be great to go there in the new car and compete in such a competitive field.

“There’s no expectations other than representing the STM squad as well as possible and enjoying the weekend.”

Reigning 12-Hour champion to make Carrera Cup debut

TekworkX expands to SP Tools Pro-Am Class for Grand Prix cameo by Kenny Habul

Two time LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour winner Kenny Habul will make his Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship debut at the Australian Grand Prix with TekworkX Motorsport.

After successfully going back-to-back as Bathurst 12 Hour champion earlier this year, Habul has set his sights on a debut in the highly competitive Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

The SunEnergy1 Racing team owner has linked up with Gold Coast based squad TekworkX Motorsport to field his SP Tools Pro-Am entry at the Australian Grand Prix.

TekworkX Motorsport won the opening round of the 992 era in Carrera Cup Australia in 2022, with Max Vidau earning four podium finishes en-route to the round win, before the team followed up on their speed with pole position and a race victory in Townsville.

Habul’s accomplishments in motorsport are vast, with experience in everything from NASCAR to his more well-known achievements in GT3 racing.

In 2018 Habul won the inaugural edition of the Intercontinental GT Challenge as a bronze driver, before winning again as a Pro-Am in 2021 and 2022.

The SunEnergy1 owner/driver currently leads the 2023 Pro-Am championship after he backed up his Bathurst victory with a class win at the Kyalami 9 Hour.

The iconic livery carried by SunEnergy1 Racing all around the globe will adorn a Porsche 992 for the first time, as the distinctive flames grace Habul’s entry.

Habul will join Danny Stutterd in the Pro-Am class for TekworkX Motorsport, who will also field Equity-One Pro class entries with Max Vidau and Thomas Maxwell.

Rob Woods, Team Owner

“We’re thrilled to have Kenny Habul joining the team for the Australian Grand Prix weekend,” said Woods.

“He has a wealth of experience all around the globe and is certainly regarded as one of the best Pro-Am class drivers in motorsport. To have him join TekworkX Motorsport to start the season is not only a great boost for us, but a fantastic addition to our Pro-Am stable alongside Danny Stutterd.

“As a team owner, I am under no illusion of the task we have with four cars entered, it is really special. This will be aided with the appointment of Luke Youlden as team manager for the 2023 season.

“To do it at the biggest stage on the calendar is a very exciting prospect. It’s a testament to the hard work from every single person on our team, that we’ve been able to grow from one entry in 2021 to a four car operation to start 2023.”

EMA Motorsport doubles down on Porsche Carrera Cup Australia for 2023

Chris Pither, Garnett Patterson join expanded two-car EMA squad

EMA Motorsport will return to the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia for 2023 with an exciting two car entry confirmed.

The addition of a second Porsche 992 GT3 Cup to the team’s stable sees Garnet Patterson and Chris Pither paired for the full eight round calendar. Action starts over the Formula 1 weekend in Melbourne, 30 March-2 April.

The team debuted with the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup last season, putting on a strong display throughout the year with multiple podium results.

In the fight until the end, a double top-3 finish at the season finale secured 3^rd in the championship. The team is now looking to build on this momentum, with the added benefit of running with a second car, to challenge for the outright title.

Garnet Patterson joins the team, driving the #74 Pilatus-sponsored entry.

The 29-year-old from New South Wales makes his championship debut, having previously campaigned in the LMP2 and LMP3 categories for the past few seasons. He kicked off his 2023 campaign with a podium finish at the Asian Le Mans Series event in Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi.

Finished in blue, black and green, the design of the #74 echoes the design of the team’s European efforts with the 911 GT3 R which campaigned at the 24 Hours of Spa and NLS8 at the Nürburgring during last season.

The second car, number #42, will be driven by Chris Pither.

The New Zealander boasts significant experience across multiple domestic classes and formulas, moving from his most recent outings in Supercars. This announcement confirms the 36-year-old will make his Carrera Cup debut in the 911 GT3 Cup at the first round at the Australian Formula 1 weekend in Melbourne next weekend.

Garnet Patterson, Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup #74

“It is something new for the 2023 season, but I’m looking forward to adding the challenge of Carrera Cup to my programme and racing at home in Australia, which I haven’t done in almost 10 years. EMA Motorsport have shown their strength throughout last season, finishing third in the championship and I’m looking forward to working with them to form a successful relationship into the future.”

Chris Pither, Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup #42

“I’m excited to join EMA Motorsport, and by the challenge of racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup for the first time. The car is very different to what I have become accustomed to in Supercars – simple points like being left hand drive – but, more so, the way the car makes its speed and how to maximise the tyre. It will be a steep learning curve, but I have high expectations and it’s great to stay active driving in a highly competitive championship.”

New partners add to massive Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia season

AN ARRAY of new and returning commercial partners will add even more value to competitors throughout the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship. 

Porsche Motorsport Australia is proud to announce new naming-rights partnerships for both the Professional and Pro-Am classes for the 2023 season.

Long-time supporters of Australian Motorsport, Equity-One (Pro) and SP Tools (Pro-Am) will lend their support to the two key classes within the Carrera Cup fight this year.

Equity-One is a Public non-listed Financial Institution which specialises in both investment and finance. It provides secured investments offering attractive interest returns to investors and fast and competitive finance solutions to borrowers.

The Equity-One Professional Class is set to reach possibly its most competitive point yet in 2023 with a host of new and returning names set to provide a thrilling outright battle this year.

SP Tools provides a range that covers Air Tools, Power Tools, Hand Tools, Auto Specialty Tools, Garage Equipment, Air Compressors and other associated products.

As a proudly Australian owned company, SP Tools have maintained their position statement of “Manufactured for the Professional”.

The SP Tools Pro-Am class is an important part of the championship with the battle to top Carrera Cup’s ‘race within a race’ often just as competitive as the outright battle.

SP Tools will also continue to support the SP Tools Mechanic of the Year award, presented to a high achieving crew member at the conclusion of each season.

The championship is also proud to announce a new Coffee partner, in the form of Austrian brand Julius Meinl.

Since 1862, Julius Meinl has been been sourcing, innovating, and delighting customers and businesses with premium coffee, fine tea and more.

Julius Meinl is a family company and the global ambassador for Viennese Coffee House Culture.

Meanwhile, Adelaide-based winery Amadio Wines will continue their longstanding support of the championship as the official wine and champagne partner for 2023.

TAG Heuer will continue to support the series’ official pole position award for both Equity-One Pro and SP Tools Pro-Am class runners at each round.

The 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship commences at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix between March 30 – April 2.

Barry Hay – Motorsport Manager, Porsche Cars Australia

“We welcome Equity-One and Julius Meinl to the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship for 2023.

“Equity-One is well known in local motorsport circles for their passion for the sport and we are thrilled to be working with them as the first title sponsor of the Professional class in several seasons.

“Meanwhile, Coffee is the lifeblood of our paddock and the motivator for debriefs, deals, discussions and de-stressing post-race. In Julius Meinl we have a great new partner, world renowned, to help our paddock get their coffee fix at each event.

“SP Tools are expanding on their already important role within the championship to embrace the SP Tools Pro-Am class, while we are proud to continue longstanding relationships with supportive partners like Michelin, TAG Heuer, Amadio Wines and our title backers Paynter Dixon into 2023.

“This is going to be a record-smashing year for Carrera Cup both on and off track.”

Sargent scores second-place sweep in Carrera Cup North America debut

Aussie driver, team impress in US competitive debut

REIGNING Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia champion Thomas Sargent has starred in his debut performance in the United States. 

The driver from Young, in country New South Wales, finished second in each of the opening two races of the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America Championship.

In what doubled as the debut for champion Aussie team McElrea Racing in the series, Sargent qualified fourth for race one however made up two spots early to finish second behind eventual winner Riley Dickinson from Kelly-Moss Racing.

He then started the second race from the outside of the front row and again finished second, just four seconds behind winner Dickinson after 20 laps and 40 minutes of racing.

As a result Sargent sits second in the championship standings heading into the series’ next round in California, supporting the Long Beach Grand Prix, this April.

McElrea’s second car, driven by Canadian open-wheel graduate Thomas Nepveu, finished 14th in race one and a strong 11th in race two to cap off a solid overall debut weekend for the team in North American competition.

“It’s been a great start to our North American adventure,” Team Owner Andy McElrea said from Sebring.

“It’s awesome to know we’re in the mix in a very competitive field and to get a pair of podium finishes first time out is exactly what we were looking for.

“Thomas did a great job and drove mistake-free all weekend. It’s going to be an unpredictable season with such a variety of circuits and such a big field so starting strongly was important for us.

“The team has gelled quickly and the weekend went smoothly so we’re really pleased with the start and looking forward to building on this for the remainder of the year.”

McElrea and Sargent won’t be the only Porsche Motorsport Australia graduates racing in the US this year, with Michelin Sprint Challenge competitor Madeline Stewart recently confirmed to be contesting a full season of Sprint Challenge in the ‘States this year.

This weekend is a bumper one for Porsche Motorsport, with the headline acts at Sebring being the 1000-mile opener of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the iconic Sebring 12 Hour.

Porsche Penske Motorsport will field a pair of Porsche 963 entries in both races this weekend, with the FIA WEC portion available to be viewed on Stan Sport and the IMSA race streamed live, via IMSA.TV.

Three-strong attack for GWR in 2023

O’Keeffe: “2023 My Best Chance of Winning Carrera Cup Title”

GWR Australia has unveiled its driver line-up for the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, with familiar faces Dylan O’Keeffe and Indiran Padayachee to be joined by a new name in Dean Cook.

O’Keeffe will compete in the Pro class, with Padayachee and Cook to contest the Pro-Am division. While Cook is a fresh face at GWR, he has a wealth of Carrera Cup experience and has established himself as a Pro-Am front-runner, finishing equal first on points in 2022 and only missing the title on a countback.

Last season was also a fruitful one for O’Keeffe, who achieved some significant Carrera Cup milestones for GWR including the team’s maiden pole position, race win and round podium, on his way to fourth in the standings.

Meanwhile, Indiran Padayachee has been a long-time member of the GWR stable and returns to Carrera Cup after focusing on the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge last season.

Walden said all three drivers bring different assets to GWR’s Carrera Cup program, and is expecting them to compete strongly for both the Pro and Pro-Am titles.

“Dylan was in contention for the championship all the way through last season, with qualifying being a particular strength,” Walden said.

“Heading into this season, we’ve identified a couple of areas we need to work on, including cold tyre pace and our performance on higher-speed tracks such as Albert Park and Bathurst. Dylan scored a lot of podiums last year, so we only need to find a few small improvements for him to regularly win races.

“Dean will be a great addition to our team environment – he has a fun personality out of the car, but he’s focused and competitive behind the wheel. Last year he only just missed out on winning the championship, so he will be highly motivated to get the job done this season.

“Indiran races for enjoyment and the satisfaction of personal improvement, and last year in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge he was scoring his best-ever race results. I think he will surprise some people in the Pro-Am Class and maybe even score a sneaky podium.”

Heading into 2023, O’Keeffe said championship success is the clear goal.

“I thoroughly enjoyed returning to Carrera Cup last year and we were competitive all season,” O’Keeffe said.

“Over the off season, we’ve identified a couple of areas where we need to improve, to be able to take the next step forward and contend for regular race victories.

“Qualifying was the strongest part of our game last year – I qualified in the top three at six of the eight rounds – but there are a few aspects of our race setup that need some work, such as our performance on cold tyres.”

Padyachee’s Type 992 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car will be presented in its familiar Rentcorp livery, while O’Keeffe and Cook’s cars will run identical paint schemes, featuring Dexion as the major sponsor.

All three drivers will also benefit from experienced engineering support. O’Keeffe will be engineered by former Jordan Formula 1 operative Rob Palermo, Padayachee will be overseen by JP Messenger and Cook will be supported by Andrew Collins.

The opening round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup takes place at the Australian Grand Prix, 30 March-2 April.

Stunning new 2023 livery for David Wall

Monochrome returns as title partner for 2017 champion

FORMER Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Champion David Wall has unveiled a stunning new livery for the 2023 championship. 

Ahead of a pre-season test at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia, Wall took the wraps off his stunning Type 992 GT3 Cup Car that he hopes will power him to a second title this year.

The stunning black and red livery includes ongoing support from major partner Monochrome as well as long-time backers Paynter Dixon, Brennan IT and Arris Property Holdings.

Wall is one of the most successful drivers in Carrera Cup history, claiming the 2017 championship.

He finished third in 2016 on his return to the category and runner-up in 2018 as he nearly defended his crown. He has finished in the top five of the title race every season contested since his return.

Wall’s 73 round starts have delivered four wins – his most recent coming at Mount Panorama in 2021 – 21 podium finishes, 13 race wins and 10 pole positions.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship launches into life at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix on March 30 – April 1.

Vidau returns for second TekworkX tilt

Queensland team expanding in 2023

Max Vidau will continue in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship in 2023 with the backing of Tyrepower at TekworkX Motorsport. 

Vidau joined the Gold Coast based team as both a driver and full-time mechanic at the start of the 2022 season.

In his first full-time season in the category, Vidau won the opening round of the year at the Australian Grand Prix before going on to claim six podium finishes for the year and 10th in the standings. 

Tyrepower began their support of Vidau through his Speedway racing in 2021, before making the jump to support him in Carrera Cup as primary sponsors in 2022.

The strong partnership between Vidau and Australia’s biggest independent tyre shop will again see primary sponsorship on the #72. 

Bondi Carpets, Exedy, MDE, MV Automatics, Topline Civil and Ceilings by Design will also support Vidau through 2023.

With his first full-time season under his belt, Vidau is excited to continue building on the strength of both him and the TekworkX Motorsport team. 

“We had strong pace at most of the tracks we went to last year, there’s a really good base for us to build from to start 2023,” said Vidau. 

“At the high-speed tracks like the Grand Prix, we were probably the fastest cars in the field. It’s the slower tracks where we needed to work on it a little bit, but through the off-season we’ve been putting a lot of effort into it and I’m confident we’ve developed a car that can race for wins at every track on the calendar. 

“I’m stoked to have Tyrepower back on board, it was awesome to have them on the doors last season and they’re back as the major sponsors for 2023. A massive thank you to Tyrepower for the support and giving me the opportunity to go racing. 

“We started extremely fast out of the gate last season at the Grand Prix, so the aim is to come out and do it again this year and really set the tone for our season,” Vidau concluded.

Max Vidau joins Thomas Maxwell at TekworkX Motorsport to form the team’s Pro class entries in the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship.

Aussies quickest in Carrera Cup North America testing

Sargent, McElrea top pre-season test at Sebring ahead of debut USA campaign

PORSCHE Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia champion Thomas Sargent and Aussie squad McElrea Racing have launched their foray to the United States in the best possible fashion in Florida this week.  

Sargent topped the two-day pre-season Porsche Carrera Cup North America test at Sebring International Raceway, ahead of the opening round of the championship at the same venue next week.  

Sargent’s 2m02.170s best was a full 0.5 seconds quicker than the next best, while his McElrea Racing teammate Thomas Nepveu was seventh outright, with a 2m03.158s.  

“Really stoked with how it turned out,” Sargent said.  

“We finished up P1 overall on both days. It’s not what we were expecting but it’s definitely welcomed.  

“We had a really good two days, we learnt a lot and did some qualy runs and some race runs as well so I fell like we have a really good car for both conditions.  

“Ultimately we’re really stoked with how it ended up and I can’t wait for the next week and the race meeting.”   

McElrea Racing, the reigning Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Champions, established a US-base in North Carolina this year and will field two cars in the championship for the first time in 2023.  

Sargent is the reigning Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia winner.  

The opening round of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America Championship will take place at Sebring next week, running on the Wednesday and Thursday of the ‘Super Sebring’ event. 

The event includes the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the iconic Sebring 12 hour, the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.  

Porsche’s brand new 963 GTP car will be on show in both races, fielded by Porsche Penske Motorsport, with Matt Campbell back behind the wheel in the 12-Hour race this weekend.  

Porsche Michelin Junior program participants named for 2023

Young stars of the sport put through their paces in extensive two-day training camp prior to launching racing year.

PORSCHE Motorsport Australia has announced a record class of drivers taking part in the 2023 Porsche Michelin Junior Program.

21 young rising stars from Australia and New Zealand hold official Michelin Junior Status this year and will compete across the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series and Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

Top juniors in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge receive support to progress to Carrera Cup, while the top-performing Michelin Junior in Carrera Cup receives an invite to compete in the global Porsche Michelin Junior shootout each year.

Porsche Motorsport Australia graduates Matt Campbell, Jaxon Evans, Jordan Love and 2022 champion Harri Jones are all recent shootout participants.

The Porsche Michelin Junior program is a core element of the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid and gives young drivers opportunities to not only progress their career, but also improve their own physical and mental performance on their individual pathways to becoming professional racing drivers.

A majority of the Michelin Juniors were put through their paces in an extensive two-day camp in Melbourne earlier this year, developed by Porsche and specialist motorsport trainers, Reaction Performance.

“This year in the Porsche Michelin Junior Program we’re giving these guys, over a two day workshop, as much of an introduction to the different elements they need to bring in to improve their performance,” said Leigh Stamation, Reaction Performance.

“We did some reaction time testing; we did some body composition testing and we’ve moved on to do a beep test.

“Beyond that we do a spin test. We then had a seminar based on different elements, coaching, training, mindset, and the guys really absorbed it a lot through that.”

Stamation explained that the group showed enormous promise across the extensive, intense two-day program.

“There’s some standouts in the group, but there’s also the quiet achievers who show great promise,” he said.

“We’ve seen some real opportunities with some of these young kids and bringing them all together like this is a great way to observe where those future champions are going to come from.”

Barry Hay, Porsche Motorsport Australia Motorsport Manager said: “The biggest thing about Porsche is that everything is about development. We want to continually be at the top of our game in Motorsport throughout the world, and the best way to build champions is at the grass roots level.

“We’ve basically got some of the biggest hot shots in Australian Motorsport as juniors coming through.

“There are names here you’ll be hearing lots about in the next five years.”

Eleven Michelin Juniors will be in action this weekend within a strong 24-car field contesting the opening round of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series, at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

The 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship commences at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this March 30-April 2.

2023 PORSCHE MICHELIN JUNIOR DRIVERS:

Stewart to tackle Sprint Challenge North America in 2023

Kiwi racer gradates from Sprint Challenge Australia to international competition

Madeline Stewart is set to race in Sprint Challenge North America as part of a two-year programme with JDX Racing that will see her make the step into Carrera Cup North America in 2024.

Coming off the back of two seasons in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia, Madeline will be making the transition into racing in the United States with reigning Porsche Carrera Cup North America champions JDX Racing.

The Queensland based Kiwi will spend her year travelling between Australia and the USA to fulfill her racing commitments and is looking forward to the challenge of racing in a new championship.

“I’m really excited for this new opportunity, racing in America. JDX have such a great pedigree and had such a strong 2022 Carrera Cup Campaign. I’m really looking forward to working with them and I’m confident that I’ll learn a lot. It’s also great to have Byers Porsche on board for 2023 and I’m excited to build a relationship with them.

This will be my first time racing a Porsche 992 Cup Car and to have the chance to race at such iconic circuits such as Sebring, Circuit of the Americas and the Indy Road Course is a dream come true. We’ve had a successful first test at Barber Motorsport Park so I’m excited to see what we can do this year.”

The series in America is run to closely simulate GT3 racing with rolling starts, ABS and traction control. It provides a logical next step in the Porsche Pyramid and helps open many opportunities for the future.

This week, Madeline completed her first test with JDX Racing at Barber International Raceway in Alabama. She will spend the next week in Colorado with team before heading to Florida for a two-day test at Sebring. JDX Racing co-owner, Jeremy Dale, was impressed by Madeline’s first test.

“We are very excited about our program with Madeline.  She is very focused and serious about her goals in motorsport, and we intend to give her all the tools she needs to achieve those goals. Sprint Challenge is quickly becoming a proving ground for young drivers on their way to Carrera Cup, and we think this program is ideal preparation for our planned 2024 campaign in the ultra-competitive Carrera Cup North America championship.  We have just completed our first test at Barber, and Madeline did an exceptional job in her first outing in the 992 Cup Car.  I want to thank Madeline and her sponsors for having the confidence in JDX Racing to guide her on her journey. We’re all in!”

Madeline’s first race will be at Sebring, Florida, 24-26 March.

2023 Sprint Challenge North America Schedule

Sebring International Raceway 24-26 March (USAC)

Barber Motorsport Park 28-30 April (IndyCar)

Virginia International Raceway 2-4 June (USAC)

Mid-Ohio 30 June – 2 July (IndyCar)

Road America 11-13 August (USAC)

Circuit of the Americas 25-27 August (USAC)

Indy Road Course 6-8 October (GT World Challenge USA)

Ryder Quinn joins Porsche Carrera Cup grid in 2023

Quinn to become first, third-generation racer in Carrera Cup

RYDER QUINN will become the first, third-generation driver to compete in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship when he makes his debut this year. 

Quinn follows in the footsteps of grandfather Tony and father, Klark in joining Australia’s premier one-make category.

The 17-year-old will race a Type 992 Porsche GT3 Cup Car in Local Legends colours this year in what is rapidly shaping as an intensely competitive 2023 grid.

Quinn enters Carrera Cup fresh off the back of a strong debut season in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceanic Championship in New Zealand, where he finished seventh overall. Prior to that he gained experience in Australian Formula Ford and Aussie Racing Cars.

The Quinn families heritage in Carrera Cup is extensive, with Ryder’s father and Grandfather both involved from the series’ foundation in 2003.

Tony Quinn won 28 Pro-Am class races in his extensive Carrera Cup Career, while Klark contested five seasons between 2003-2007, finishing a best of fifth in 2004 – behind only Porsche legends Alex Davison, Jim Richards, Fabian Coulthard and Peter Fitzgerald.

Ryder’s debut will come in the opening round of the championship at the 2023 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix this March 30-April 2.

Thomas Maxwell signs with TekworkX for Carrera Cup return

Darwin driver makes Porsche return in 2023 season

Exciting young driver Thomas Maxwell will join TekworkX Motorsport for the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

Maxwell is an experienced up and coming driver who competed most recently in the 2022 Super2 Championship where he delivered a sensational pole position at Sandown Raceway.

The 24-year-old started his career in Formula Ford competition, culminating in the 2015 Australian Formula Ford Series where he notched up seven podium finishes.

In 2016 Maxwell moved to England where he competed in the British Formula 3 Championship, earning a podium finish in Donington.

Two years in the highly competitive Formula Renault Eurocup followed where Maxwell competed at some of the world’s most iconic circuits including Monaco, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Monza and the Nurburgring.

Prior to his foray in the second tier of Supercars racing, Maxwell competed in the 2019 Carrera Cup season where the Territorian finished the year in ninth place.

For 2023 Maxwell will return to the highest level of one-make racing in Australia, with the race-winning TekworkX Motorsport outfit.

In 2022 the Gold Coast-based team flew out of the gates in the new 992 generation cars in the hands of Max Vidau with overall victory at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. The performance was followed up by Luke Youlden with pole position and a race win on the streets of Townsville.

Maxwell will form one part of a three car line-up at TekworkX Motorsport for the upcoming season, completing a rapid ascension from the single car entry that was fielded in 2021.

The 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship commences at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this March 30-April 2.

For more information visit www.carreracup.com.au

Thomas Maxwell

“I’m really excited for the year, it’s a logical step for my career,” said Maxwell.

“With the way that Carrera Cup is shaping up this year it’s going to be extremely competitive and a fantastic place to continue developing my career.

“TekworkX Motorsport was the best fit for me, when looking at options for the year. It’s a team that is full of driven and passionate people that want to win races and there’s a great culture within the group. I’ve got existing relationships with a few people on the team as well so slotting in will be a painless process.

“I feel a lot more prepared for this year after my rookie season in Carrera Cup in 2019. I have experience on the tracks which takes away one of the big learning curves I faced in that season, and it will allow me to focus a lot more on extracting the most from the car.

“Every single event on the Carrera Cup calendar is a marquee event, which makes it such an attractive series to go racing in. We get to race up in Darwin as well which I’m really excited for, any opportunity to race in front of a home crowd is something that can’t be passed up.”

BWT Australia and Courtney Prince join Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport

Prince to join Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport

The colour pink is coming to Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship with a newly formed partnership between BWT Australia, Courtney Prince and Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport.

Alongside a new partnership with BWT Australia, Porsche Centre Melbourne are excited to announce that Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Series front-runner Courtney Prince will join the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship for 2023 along with team drivers Nick McBride, Marc Cini and Matthew Belford.

Prince started her motorsport career at the age of eight in go karts and went on to contest the Formula Ford National Series supported by the Sonic Motor Racing Services team over three seasons. 2022 saw the young Victorian finish fourth in both the Aussie Racing Car Series and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge.

Courtney Prince now takes her next step up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid from Michelin Junior driver to Pro with the experienced Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport Team. The Collingwood based dealership has long supported one of Australia’s most successful Porsche teams, having won three consecutive Carrera Cup Australia Championships across the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons.

QUOTES

Courtney Prince, Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport driver:
‘’I’m excited to be stepping up to Carrera Cup with Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport and BWT Australia on board to support me. I know it’s a big step, but I’m ready and with the support of the team can’t wait to see what 2023 brings’’.

Piero Pellegrini, Porsche Centre Melbourne General Manager:
‘’Motorsport has always been a vital part of Porsche Centre Melbourne. We’re very proud to be expanding our operation and welcoming BWT Australia and Courtney on board. Having a dedicated motorsport department is a unique environment for our dealership’’.

John Wall, BWT Australia CEO:

‘’BWT Australia is excited to be partnering with Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport. BWT’s brand awareness has been building in motorsport globally in the recent years, from our involvement in Formula 1 to Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Europe, and we’re looking forward to sharing our brand’s message’’.

Both Prince and McBride will feature BWT livery for the opening round of the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship which kicks off at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2023 at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit between 30 March and 2 April.

2023 Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport driver line-up:

Courtney Prince:                       Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport | BWT Australia – Pro
Nick McBride:                             Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport  – Pro
Marc Cini:                                Hallmarc – Pro-Am
Matthew Belford:                  ID Land – Pro-Am

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE
https://spaces.hightail.com/space/mXuVTJqCZc

About BWT

The Best Water Technology Group is Europe’s leading water technology company with a staff of more than 5,500, working on innovative, economic and ecologically friendly water treatment technologies to provide private households, industry, commerce, hotels and municipalities with the safest, healthiest and most hygienic water possible for their day-to-day needs. BWT provides modern water treatment systems and services for drinking water, process water, pool water and, especially, WFI – water for injection for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.

Callum Hedge to Drive for Team Porsche New Zealand in 2023

Callum Hedge is confirmed to drive for Team Porsche New Zealand

Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport have announced that Callum Hedge is confirmed to drive for Team Porsche New Zealand for another Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia season in 2023.

Hedge finished in second place in the Porsche Michelin Junior Drivers’ standings for the 2022 Carrera Cup Australia Season. After achieving his maiden win in Townsville and a round victory in the final round of the season in the Gold Coast, he finished the season in 6th place in the Championship. Hedge will be competing in his third season with TPNZ and Earl Bamber Motorsport after debuting with the team in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge national series in 2021.

Hedge will be joining Zac Stichbury who is already confirmed to be driving with Team Porsche New Zealand in the 2023 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge seat. Stichbury was selected for the team following the TPNZ Scholarship shootout, where Porsche New Zealand invited the five top applicants to test their skills in the 991.2 GT3 Cup car. Following in the motor racing footsteps of his late father Ashley Stichbury, Zac has moved to the Gold Coast to begin testing for his debut season with Team Earl Bamber Motorsport this year.

The 2023 Porsche racing season in Australia welcomes a competitive grid of young kiwi drivers with Ronan Murphy also recently announced to compete with Sonic Motor Racing Services in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge this year.

Greg Clarke, General Manager of Porsche New Zealand
“We’re pleased to offer Callum an additional year driving for Team Porsche New Zealand. It was clear by his performance in the Carrera Cup this year that he has huge potential, and we are really looking forward to seeing how he can continue his successes with the team this year.”

Callum Hedge
“I am very happy to have the opportunity to represent and drive for Team Porsche New Zealand in 2023. I am excited to get a second year in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, we have a lot of unfinished business from last year. I look forward to bringing my learnings from 2022 into this year and putting my all in to try and bring Team Porsche New Zealand back their first championship win. I am glad to be back with Earl Bamber Motorsport and continue building and growing the team. We finished last year on a high so I look to hopefully hit the ground running in 2023.”

BWT Lechner Racing signs Carrera Cup Australia Champion

Jones, will join the championship-winning BWT Lechner Racing Team

Reigning Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Champion, Harri Jones, will join the championship-winning BWT Lechner Racing Team for the upcoming Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup season.

The Queensland based 23-year-old will make the next step up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid and move to Salzburg, Austria to be based with the reigning Drivers and Teams Champions. The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is the pinnacle of Porsche one-make Championships worldwide and will follow the Formula 1 Championship at key events throughout Europe across the season.

“To say I’m excited is an understatement,” Jones said.

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me. And to not only have the chance to move to Europe and race in the Porsche Supercup, but to do so with the most successful team in the series history, is quite simply a dream come true.

“This year we will be racing at some of the most spectacular venues in the world, including Monaco, Spa and Monza to name a few. I’m already buzzing at the thought, but I know I will need to work harder than ever to ensure we have success on track.”  

Jones already has experience within the team and behind the wheel of a BWT Lechner Porsche having completed the first round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East Championship with the team in November last year.  

Team Principle, Robert Lechner, is excited for the Australian to join the team and believes that winning the Australian Porsche Carrera Cup Championship is proof that he has what it takes to fight in Europe.

“I first met Harri at the final round of the 2022 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Championship at Monza,” Lechner said.

“He is a very impressive driver and athlete and after already winning some silverware for the team in Bahrain last year, and of course the 2022 Australian Carrera Cup Championship, we are all very excited to see him race with us for a full season of Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup this year.” In the lead up to the Championship, Harri is leaving nothing to chance and has commenced an intensive preseason roster taking part in a further two rounds of Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East over the coming two weeks at the world-renowned Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Autodrome.

Round One of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes place at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, from the 19th to 21st of May.

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

Eric Constantinidis breaks Bathurst Production Car Lap record in a Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Porsche enthusiast sets new Australian record at Challenge Bathurst

Long-time Porsche Centre Sydney South customer, Eric Constantinidis, has broken the Bathurst Production Car Lap Record in his road registered Porsche 911 GT2 RS (Type 991.2) at the recent Challenge Bathurst event held at the Mount Panorama Circuit.

The new Bathurst Production Car lap record time of 2min12, is  2.2 secs faster than the previous record (2min14.2) set by Targa enthusiast, Jeff Morton, at the same event in 2020 in his Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

Constantinidis, who runs an IT and Technology Managed Services Industry business in Sydney, purchased his first Porsche – a Cayenne S – in 2004 and attended his first track day in 2006 at Wakefield with friends. He loved the experience and over the course of the next eight years owned several Porsche vehicles, mostly Cayenne and Panameras, as his business grew.

It was in 2014, during a visit to his local Porsche Centre Sydney South (PCSS) dealership that Eric noticed a rare Panamera Turbo S on the dealer floor. He subsequently bought the car and was then invited to attend a PCSS track day.

His passion for motor racing continued to grow, and Eric went on to purchase a 991.2 911 Turbo S followed by a 991.2 generation GT2 RS in 2018. During that time, he completed Level 1 to 4 of the Porsche Track Experience to gain valuable track experience and knowledge from the likes of Head Instructor and Carrera Cup Australia Pro driver, Luke Youlden.

In 2020, Eric formed the UpTo11 Motorsport team with friends and took part predominantly in local track days, before climbing further up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid to the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge National Series with the help of Michael Newton Automotive and the purchase of a 991.2 generation 911 GT3 Cup car earlier this year.

After finishing second in the Porsche Cup Class Category on his Bathurst 12Hr debut, Eric felt Jeff Morton’s record was within his reach. He was also fortunate that in early November, Round 5 of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Series allowed him more track time to learn the intricacies of the challenging Mountain Panorama Circuit.

Eric was able to break the Production Car Record on his first day at the Challenge Bathurst event and reduce it even further the following morning to 2min13.1.

After fitting a new set of magnesium wheels and Michelin Cup2 R tyres, Constantinidis’ Porsche was then able to deliver a blistering time of 2min12, which is now the fastest time to date for a production road registered vehicle around the infamous circuit.

QUOTES:

Eric Constantinidis:

“I knew both the car and I had the ability to break the previous record and that was the only thing on my mind when I went out for Sprint 1. After achieving the 2m13.9 lap, it felt easy and I knew I could do better than that. In Friday morning’s first session, I further reduced the lap time to a 2min13.1 and had one more shot at the record, before the track heated up. I put a fresh set of magnesium wheels with Michelin Cup2 R tyres on and in the next session, delivered a 2min12 on the very first lap. My predictive time on the Motec was even faster on my second lap but I caught traffic and had to roll off. Either way, I was ecstatic knowing I had achieved a massive lap record.”

“Seat time is key (at Bathurst) and I had to trust the aero, handling and performance in a car that truly is an engineering feat by Porsche. What makes this moment even more special for me is that a Porsche GT2 RS will continue to maintain the record at such an iconic track over other manufacturers. It is a credit to Porsche, the quality and engineering of the car and in essence what brand is all about. This car is simply a road car that performs like a race car. I am looking forward to seeing what the RS Porsche cars of the future will bring to us.”

To follow Eric’s journey up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge follow the Porsche Motorsport Australia social pages: Instagram – @PorscheMotorsportAU / Twitter – @PorscheMspAU / Facebook.com/ PorscheMotorsportAU

Porsche announces 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia calendar

Australia’s marquee motorsport events headline 2023 Carrera Cup Australia calendar

Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) is pleased to announce both their 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup calendar and that the Australia’s premier one-make Championship will again be the primary support category at major Repco Supercar Championship events throughout next year.

2023 will be arguably the biggest in the category’s history, following an immense 2022 season which saw record fields following the introduction of the Type 992 generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car on Australian soil.

Carrera Cup Australia will also continue to enjoy Championship status from Motorsport Australia in 2023. Only a select number of categories are designated as ‘Championships’ in Australia and this status is not only testament to the professionalism and momentum within Carrera Cup Australia in recent years, but the category’s standing and importance in the Australian motorsport landscape. Carrera Cup Australia is widely regarded as a the most proven pathway for the best Pro and Pro-Am drivers from across the Australasian region to reach the highest levels of the sport both locally and internationally.

The 2023 Carrera Cup Australia season begins in fine style at the Formula 1^®  Rolex Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in late March, before attending the seven marquee rounds of the Repco Australia Supercars Championship throughout the year.

Round 2 takes place in mid-June and will see the country’s top Porsche teams head north to the Darwin Triple Crown, following the Championship’s welcome return to the Hidden Valley Raceway in the Northern Territory in 2022.

The Championship stays up north for Round 3 which will take place on the streets of the Reid Park Circuit in Townsville, before making the long journey to South Australia where drivers will again enjoy the fast and flowing curves of The Bend Motorsport Park in Tailem Bend for the OTR Supersprint.

Round 5 will likely be a wet and wild affair in mid-September at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 in Melbourne, before drivers contest arguably their most anticipated race of the season on the infamous Mount Panorama Circuit for the Repco Bathurst 1000 in early October.

The penultimate round will be held on the popular Surfers Paradise Street Circuit on the Gold Coast in late October, before the 2023 season culminates at the VALO Adelaide 500 in late November.

Every round of the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo Sports live and ad free including the Formula 1^®  Rolex Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

The Seven Network will broadcast five of the 2023 marquee Carrera Cup Australia rounds live on free-to-air television, namely: Darwin, Townsville, Bathurst, Gold Coast and Adelaide. While both Channel Seven and 7plus will broadcast highlights of OTR Supersprint and Sandown 500.

Quotes:

Barry Hay, Motorsport Manager, Porsche Cars Australia: “We are delighted to announce our 2023 calendar which will see our drivers continue to race at the biggest motorsport events of the year, in front of the biggest crowds, enjoying the best support and television package available. Every season we strive to deliver a premium class experience for all our customers, teams and partners and I have no doubt that the 2023 season will arguably be one the best in its long and illustrious history.”

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

2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia calendar:

Rd1        F1 Australia GP, VIC         30 March – 02 April

Rd2        Darwin, NT                          16-18 June

Rd3        Townsville, QLD                 07-09 July

Rd4        The Bend, SA                      18-20 August

Rd5        Sandown, VIC                     15-17 September

Rd6        Bathurst 1000, NSW       05-08 October

Rd7        Gold Coast, QLD                 27-29 October

Rd8        Adelaide, SA                        23-26 November

Twelve up-and-coming racers eager to become the new Porsche Junior

Selection for Porsche's international motorsport talent development programme

Twelve particularly accomplished racing drivers took part in a three-day shootout in Jerez, Spain, with the intention of becoming the 2023 Porsche Junior.

For the last 26 years, the sports car manufacturer’s exemplary junior programme has been one of the most successful of its kind in motorsport. This initiative has paved the way for many talented youngsters to pursue professional careers as works drivers, producing numerous world champions and Le Mans winners in the process. The successful candidate receives a sponsorship package of up to 225,000 Euros. The new Porsche Junior will be announced at the “Night of Champions” on December 17th at the Porsche Development Centre in Weissach (Germany).

All the invited candidates share these factors: they are no older than 24 and have finished in the top five of one of the more than 30 Porsche one-make cup series around the world in the past year, driving the ca. 375 kW (510 PS) 911 GT3 Cup. And they all had to showcase their prowess on and off the 4.428-kilometre Grand Prix circuit. The jury took into account not only top lap times and the general performance on the track, but also looked at how they interacted with the race engineers, their technical competence, their interaction with the media as well as the results of mental and physical tests. In the coming days, the intensive analysis of the collected results and findings will serve as the basis for deciding who will be allowed to compete as the new Porsche Junior in 2023.

Of all twelve young drivers from ten countries, the longest journey was made by Australian Harri Jones. The 23-year-old won the Carrera Cup in his home country in 2022. Luo Kailuo, also 23, travelled to Spain from China as runner-up in the Carrera Cup Asia. Dorian Boccalacci finished second in the Carrera Cup France. The 24-year-old Frenchman has already gained experience in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. This season he finished seventh. The same applies to Bastian Buus. The busy driver from Denmark was nominated for the Junior shootout through the German Carrera Cup after claiming fourth place overall. At the same time, he contested the Carrera Cup France and the Supercup, where the 19-year-old claimed two victories and took home the rookie title as the best newcomer. At 20, Kiern Jewiss has won the Carrera Cup Great Britain in his home country. Keagan Masters from South Africa (22) represents the Carrera Cup Italy as runner-up. Kay van Berlo from the Netherlands, Enzo Elias from Brazil and Harry King (United Kingdom) have taken part in the selection process for the second time. Contesting the Carrera Cup North America, 21-year-old van Berlo finished his season in second place. At 20 years old, Elias can already look back on two Carrera Cup titles in his home country, while Harry King won the Carrera Cup Benelux and finished fifth in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Rounding out the swift dozen as wildcard entrants are Dutchman Loek Hartog, Giorgio Amati from Italy and Jasin Ferati from Switzerland. At 20 years of age and standing almost two metres tall, Hartog finished the Carrera Cup Deutschland season in fifth and the Supercup in eighth as the second-highest-placing rookie. Amati (23) wrapped up his second season in the Carrera Cup Italy in fourth place, while Ferati is the youngest of the twelve rookie drivers. The 19-year-old won the GT3 Cup classification in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Switzerland.

The successful Porsche Junior Programme reaches far beyond financial support. The holistic concept focuses on all aspects of a professional motorsport career. This includes, for example, comprehensive support provided by Sascha Maassen. The former Porsche works driver is on hand to mentor the juniors before, during and after each race weekend. The University of Potsdam provides sports medicine support. Mental training, media seminars, PR commitments and other marketing activities are also part of the training regime.

“Porsche has provided the most level playing field possible in Jerez so that it’s the participants in our shootout who make the difference,” emphasises Maassen. “We have a huge responsibility in selecting the new Porsche Junior, and we take great care in doing so. Of course, fast lap times and a performance that’s as flawless as possible with the 911 GT3 Cup are important to us – that’s the baseline. But we look just as closely at how talented the drivers behave beyond that: What feedback they give the engineers and their ability to learn, whether they can motivate a team and represent Porsche, how they handle media, and whether they are capable of developing mentally. Ultimately, it’s all about the overall package that the participant offers us.”

Porsche’s Junior programme has boosted the careers of 28 racing drivers since 1997. Of particular note are the careers of today’s Porsche brand ambassador Timo Bernhard (Porsche Junior from 2000 to 2001), Marc Lieb (2000 to 2002) and Earl Bamber (2014): All three won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans at least once with the Porsche 919 Hybrid, as well as titles in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Thomas Preining, Porsche Junior from 2017 to 2018, secured two victories in the DTM this year with the 911 GT3 R. At the end of 2021, Laurin Heinrich from Würzburg was chosen. The now 21-year-old finished the current season as the champion of the Carrera Cup Deutschland and secured third place in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Heinrich attended the shootout in Jerez as a reference driver.

“We are proud of the Porsche Junior concept – after all, it is one of the most successful junior programmes in motorsport,” emphasises Marc Lieb, one of the first participants in this talent development initiative and current Sports Communications Manager at Porsche. “This programme also played an important role in my career and opened the door to professional motorsport for me 22 years ago. Without this support, my dream of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans would probably have never materialised.”

Carrera Cup Australia has produced two Junior Shootout winners to date: Matt Campbell (2016) and Jaxon Evans (2018) who both have gone onto forge international careers with Porsche.

Details of the Porsche Michelin Junior Programme in Australia can be found here:

https://www.carreracup.com.au/junior-programme/
https://www.porschesprintchallenge.com.au/junior-programme/

Manthey EMA ‘Grello’ Porsche 911 GT3 R to line-up for Liqui Moly Bathurst 12Hr

Manthey EMA heading back to The Mountain with exciting Bathurst 12hr entry

EMA Motorsport will once again combine with Manthey, starting the 2023 season off in the most exciting way with confirmation of entry into the Bathurst 12 Hour. After successful events in Europe, the Australian-German effort will be hard to miss as they come together to send the iconic green and yellow ‘Grello’ Porsche 911 GT3 R to the Mountain with a Pro driver effort.

Since debuting with the Porsche 911 GT3 R in Europe earlier this year, Melbourne-based EMA Motorsport has delivered front-running performances at both the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa and a recent round of the NLS championship at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

These efforts have been supported by Manthey, running with highly regarded driver line-ups, as the team underlines its drive to compete at the highest level. The announcement of Manthey-EMA entry to the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour is the first part of an exciting 2023 racing schedule for the team.

This will be only the second time that the fan favourite ‘Grello’ livery has run in the Southern

Hemisphere. The iconic neon green and yellow design was seen in Australia on one occasion, previously competing at Mount Panorama with Manthey in 2018.

Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director of Manthey Racing GmbH:

“The season opener of the Intercontinental GT Challenge in Bathurst is a special highlight in the racing calendar, and we are looking forward to starting our motorsport year 2023 with this event together with EMA. With its hilly sections, the Mount Panorama Circuit is reminiscent of the Nordschleife and places very high demands on both the vehicle and the drivers. This is exactly where we’re experienced from our stints in the Green Hell. And we clearly want to compete for victory in Australia.”

EMA Motorsport makes a first appearance at the Bathurst 12 Hours with the Porsche 911 GT3 R, having raced at the Mountain as part of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia grid earlier this year. The race will also be one of the final appearances for the 991.2 iteration of the GT3 R in top-flight competition, ahead of the new 992 generation joining grids from 2023.

The team is currently working through the final preparations ahead of the 2023 season-opening event, finalising the details of the Pro line-up. Further details of the drivers are set to revealed early in the New Year.

The 2023 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour takes place 3-5 February 2023.

For more Porsche Motorsport Australia news and content follow the Porsche Motorsport Australia social pages: Instagram – @PorscheMotorsportAU / Twitter – @PorscheMspAU / Facebook.com/ PorscheMotorsportAU

Carrera Cup Australia Champion to race with Lechner Racing in Bahrain

Jones continues his ascent up Porsche Motorsport Pyramid

Recently crowned Australian Carrera Cup Champion, Harri Jones, will join Lechner Racing this weekend for the first round of Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East in Bahrain.

Just two days after claiming the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship at the Gold Coast 500, the Sunshine Coast based 23-year-old headed to the airport to depart to the Middle East. Over the weekend, Jones took part in two days of official Preseason Testing with the 2022 Supercup Teams Champion, Lechner Racing.

“I have the opportunity of a lifetime to test and race with Lechner Racing. They are a very professional outfit with some incredible credentials. I have already learnt so much over the two days of testing here in Bahrain. It’s been a privilege to drive the pink BWT car and now with a full race weekend ahead of us I’m excited to show them what we are capable of.” Jones said.

Team Principal, Robert Lechner, initially invited Harri for the two days of testing alone. However, after impressing the team and quickly adapting to the new environment, the whole team are excited for Jones to join them for Round 1 of the Championship.

“I first met Harri at the final round of the Mobil 1 Supercup at Monza. He is a very impressive young guy and after two successful days of testing, we are all excited to see him race in the BWT Junior car this weekend in Bahrain.” Lechner said.

After the event, there won’t be much downtime for Jones as he will travel to Europe for the Porsche Motorsport Junior Shootout taking place from the 22nd of November.

“My time spent here in Bahrain has been perfect for my preparation leading into Junior Shootout. I have needed to change my driving style a little bit to suit the Formula 1 style circuits. Here I have time to adapt and get input from the best in the business. So, I’m looking forward to taking everything I have learnt over here and putting it to good use at the shootout.” Said Jones.

Round One of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East Championship takes place from the

10th to the 12th of November. Tune in to Harri Jones’ social media accounts to stay up to date with his progress.

Drivers confirmed for the 2023 Team Porsche NZ Scholarship

Team Porsche NZ (TPNZ) have announced their 2023 Scholarship recipients

Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ) have announced their 2023 Scholarship recipients.

Scholarship Shootout in the 991.2 GT3 Cup Car
The shootout event at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park that was held on 11th October 2022, where the five top applicants were invited by Porsche New Zealand to test their skills in the 991.2 GT3 Cup car. The final five finalists for the TPNZ shootout were Kaleb Ngatoa (21), Matthew Mccutcheon (19), Ronan Murphy (21), Ryan Wood (18), and Zac Stichbury (21). At the shootout, the finalists were tested on and off the track at multiple stations including character interviews with Earl Bamber and the Porsche New Zealand team, track testing in the 991.2 GT3 Cup car with analysis with Ben Jenkins from Earl Bamber Motorsport, fitness testing (reaction, cardio, and strength-based tests) with Alastair Wooiton from Formula Fit, mental potential assessment and media interviews with TVNZ Sunday reporter Kristin Hall.

2023 Scholarship Driver Announcement
Porsche New Zealand is pleased to announce that the Carrera Cup scholarship driver for the 2023 season is Ryan Wood. Ryan has graduated from competing in the 2022 Porsche Michelin Sprint Cup Challenge through the scholarship program, to the Team Porsche New Zealand main car for the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

In his first year with Team Porsche NZ, Ryan Wood is currently ranked second in the 2022 Michelin Sprint Challenge. The penultimate round of the series takes place this weekend at the Bathurst International.

In addition, it has been announced that Zac Stichbury is the second scholarship recipient, due to compete for Team Porsche New Zealand in 2023 in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Cup Challenge. Following in the motor racing footsteps of his late father Ashley Stichbury, Stichbury won the 2018 NZ Schools Championships and the New Zealand Rotax Max Challenge, before representing New Zealand in the World Grand Finals in Brazil. He has since progressed through Formula Ford and the Toyota 86 Championship. With the recent completion of his degree in Industrial Design at Auckland University of Technology, Zac is moving across the ditch to live in the Gold Coast and start preparing for his debut season with Team Porsche New Zealand in 2023.

Two successful seasons for Team Porsche New Zealand in Australia
After two successful seasons in Australia, Team Porsche New Zealand has already had success in achieving its purpose – winning & creating a pathway for young New Zealand talent to advance in motorsport.

Matthew Payne was the 2021 Team Porsche New Zealand Scholarship driver, in a Covid-19 affected season he achieved two pole positions and a race win. In 2022 Mathew joined Grove Racing as their inaugural inductee into their Grove Junior Team, competing in Super2. In addition, Payne made his Bathurst 1000 debut driving alongside Lee Holdsworth who finished in 6th place in the Grove Racing Ford Mustang GT FN. Payne has since joined Penrite Racing as a full-time driver for the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship.

In 2022, Callum Hedge has been competing for Team Porsche New Zealand in the Carrera Cup Australia scholarship seat and finished as the top ranked Rookie in the Michelin Junior Drivers’ standings. Hedge finished the season in 6th place in the Championship after achieving his maiden win in Townsville and a round victory in the final round of the season in the Gold Coast.

Earl Bamber: “This was an amazing opportunity to see five really talented drivers from New Zealand all line up together in the same car, I think it’s the first ever time in New Zealand it’s been done. It was incredibly hard to judge all five and I think all of them have big careers in motorsport ahead of them. With Ryan Wood continuing with us in Carrera Cup and Zac Stichbury in the Sprint Challenge, we are super excited to have these two young men join us in the scholarship car. I think they are very well deserving and represent the core values of what the scholarship for Team Porsche New Zealand is all about; giving young drivers an opportunity to perform at the highest level and show their talent and skills. We’re really looking forward to the 2023 season with both drivers to see what they can achieve. This year Callum Hedge has achieved two round wins, and the same with Ryan in the Sprint Challenge, so I think the talent pool is massive. A huge thank you to Porsche New Zealand for making this possible for young drivers in this country.”

Porsche New Zealand General Manager, Greg Clarke: “After two successful seasons competing in Australia, we are proud to continue offering young kiwi talent a pathway in motorsport. Ryan Wood has demonstrated himself as a competitive athlete this year and with the introduction of Zac Stichbury into the team as the Sprint Challenge driver, we are excited to see what 2023 has in store for our scholarship team”.

Ryan Wood: “I’m very excited and privileged to continue my journey with TPNZ and EBM next year in the Carrera cup. Following this year’s results, I’m looking forward to achieving the same results next year with the ambition to be a title contender again. This year has been a huge success with being a title contender and having race wins and pole positions every round. It’s been awesome to work with everyone at TPNZ and learn lots on and off track with their guidance being a huge help. A big thank you to everyone at TPNZ for selecting me and giving me a chance to represent this awesome brand and group of people again!”

Zac Stichbury: “Words struggle to describe how much this means to me, to be selected as a Porsche New Zealand driver and race for Earl Bamber Motorsport next year in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge. To finally get the opportunity to continue from where my late father finished up and to race under the New Zealand based team over in Australia. I am aiming to win the championship as well as improve and grow each race weekend as a driver and with the team. Can’t wait to see what unfolds and to learn and take this opportunity with both hands.”

About Team Porsche New Zealand
Team Porsche New Zealand was formed by Porsche New Zealand in conjunction with Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) in late 2019 to provide young New Zealand talent the opportunity and pathway to advance their motorsport career in Australia. The scholarship programme sees drivers competing in the Carrera Cup Australia which is a key component in the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid, and the feeder series, the Porsche Sprint Challenge.

The team is based in Brisbane and run by EBM, whose principal is two-time Le Mans 24-hour winner Earl Bamber. Earl himself progressed his motorsport career via the Porsche Pyramid through Carrera Cup Asia, Porsche Super Cup, and ultimately as a factory driver for Porsche in both the World Endurance Championship and the North American International Motor Sports Association.

It is intended that each year a scholarship will be offered to support an exciting young New Zealand talent achieving a drive in the Carrera Cup Australia, and a second driver in the Sprint Challenge Australia. The combination of Bamber’s international motor racing and Porsche Motorsport experience provides a unique opportunity to develop their skills and succeed.

For race information, videos and interviews, follow the Porsche Motorsport Australia social pages: Instagram – @PorscheMotorsportAU / Twitter – @PorscheMspAU / Facebook.com/ PorscheMotorsportAU

Hedge claims Surfers round, Jones takes title

Cook takes Morris Pro-Am round as Emery claims closest ever title win

CALLUM HEDGE claimed his second career Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship round victory on the Gold Coast, as Harri Jones closed out a title-winning season to take the 2022 championship.

A pair of second-place finishes on Sunday delivered Team Porsche New Zealand / Earl Bamber Motorsport driver Hedge the Round Eight victory over Aaron Love and David Russell.

In yet another tense title finale’, Jones held on to the Aaron Love onslaught to claim the title by 11 points, delivering him a second one-make Porsche title having already claimed the Michelin Sprint Challenge crown in 2019.

Love finished second for the round and won both races on Sunday, coming from 330 points behind following round three to end up within striking distance of the leader heading into the final race.

Jones’ scored finishes of fifth and sixth across Sunday’s pair of races, respectively, more than enough to seal his title, delivering McElrea Racing their third Carrera Cup crown.

The Morris Pro-Am Championship was decided in even more dramatic circumstances as the title had three different leaders across the three races this weekend.

Geoff Emery led the standings into Sunday’s first of two races, only to surrender the lead to Liam Talbot following race two.

A dramatic crash early in race three saw Talbot damaged and shifted the momentum back to Emery – only for him to then face a resurgent Dean Cook.

Cook, yet to win a race in 2022, found himself leading the race and claimed his first race and round win of the season via success in race three.

That tied the championship in Pro-Am, with Emery claiming the title on countback by virtue of having more race victories this season.

Cook’s round win was his first since the Gold Coast in 2017, the second of his career, and saw him lead home Adrian Flack and Liam Talbot for the round eight honours.

Earlier on Sunday a pair of titles were decided in a pulsating Endurance Cup finale.

Starting fourth, Aaron Love wasted no time charging his way to the front and would ultimately grab the race lead before the 10th lap.

He then powered away to win by the largest margin of the season to claim the Enduro title for 2022.

The race was a tough affair behind as Callum Hedge and David Russell completed the top three, with Dylan O’Keefe fourth and championship leader Harri Jones fifth.

The latter was aided by a non-finish by Dale Wood, who had run in the top three early before a mechanical issue forced him out.

Liam Talbot sealed the Morris Pro-Am endurance title with a victory in the Carrera Cup ‘race within a race’.

Dean Cook was second and Matt Belford third in a potentially championship-changing race.

The then class-leader Geoff Emery had contact with Rodney Jane, which tore a rear tyre out of his car, forcing him to pit and lose a lap – ultimately finishing seventh in class.

Race three found itself under Safety Car early following a crash at Turn four, with multiple cars caught up.

On the restart, Love pulled away in front again while Hedge fended off David Russell and a resurgent David Wall.

The Morris Pro-Am battle saw Cook leading Flack and Emery, the latter doing just enough to ensure he returned to the lead of the championship on the eventual countback.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia champions will be formally crowned on the Gold Coast on Sunday night in the return of the traditional end-of-season awards gala.

Harri Jones, Pro Champion:

“I’m thinking every emotion now, I almost cried coming into pitlane, absolutely over the moon. I just can’t thank the whole McElrea team enough, my family, my partner and commercial partners, I can’t believe it. It was a tough weekend for us and it went down right to the last laps, we just had to keep our heads cool, keep focussed and all the hard work paid off this weekend, I’m absolutely stoked. The thing in this category you have to bully or you will be bullied, that last race I had the Championship in the back of my mind, so I wanted to get the best position possible and come home with a clean car and that’s exactly what we did, so massive thanks to the team, the Porsche Pyramid is fantastic and I hope to continue climbing it next year.”

Geoff Emery, Morris Pro-Am Champion:

“It feels unbelievable, Dean Cook did a very good job all year, he’s been an awesome team mate and a fierce competitor as well, so really happy to equal the points with him and win on the count back. It couldn’t be more exciting, very happy with the Championship. Its been a pretty up and down season to be honest, got into a bit of trouble here and there, but we going to celebrate at the Awards Evening in town with a couple of beers, it will be great looking forward to it.”

Hedge, Shahin claim dramatic Gold Coast opener

Contender Aaron Love charges from 15th to 4th to keep title hopes alive

TENSE victories for Callum Hedge and Sam Shahin and one of the greatest comebacks in Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia championship history highlighted a dramatic opening race at the Gold Coast 500 on Saturday afternoon. 

In one of the best races in recent Carrera Cup history, Callum Hedge spent much of his race fending off David Russell to claim his second championship race win this season.

Hedge led from lights to flag but was never more than two or three car lengths in front of Russell, who pressured the young New Zealander hard despite damage to his front splitter.

Dale Wood finished third, spending much of his race defending from championship leader Harri Jones.

Interest however lay with Aaron Love, who started the race in 15th position after being denied a flying lap due to a red flag late in qualifying.

With little to lose, the young West Aussie driver was in inspired form and set about scything his way through the field with relentless agression and racecraft.

He made the top 10 by lap two and had climbed to seventh by lap seven when he reached clear air.

He then smashed Nick McBride’s existing circuit lap record on lap nine as he set about chasing the leading group of six cars.

After passing McBride first, he then dispatched Dylan O’Keeffe on lap 14 and Harri Jones on lap 16.

O’Keeffe also passed Jones to relegate the championship leader back to sixth position.

Ultimately, Hedge won the race over Russell and Dale Wood, with Love’s remarkable recovery ending him in fourth place – up 11 spots from where he started.

O’Keeffe was next with Jones in sixth, with McBride, David Wall, Luke Youlden and Ryan Suhle completing the top-10.

In Morris Pro-Am, Sam Shahin claimed a memorable victory to continue his strong track record of recent success on the Gold Coast streets.

He grabbed the lead with a strong start, while Liam Talbot also jumped polesitter Adrian Flack on the opening lap to climb to second.

The trio then spent the remainder of the race locked together in a tense battle, Shahin edging out Talbot and Flack at the line.

Geoff Emery and Dean Cook finished line astern in fourth and fifth position, respectively, as the ongoing battle for the Morris Pro-Am Championship gains intensity in the closing stages of the year.

Provisionally, Harri Jones continues to lead the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, by a reduced margin of 64 points over Aaron Love.

It remains one full race victory clear of his nearest rival, with 60 points up for grabs for winning each of Sunday’s two races.

Dylan O’Keeffe remains in third position, now 74 points from the championship lead.

In Morris Pro-Am, Emery now provisionally leads Liam Talbot by 29 points heading into tomorrow’s two races, with Dean Cook third and a further 8 points behind.

Two races conclude the dramatic 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship tomorrow, including the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy decider on Sunday morning.

Harri Jones holds a narrow 15-point lead over Aaron Love in the Enduro Cup standings, while Liam Talbot leads Sam Shahin by a more comfortable 43 points in the Morris Pro-Am standings.

Callum Hedge, Pro Race 1 winner:

“It was a really good race, I was very nervous on the grid, my ear plug fell off – so I had one in my left and none in the right – so my ears are ringing now and I’m ready for a sleep after this. But really thankful to get the win, just controlled the pace. Every time Dave was a little bit close, I would push a bit harder to get a gap and every time he dropped back, I would slow down and cool the tyres. I managed the gap from there and got the win. In terms of the pressure, I looked in the mirror on one lap and made a mistake, so I stopped looking in the mirror for the last five or six laps, but big thanks to Team Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport for a great car, hopefully we can do it all again tomorrow.”

Sam Shahin, Morris Pro-Am Race 1 winner:

“There are always mixed emotions coming to the Gold Coast, I had one of my worst races here in 2018 and hurt myself, 2019 was my redemption when I won here… I love this track. Qualifying didn’t go quite to plan but this race was just mega, I got a good start and just had to put my head down and pushed. There’s always a lot of pressure from behind which is always expected with the quality of racing in this Championship, its just unbelievable and so tough. All was going to plan, until we caught up to the four Pros in front of us. There was tyres smoking and cars two wide into every corner so the guys caught up. It got pretty messy for the last four laps. Luckily we kept it together and I just need to keep winning and see what happens to tomorrow.”

Talbot goes pink for Gold Coast

Liam Talbot announces Breast Cancer awareness initiative with Wash it Australia

Wall Racing’s, Liam Talbot, has chosen the final round of the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia season at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit on the Gold Coast this weekend, to announce his support for a National Breast Cancer Foundation awareness initiative – together with long time partners Wash it Australia.

For every truck washed by Wash It Australia until the end of October, a portion of the money will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Interested parties can support this charitable cause via the following link: https://fundraise.nbcf.org.au/fundraisers/washitaustralia/wash-it-australia-breast-cancer-fundraiser

QUOTES:

Ben Hennock, Wash It Australia CEO: “Wash It Australia has proudly supported breast cancer awareness for a number of years, but this is the first time we have joined forces with a number of our partners, to pull together a larger-scale breast cancer awareness and fundraising initiative. We are unfortunately witnessing one of our Wash It family currently fighting breast cancer, so for us, this year more than ever, it is important to all get behind the cause. I am blown away by how keen our partners were to get involved and I can’t wait to see how much we can collectively raise”

Liam Talbot, Wall Racing: “This is a great initiative by Washit Australia and to further lend my support I’ve changed my hair colour to pink to help raise awareness and hopefully some more money to support research and hopefully soon find a cure”

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

Jones quickest in Friday surfers shootout

Adrian Flack leads Morris Pro-Am in a dramatic day on the Gold Coast

A CLUTCH lap late in the day has delivered Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia championship leader Harri Jones the fastest time in practice on the streets of Surfers Paradise. 

Leaving his run late in the day, Jones’ 1m11.7935s flyer was not only enough to put him on top of the charts, it stands as the quickest ever lap of the shortened Surfers circuit for a Porsche GT3 Cup Car.

Jones leads the championship by 74 points heading into the final three races of the year, with Aaron Love and Dylan O’Keeffe a little over one full race behind the Queenslander.

Adrian Flack topped the Morris Pro-Am leaderboard across the pair of 25-minute sessions in a day of high drama for contenders in both the Pro and Pro-Am categories.

Jones’ last-ditch flyer came at the end of a brutal second session that saw several cars stranded, near misses and a Friday afternoon shootout to see who gets pit exit preference for Qualifying tomorrow.

In the end, Jones led David Russell, Dale Wood and Callum Hedge, with Luke Youlden and Nick McBride next.

Title contender Dylan O’Keeffe was seventh and just ahead of Aaron Love.

Love was quick early in both sessions however clipped the tyre bundles at the beach chicane late in practice two.

The damage broke the steering on his Sonic Porsche, Duvashen Padayachee and Dean Cook taking evasive action as they ran into Turn 11 in a near miss for the latter pair.

The session was red-flagged for the cleanup setting in motion a qualifying-style shootout at the end to set the quickest time.

Almost ever driver improved in the final run with Jones’ flyer looking unlikely to be surpassed before Russell’s last lap saw him draw to within 0.2 seconds of the title leader.

Behind the top eight, Max Vidau and David Wall completed the top-10 overall on Friday’s times.

Morris Pro-Am was similarly intense with Adrian Flack ending up on top.

Championship leader Geoff Emery had a challenging day as he ended up in the barriers at turn two in the second session – he ended the day fifth in Pro-Am and behind nearest class title contender, Dean Cook, who was second.

Emery has a narrow lead over Cook in the Pro-Am standings, despite the latter not yet having scored a race win this year.

Behind Flack, Shahin and Cook, Tim Miles was fourth in class with Emery next.

Liam Talbot, Matt Belford, Rodney Jane, Marc Cini and Scott Taylor completed the Pro-Am leaderboard.

A pair of 10-minute sessions will decide the grid for Morris Pro-Am and then the Pro class on Saturday morning on the Gold Coast.

That will then be followed by the first race of the weekend, with all sessions live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo, and the race also live on the Seven Network.

Harri Jones, fastest Pro:

“Definitely a good session for us, it was a tight one. We only really got two laps of running at the end there on those green tyres, we had to get our prep laps right and then get it set-up and go. Awesome track, it’s a home race for me here this weekend, I’ve been doing loads of laps on this circuit all year, on my push bike and in the car, but overall a really good Friday for us. We have a 10 minute qualifying session tomorrow morning, so the fact that we’re going out first is a really good result for us. We’ll tune it up a little a bit tonight and going again tomorrow.”

Adrian Flack, fastest Morris Pro-Am

“That was a really good session to get the dust and the cobwebs out in the first round. Then just to start to build and work on a few things the second round, that we didn’t get right in the first. The car felt really good, so as I got more confidence, I started push it through a few corners a bit more and picked up some time. Looking forward to tomorrow.”

Gold Coast to host Championship decider as Carrera Cup Australia crowns go down to the wire

Can Harri Jones seal 2022 Championship at the final Porsche round or will Aaron Love pull off the greatest comeback in Carrera Cup Australia history

The eighth and final round of the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship sees a return to the streets of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, a venue that has historically provided a dramatic backdrop as the Championship decider in both the Pro and Morris Pro-Am classes.

• Harri Jones currently leads Aaron Love in the Pro Championship by 74 points, with 181 points up for grabs on the Gold Coast.
• Dylan O’Keeffe sits a further four points behind, 78 from the lead, while David Wall (-94) and David Russell (-104) are the other drivers still in contention
• Should Love score pole and win all three races, Jones would just need to finish fifth or better in each race to ensure he wins the 2022 title.
• In Morris Pro-Am, Geoff Emery leads Dean Cook by just 22 points with Liam Talbot (-32 points), Sam Shahin (-78 points) and Rodney Jane (-138 points) all still in contention. 

The streets of Surfers Paradise have hosted Australia’s premier one-make Championship every year it has been in operation – this year is the 16th time Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia has raced on the Gold Coast and the eleventh time it has hosted the Championship’s final round.

THE EVENT:

History shows that no driver has ever won a Gold Coast Carrera Cup Australia round, without winning at least one of the races on that weekend. The infamous curves and towering skyscrapers of Surfers Paradise have also witnessed the closest finish in Championship history – though it probably didn’t feel like it at the time!

David Russell crossed the line 5.0456s in front of Steve Richards to win the first race in 2014, however a five-second penalty for a start infringement meant the official margin was only 0.0456s in the final results!

From a team perspective, McElrea Racing has won three of the last five rounds on the Gold Coast (Matt Campbell 2015 & 2016, Jaxon Evans 2017) while Sonic Motor Racing has two round wins to its name with James Moffat in 2008 and Nick Foster in 2014. Nick McBride took victory in 2018, Porsche Centre Melbourne’s most recent round win.

Last time out, David Wall won all three races in dominant style in 2019 to beat Cooper Murray and Cameron Hill to the round victory – marking Wall Racing’s first win on the Gold Coast.

Wall set a qualifying record (his second in as many years on the Gold Coast) to start from pole and dominate the weekend. The event was memorable for the at times tense title showdown between Sonic Motor Racing teammates, Jordan Love and Dale Wood, with the pair having a heated showdown, that saw both drivers having to work their way through the field after dramas in race two. Love would ultimately claim the Pro title ahead of Wood and David Wall.

In Morris Pro-Am, Liam Talbot edged out Roger Lago and Adrian Flack in another close Championship finish, winning by 30 points following a consistent, if conservative weekend, on the Surfers streets. It was his and Wall Racing’s first Morris Pro-Am title.

PRO TITLE FIGHT:

Harri Jones leads Aaron Love in the 2022 Pro Championship by 74 points, meaning he can’t lose the lead of the Championship in the opening race, regardless of the result.

Dylan O’Keeffe sits a further four points further behind, 78 from the lead, while David Wall (-94) and David Russell (-104) are the other drivers still in contention, with 181 points up for grabs on the Gold Coast.

Should Love score the Tag Heuer Pole position and win all three races, Jones would need to finish fifth or better in each race to ensure he wins the title. At the same time, should Jones claim Race 1, Love would need to finish 14th or better to keep the title alive going into Sunday’s final two races.

Jones has history on his side: both prior McElrea Racing Carrera Cup titles have been claimed on the Gold Coast.

However, the only time the Championship has changed hands in the final round of the season also occurred at Surfers, when McElrea’s Warren Luff was overhauled by Steven Richards en-route to his 2014 crown.

Love’s come from behind story this year is remarkable and should he claim the title on Sunday, would represent the greatest comeback in Championship history – eclipsing another Sonic driver.

In 2015, Nick Foster had zero points following the first four races of the Championship and following the conclusion of Round 2, was 298 points behind then-leader, Steven Richards.

This year, Aaron Love missed Rounds 2 and 3 of the Championship due to international racing commitments and arrived at Round 4 some 330 points behind leader Harri Jones.

O’Keeffe is in a vastly similar position to Love from a title contention point of view and will be looking to better his previous best of 3rd in the 2019 Carrera Cup Championship.

Wall is further back and will need some luck to go his way to claim the title, though he does stand in a position to continue his remarkable record of never having finished lower than fourth in the Championship since his return in 2016. Wall finished 3rd in 2016, 1st in 2017, 2nd in 2018, 3rd in 2019 and 4th in 2021.

MORRIS PRO-AM BATTLE:

The Bathurst event broke a trend in the Morris Pro-Am battle, as Mount Panorama was the first time this year that the Championship didn’t leave with a different class leader than the prior round. Still, the remarkable title battle will see Morris Pro-Am go down to the wire once again with Geoff Emery leading Dean Cook by a mere 22 points – the second largest margin of the entire season.

Cook (-22 points), Liam Talbot (-32 points), Sam Shahin (-78 points) remain the most obvious title rivals to Emery, however Rodney Jane (-138 points) remains an outside chance. Three-time class champion Stephen Grove is mathematically in contention, though at 180 points from the lead, he would need to score pole, win all three races and ensure the five drivers in front all scored zero should he hope to win title number four.

Following two practice sessions on Friday 28 October, Saturday plays host to a split qualifying (Pro / Morris Pro-Am) session with the first Sprint race scheduled in the mid-afternoon. A 28 lap Endurance race kicks off on Sunday morning, before the final Sprint race at midday. All three races will be broadcast live on both Fox Sports and Kayo Sports throughout the weekend, with free-to-air coverage across Channel 7.

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 8, Gold Coast

Broadcast Schedule:

Friday 28th October 2022

11:55 12:20 – Practice 1

14:35 15:00 – Practice 2

Saturday 29th October 2022

09:55 10:05 – Qualifying 1

10:10 10:20 – Qualifying 2

14:25 14:50 – Race 1 (16 laps)

Sunday 30th October 2022

08:35 09:15 – Race 2 (28 laps)

12:50 13:15 – Race 3 (16 laps)

Entry List:

McElrea Racing to enter Porsche Carrera Cup North America in 2023

McElrea announces alternate pathway to IMSA Sports car racing in the US

AUSTRALIAN-based team McElrea Racing will join the Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands in 2023, marking their first step into competition in the United States.

McElrea Racing has established a separate US base of operations in Mooresville, North Carolina, and will field a multiple-car team in Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship next year.

Their existing Australian operations will continue unaffected.

The team has signed one exciting Australian driver, to be announced in coming weeks, with others to be confirmed at a later date.

Experienced GT and Porsche mechanic David Gahagan has been hired as Crew Chief to manage the US operations.

McElrea and Gahagan’s relationship began eight years ago when he came to Australia with David Calvert-Jones Bathurst 12 Hour program, which was supported by McElrea Racing.

Additional key positions, including race engineers, are already in place.

Based in Queensland, McElrea Racing was founded in 2009 by New Zealand racer Andy McElrea with the ambition of forming the best customer racing team in one-make Porsche racing in Australia.

The team has won 12 major national titles in Australia – including two Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia championships – while also currently leading the 2022 championship with one round remaining.

McElrea Racing has also tasted success in long-distance racing with class and outright success at the Bathurst 12 Hour and in GT World Challenge Australia competition.

Current IMSA GTD-Pro class drivers champion Matt Campbell is a McElrea Racing graduate, having raced in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge (Class B Champion) and won the 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship with McElrea.

Other McElrea Racing alumni include Jaxon Evans, Scott McLaughlin, Alex Davison and James Davison.

Andy McElrea’s eldest son, Hunter, currently races for Andretti Autosport in the Indy Lights championship, on the Road to Indy.

For more information about McElrea Racing, please visit www.mcelrearacing.com

Andy McElrea – Team Principal, McElrea Racing

“I spent six years living and working in the United States in the late 1990s and early 2000s and I love the lifestyle, the people and the way they go motor racing.

“We’ll be spending a bit more time there in the next few years with Hunter’s racing so the timing of this is perfect.

“We have been looking at it for some time and after discussions with Troy Bundy (Head of One Make & GT Sports for Porsche Motorsport North America), who we know well from racing in Australia, helped me decide that this is where we want to be.

“From a competitive and commercial standpoint, GT racing in the United States is one of the best-kept secrets in Motorsport. It’s the largest market in the world with the best commercial and sponsorship opportunities for young drivers to progress their careers.

“Our objective is to create an alternative to the existing European Porsche Pyramid, wherein we bring young talent from our part of the world to the US. The reality is that the Porsche junior program being developed in the US is creating huge opportunities for young Carrera Cup drivers to win scholarships to advance to IMSA sports car racing, without having to win the junior shootout in Europe!”

“We have had great success with the European pathway, as proven by Matt Campbell and Jaxon Evans, but there is opportunity for an alternative and was the key driver behind our decision to tackle this really exciting opportunity. We want to cover both bases.”

“With the people we have in place there is no reason we can’t start our Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands program the same way our Australian Program did in 2011, which is with immediate success.”

EMA Motorsport to make Nürburgring debut in Porsche 911 GT3 R

EMA Motorsport heads to the Nürburgring for NLS8

EMA Motorsport will return to GT3 racing later this month with confirmation of entry into the penultimate round of the NLS championship in Germany. After a successful European debut with the Porsche 911 GT3 R at the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa, the team heads to the formidable Nürburgring-Nordschleife for the latest event on the calendar, the PAGID Racing 46. DMV Münsterlandpokal. The team will be supported by Porsche endurance experts Manthey, while driving duties will be shared between the formidable Pro line-up of Dennis Olsen (NOR) and Matteo Cairoli (ITA).

The Australian team will take on its first event at the famous German circuit as it continues to build knowledge and experience, working with Manthey who will run the ‘Grello’ Porsche 911 GT3 R alongside EMA Motorsport.

The NLS, or Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie, takes place on the affectionally nicknamed ‘Green Hell’ – the combined 24.358km (15.1 miles) layout of the Nordschleife ‘northern loop’ and the sprint track of the Grand Prix circuit. NLS8 takes place on 22 October 2022.

Driver bios:

Dennis Olsen

Dennis Olsen joins the team with strong experience of both the Porsche 911 GT3 R and of the Nordschleife. The 26-year-old Norwegian secured the Carrera Cup Germany title in 2017 and has

campaigned in the NLS competition every year since 2018. Other notable successes include both Bathurst 12 Hour and Intercontinental GT Challenge titles in 2019, and he has scored a podium at

the Daytona 24 Hours earlier this year ahead of a debut DTM campaign with a race win and two podiums.

Matteo Cairoli

Italian Matteo Cairoli brings a wealth of endurance knowledge, racing extensively with Porsche since winning the Carrera Cup Italy in 2014. At 26 years old, Matteo has campaigned with the brand in GTE and GT3 competition globally, including the GT World Challenge Europe, World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans. He has also contested the NLS championship since 2015, and claimed victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hour event last season.

Love, Talbot claim shortened Bathurst event

Pro and Pro-Am titles to go down to the wire on the Gold Coast

AARON LOVE and Liam Talbot have claimed the big trophies in the seventh round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship at Mount Panorama. 

Love, in the Pro class, and Talbot in Morris Pro-Am stood on the iconic Bathurst podium based on the strength of their race one results.

Love won ahead of Max Vidau and Dylan O’Keeffe, while Talbot claimed Pro-Am ahead of Geoff Emery and Adrian Flack.

Race two on Saturday was cancelled and never started due to the torrential rain and flooding at the circuit, while Sunday’s race was started – but not completed to a distance where it could be classified as a complete race.

A delayed start due to circuit repairs, followed by an early Safey Car saw the race red flagged on account of the time considerations at the event.

The race was declared a no-race, with no points awarded.

The results of race one will see the final round of the 2022 championship on the streets of Surfers Paradise to commence with five drivers in title calculations.

Harri Jones continues to lead the championship, his margin 74 points to the now second-placed Aaron Love.

Dylan O’Keeffe sits third, five points behind Love, while former champion David Wall (-94) and David Russell (-104) remain in title calculations.

In Morris Pro-Am Geoff Emery becomes the first driver to lead the championship for consecutive rounds this season.

The Victorian, despite finishing runner-up to Liam Talbot this weekend, leads the class heading to the Gold Coast.

Five drivers are also in contention for the Pro-Am title with Emery leading Dean Cook 785-763 points.

Talbot sits third in the championship, a further 1o points back, while Sam Shahin and Rodney Jane remain in title calculations.

The final round of the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will be staged on the streets of Surfers Paradise at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, on October 28-30.

QUOTES:

David Stuart, Motorsport Australia Race Director:

“The parameters we had to deal with was the race start was delayed due to an on-track repair, which then meant that our original time certain time for the race needed to be revised.

“We were then advised that our new time certain time would be 10:07am plus 1 lap. We started the race under safety car for safety reasons at Turn 1 and track conditions. The opening lap was slower than racing speed and everyone got through, the safety car was then withdrawn. We then had two cars go off at Turn 21, one got out and the other did the very best they could to try and get out and ended up facing the oncoming traffic against the barrier.

“At that point, the time was winding down and we couldn’t have the whole field coming through that corner under racing pace, because of the two cars that went off the lap before and there was high potential for more cars to go off and the stranded car was in a vulnerable  position. We only had two choices and one was to deploy the safety car, which we did.

“The time certain time would have ticked over prior to the safety car even making the control line to start another lap, which would have been done under safety car.

“The considerations were at that point after we had deployed the safety car, whether to red flag the race or not prior to the time certain time – therefore it would be classified as a non-race, as we hadn’t reached the time certain time nor had we done 50% of the scheduled laps.

“So given the situation that occurred at Townsville it was my view, and based on the feedback of teams from Townsville, that it would be the best option to suspend the race and not restart it, thus having it not classified as a race.”

Aaron Love, Pro Round winner:

 “We’ve had a pretty good weekend obviously coming away with pole and effectively two race wins, but everyone from myself to the person who finished last are all pretty disappointed as we realistically only got one race in.

“We got going again, but to no avail so we’ll pack-up and look forward to Gold Coast at the end of the season, its one of my favourite tracks. Its been a good weekend, all considered. I love racing with Sonic in Carrera Cup Australia and Gold Coast, I went there in 2019 for my first Carrera Cup round and had an absolute ball, so regardless of what happens in the Championship I’m sure we’ll have a great race.”

Liam Talbot, Morris Round winner:

“Its been a good weekend, I love the wet conditions so I was rubbing my hands together thinking its going to be a good weekend. We unfortunately didn’t get too much running yesterday and today, the conditions in Race 1 were treacherous so using all that experience to get the race win was very satisfying.

“The fact that we didn’t get race 2 and 3, doesn’t bother me. Its unbelievable to stand on the top step here in Bathurst, last time I was here I had a 9 month baby and my young daughter I was on the podium, so to be on the top step now, with them watching at home is really cool.”

Wet-weather clinic delivers Love another win

Liam Talbot battles Geoff Emery to claim Morris Pro-Am class win in pouring rain

AARON LOVE has stormed to his sixth win from the last seven races in a wet and wild Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia opener at Mount Panorama on Friday. 

Starting from pole, the Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic Motor Racing driver drove away from the field early before doing it again late in the race following a Safety Car to record his ninth career Carrera Cup win.

In Morris Pro-Am, Liam Talbot battled Geoff Emery for class honours and, in a fight that went down to the final corner, claimed his fifth race win of the season.

The scheduled 15-lap race began behind the Safety Car after torrential rain lashed Mount Panorama from midday on Friday.

The field completed three laps under yellow conditions before the Safety Car was resumed, allowing Love to charge away out in front.

He built a more than eight-second lead before a safety car negated his margin mid-race, after Marc Cini’s car stopped – without damage – following a spin at The Chase.

On the restart, Love pulled away once again and edged out to a four-second margin at the line.

Behind Love, Dylan O’Keeffe held second position for the opening stanza of the race, however was relegated to third position at the finish thanks to the efforts of a hard-charging Max Vidau.

The South Australian had started fifth but quickly worked his way through the field to contend for a spot on the podium by mid-race.

He was involved in a competitive multi-car battle with Dale Wood, Harri Jones, David Russell and Simon Fallon for the final spot on the podium.

He climbed to fourth on lap six, third on lap eight and then squeezed himself past O’Keeffe with three laps remaining to claim his third Carrera Cup runner-up finish.

O’Keeffe finished third to secure another haul of championship points, while Harri Jones recovered to fourth in what was a tense drive for the championship leader.

Dale Wood slipped back to fifth at the finish of the shortened race, while David Russell, Simon Fallon, Callum Hedge, Jackson Walls and Christian Pancione completed the top-10.

In Morris Pro-Am, Talbot was the beneficiary of a mid-race pass on Geoff Emery to claim his class victory.

Talbot started third in Pro-Am however passed Adrian Flack on the opening lap and set out about chasing Emery, before ultimately working his way past mid race.

Emery continued to apply pressure to the Wall Racing driver for the remaining laps with the pair crossing the line nose to tail.

Adrian Flack finished third and Sam Shahin fourth, with a consistent run netting Dean Cook fifth.

The only major incident of the race was caused when both Scott Taylor and Marc Cini spun at the chase, the pair two of several drivers caught out by the rivers of water running across the entry to The Chase.

While Taylor was able to proceed without delay, Cini was stuck just long enough to force race control to deploy the Safety Car, before he was able to recover.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia field returns to Mount Panorama tomorrow for the second race in round 7, and the 400th championship race in series history.

Aaron Love, Pro:

“It was pretty tricky out there, I got a good start after the safety car and pulled a massive gap, which was nice, but then the safety car threw another curve ball at us. I focussed hard and got my head down after the restart and manged to pull a little bit of a gap. I was just happy to come away with no scratches and a clean car and we can press on tomorrow. It got better toward the end of the session because there were more and more cars lapping, but definitely through The Chase there was a river running across there which created some sketchy moments up until lap 4. Its pretty tired over there, but after that we could get down to business.”

Liam Talbot, Morris Pro Am:

“It was hard to describe the conditions other than extreme wet and rivers running across the circuit, we’re aquaplaning and wheel spinning in a straight line, we could not to see anything. We started fourth got to first and the car felt so good so a big thanks to Wall Racing. I got Adrian Flack off the start and the car was really good under brakes with good traction off the corner. Overall car was really fun to drive.”

Love smashes Bathurst record to claim TAG Heuer Pole Award

Geoff Emery scores Morris Pro-Am pole position as tight title battle continues

THE quickest lap in one-make Porsche history at Mount Panorama has delivered Aaron Love pole position for the seventh round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, at the Repco Bathurst 1000. 

In what turned out to be a dramatic 10-minute dash for pole position, Love flew to the top spot with a 2m05.3525s lap late on Thursday afternoon – and he could have gone quicker had it not been for late traffic on his final flyer.

He secured his fourth career TAG Heuer Pole Position award and continued his remarkable charge from nowhere into title contention with two rounds and six races remaining.

Geoff Emery scored the Morris Pro-Am pole position and ran among the top-10 quickest Pros for much of the session, continuing that pulsating Carrera Cup race within a race.

The session was held in gloomy yet thankfully dry conditions, setting up a thrilling shootout from a field yet to experience the Type-992 GT3 Cup Car in dry conditions on the Mountain.

The earlier, sole 50-minute practice sessions was held in the rain, levelling the playing field for qualifying.

The session had barely started before the red flag flew, Max Vidau stuck in the gravel at Turn 1 having locked his inside front on the run into Hell corner.

Once the recovery was complete just 10 minutes remained on the clock setting up a shootout for pole.

David Russell was quick early, as was Harri Jones – driving a repaired McElrea entry following a crash at the Cutting in practice earlier in the day.

Dylan O’Keeffe then spent time on top of the charts before Love struck first with a 2m06.0s best – already the quickest ever Cup Car lap of Bathurst.

He then improved a further seven-tenths on the following tour to put the result out of doubt – and was set to improve again on his final flyer before traffic slowed him across the top.

His 2m05.3525s best stands as the quickest one-make Porsche lap in Bathurst history, finally eclipsing Jaxon Evans’ existing record of 2m06.2285, set in 2018.

O’Keeffe pushed hard on his final flyer and was able to close the margin to Love, however still ended 0.6 seconds behind in second position.

Dale Wood was a late improver, charging his Timken / EBM car to third position at the very end of the session.

He displaced championship leader Jones, who had held third but will start race one from the outside of the second row on Friday.

The top three cars all lapped beneath the existing qualifying record, with the promise of more to come had the session run its full duration under green.

Vidau rebounded superbly from his earlier off to qualify his car fifth, just ahead of Christian Pancione, while Jackson Walls, Nick McBride, Simon Fallon and David Russell completed the top-10.

Big names to miss the top-10 include championship contender David Wall, who could only manage 15th overall in his Wall Racing machine.

Emery took a commanding pole position in Morris Pro-Am, the fifth of his career in the championship.

His 2m08.1544s best saw him a comfortable margin ahead of Pro-Am rival Sam Shahin, with Adrian Flack third in class.

Liam Talbot was fourth and Dean Cook – who is second in the championship heading into the Bathurst round – fifth.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia field will race for the 399th time tomorrow, ahead of their milestone 400th race on Saturday.

Tomorrow’s race, set to start at 2:15om local time, will be live on Fox Sports, Kayo Sports and Channel 7 around Australia.

QUOTES:

Aaron Love, Pro:

“Pretty difficult session but I’m really happy with it. It was the first time in this car, at this track, but it was the same for everybody. It was a case of learning the track and seeing what this car can do, but then it started raining a little bit and just threw another curve ball at us.

“But just really happy we can come away with pole, but also learn a lot about the car in the process and have no scratches on it, so I’m pretty stoked.”

Geoff Emery, Morris Pro Am:

“The session started off dry, but toward the end there it was starting to get a bit wet over the top.

“So once the tyres were up, it was just a matter of committing to it and finding a clean lap. We had a clear gap after the restart and I was able to concentrate on my own lap and not have to worry about anyone trying to pass me, in the end it was really good lap.”

Porsche Carrera Cup Australia celebrates milestone 400th championship race

Marc Cini celebrates record 350th race start at Mount Panorama

Marc Cini celebrates record 350th race start at Mount Panorama

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship celebrates its milestone 400th championship race as part of a massive Repco Bathurst 1000 event at Mount Panorama this weekend.

The second race of the seventh round of the 2022 Championship will see the category reach a milestone that has been achieved by only a handful of national-level championships in the history of Australian Motorsport.

The milestone 400th Championship race will see a field of 29 Type 992 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Cars charge towards Turn one on Saturday afternoon at Mount Panorama, as the 2022 championships in both Pro and Morris Pro-Am reach their deciding moments.

Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia has carved a reputation as one of the most competitive and visible national categories in the sport, serving as both a destination category and as a pathway for young stars looking to further their driving careers both nationally and internationally.

227 drivers have raced in the category since its first race, staged at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 12 April 2003. Australia and New Zealand Motorsport legend Jim Richards won that first race aboard his Jim Richards Racing Porsche 996 GT3 Cup Car, going on to claim the first seven consecutive races and the 2003 title.

Richards, the inaugural Carrera Cup Australia Champion, was the first to win 10, 20 and 30 Carrera Cup race wins in Australia and still holds the records for most consecutive race wins (8) and most wins in a single season (20, both achieved in 2003).

It took more than six weeks and the third round of the 2003 season to see the championships second ever winner: Marcus Marshall breaking Richards’ streak at Winton in round 3 that year.

49 different drivers have won Carrera Cup championship races in Australia, with five-time champion Craig Baird claiming the most of all time, with 60 wins to his credit.

Alex Davison, with 47 race wins, and Richards’ 31 victories see those two Porsche legends join Baird as the only drivers to have claimed more than 20 race wins.

Other notable Carrera Cup Australia race winners include a host of Supercars stars and Bathurst champions, including Fabian Coulthard, David Reynolds, Steven Richards, Nick Percat, Warren Luff, Andre Heimgartner, Luke Youlden and Lee Holdsworth.

Meanwhile, race winning names like Matt Campbell, Jaxon Evans, Nick Foster and Jordan Love have used the championship to progress their careers to an international level.

26 drivers, including 10 current competitors, have started more than 100 Carrera Cup races in Australia, with Morris Pro-Am competitor Tim Miles the latest to join the group at Sandown recently.

2017 champion David Wall eclipsed 200 career race starts earlier this season, while Morris Pro-Am champion Stephen Grove will likely be next to reach the 200-club.

Marc Cini holds the record for the most starts by any single driver: The Victorian aboard familiar Hallmarc Property Group entry to make his 350th championship race start at the same time the category he has long supported launches into their 400th. Cini has contested 119 of the 135 championship rounds held to date.

Of the current field, only Cini and Rodney Jane were on the grid for the first championship race in Carrera Cup Australia history.

More than 180 individual cars, across Porsche’s 996, 997, 997 MY11, 991, 991.2 and 992-generation GT3 Cup Cars have competed across the lifespan of the series to date.

EMA Motorsport driver David Russell holds the record for the narrowest winning margin in a Carrera Cup race, claiming Race 1 on the Gold Coast in 2014 by 0.0456s – following a five second time penalty applied post-race.

Three races have been decided by less than 0.1 seconds, while only a handful of races have been decided by more than 10 seconds: the largest winning margin (13.7 seconds) being Jonny Reid’s win over Alex Davison at Phillip Island, in 2012.

Qualifying for Round 7 of the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship takes place on Thursday afternoon followed by one race each day across the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Repco Bathurst 1000 event, all broadcast Live via FoxSports Ch 506, Kayo Sports and free-to-air via the Seven Network.

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

Broadcast Schedule:

Thursday 06 October

Qualifying            17:10-17:30

Friday 07 October

Race 1   14:15-14:55 (15 laps)

Saturday 08 October

Race 2   15:20-15:45 (9 laps)

Sunday 09 October

Race 3   09:40-10:05 (9 laps)

Carrera Cup Championship battles intensify as title rivals make their mark

Jones and Emery retain Championship advantage

What was a three-way championship battle has become a fight between five as the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship reaches what is set to be a hugely competitive end to the season. Meanwhile, the ever-fluctuating Morris Pro-Am championship remains on a knife’s edge with a key contender yet to stamp their authority on a pulsating championship battle across the first six rounds this year.

Heading into round 7 at the Repco Bathurst 1000 this weekend, Harri Jones continues to lead the Pro championship, with a 68-point advantage, despite his first non-finish of the season in the final race of Round 6 at Sandown.

The unpredictable, wet weekend of racing in the south east of Melbourne affected all the top Pro contenders and actually saw Jones seal the 2022 Michelin Junior title and grow his Pro class advantage over his nearest rival heading towards Mount Panorama.

That rival is now David Wall, who returned to second in the standings in round 6 having been passed by the in-form Dylan O’Keeffe at The Bend Motorsport Park in round 5.

Wall’s consistent weekend, coupled with O’Keeffe’s Sunday struggles at Sandown – which included a points penalty for contact with Max Vidau in Sandown’s Enduro Cup race – have positioned the 2017 champion 16 points clear in second position heading into two of his stronger circuits.

Although O’Keeffe remains firmly in the hunt in third, the big mover in the Pro Championship is Aaron Love who has rocketed himself into contention with back-to-back round victories.

The West Australian has scored 460 points to Jones’ 212 across the last three rounds and despite missing a pair of events earlier in the season, now sits 92 points from the championship lead – with 6 races remaining and a potential 362 points still up for grabs.

EMA Motorsport’s David Russell also sits in striking distance, a further two points back in fifth place heading to Mount Panorama –  a track he has a lot of experience on.

Dale Wood, Callum Hedge, Christian Pancione, Max Vidau and Luke Youlden complete the current top-10 championship standings. Big improvers across the last three rounds also include Jackson Walls (11^th in the championship but fifth in points scored across the last 3 rounds), Brad Shiels (12^th, but seventh in points across the last 3 rounds) and Simon Fallon (14^th, but ninth in points scored across Townsville, The Bend and Sandown).

The remarkable battle for the Morris Pro-Am championship continues to impress with an incredible streak ongoing following Round 6 at Sandown last time out. The class has seen a different points leader following every event so far this season and Sandown was no exception. Geoff Emery’s clutch round win saw him return to the top of the standings, that were led by Sam Shahin following his victory at The Bend Motorsport Park.

Emery won the opening round of the championship before losing the lead following Round 2 at Winton. He then surrendered the lead to Shahin in Darwin, but quickly bounced back to the top following his win in Townsville a few weeks later.

Shahin struck back with his home-circuit victory at The Bend, reclaiming the points lead, before Emery’s counterattack at the weekend. Emery now leads the ever-consistent Dean Cook by just 4 points, despite the Zonzo Estate driver having not claimed a race or round victory this year.

Four drivers sit within quick striking distance of Emery: Liam Talbot holds down third position some 38 points from the lead, while two-time points leader Shahin is fourth, 66 points back. Rodney Jane sits fifth in the standings with three-time champion Stephen Grove sixth.

This year is the 18^th time that Mount Panorama will have hosted a Carrera Cup Australia round. What is significant is that no Bathurst Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia round has ever been won by a driver that did not win a race in that weekend’s round.

Race 2 of this weekend will also be significant for two reasons. Marc Cini will mark his 350^th Carrera Cup Australia race, while Race 2 of the round will be the 400^th Porsche Carrera Cup Australia race – an amazing accomplishment for any national championship.

Round 7 of the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship commences on Thursday with practice and qualifying, to be followed by one race each day across the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Repco Bathurst 1000 event. The event will be broadcast live via Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports and free-to-air across the Seven Network.

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 7, Bathurst

Broadcast Schedule:

Thursday 06 October

Practice               08:55 – 09:45

Qualifying           17:10 – 17:30

Friday 07 October

Race 1                 14:15 – 14:55 (15 laps)

Saturday 08 October

Race 2                 15:20 – 15:45 (9 laps)

Sunday 09 October

Race 3                 09:40 – 10:05 (9 laps)

Entry List:

Stephen and Brenton Grove reveal FIA Motorsport Games GT livery

FIA Motorsport Games - Team Australia

Stephen and Brenton Grove have taken the wraps off their 2022 FIA Motorsport Games livery where they’ll seek for another medal in the GT category. This year will see Stephen Grove captaining the Australian team in what will be an all-star line-up.

Team Australia recently announced the participation of Porsche factory driver and 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Champion, Matt Campbell, who will join Stephen and his son, Brenton in the GT Sprint category. TCR representative Aaron Cameron and Karting youngsters Aiva Anagnostiadis and Peter Bouzinelos, are also among Team Australia’s talent taking on the games at Circuit Paul Ricard in France later this month.

Stephen and Brenton unveiled the livery for their Porsche today which features their signature boxing kangaroo; a personal touch which is seen on the majority of Porsche’s driven by the father-son duo. The striking red compliments the white and blue elements on either side, mirroring the Australian flag which spans the bonnet and roof.

QUOTES

Brenton Grove: “The games mark an exciting stage in global motorsport and as a team, we couldn’t be prouder to represent Australia on such a stage. We think the livery will stand out well as we take to one of the most iconic circuits in the world later this month.”

Stephen Grove: “The Australian team is ready for the challenge ahead, and I am excited by the line-up we have which includes some fantastic Australian drivers including Matt Campbell. I’m excited to work with all team members to support them in their respective categories. Our GT livery showcases our signature boxing kangaroo which features on a range of Porsche’s myself and Brenton have driven over the years. It’s fitting to be representing Australia with this, and I look forward to seeing it inn action at Paul Ricard.”

The FIA Motorsport Games will take place at Circuit Paul Ricard in France on 28-30 October with the event to be broadcast in Australia.

For more Porsche Motorsport Australia news and content follow the Porsche Motorsport Australia social pages: Instagram – @PorscheMotorsportAU / Twitter – @PorscheMspAU / Facebook.com/ PorscheMotorsportAU

Matt Campbell confirmed for FIA Motorsport Games alongside Stephen and Brenton Grove

Porsche works driver joins Australian father-son pairing in GT Endurance category

Matt Campbell has become the latest driver to be selected to represent Team Australia for the upcoming FIA Motorsport Games.

The 2016 Carrera Cup Australia Champion will compete in the GT Sprint at the famous Paul Ricard Circuit in October, hoping to add a Gold medal to what is already an impressive resume.

The Porsche factory driver will join Stephen Grove and Brenton Grove, who will contest the GT Endurance category, TCR representative Aaron Cameron and Karting youngsters Aiva Anagnostiadis and Peter Bouzinelos on Team Australia.

Ahead of his FIA Motorsport Games appearance, Campbell was excited for the new challenge.

“I’m looking forward to my first participation in the FIA Motorsport Games later this year with Team Australia and joining Brenton and Steve in the GT component,” Campbell said.

“It should be a lot of fun as it will be the first time driving together with the Groves after competing against each other for many years now.”

Racing for more for than a decade now, the Queenslander has long been a part of the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid for which he joined in 2014 via the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia (formerly known as GT3 Cup Challenge).

His big breakthrough came in 2016 when he won the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship and was invited to take part in Porsche’s prestigious Global Junior Shootout.

Becoming the first driver to win the Shootout from the Southern Hemisphere, Campbell landed a position as a Porsche factory driver and has since been competing in many GT events around the world.

Highlights of his international career to date include an outright third place in the 2017 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and outright second in both the 2018/2019 FIA World Endurance Championship LMGTE Am class and 2020 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – the former of which included a class victory at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This year, Campbell is on the hunt for the IMSA Sportscar Championship title in the United States alongside long-time teammate Mathieu Jaminet of France, with the duo leading the standings ahead of the final round.

His impressive run of form was rewarded earlier this year when he was named as a core driver in the Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 hypercar which will be campaigned in both the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA.

With such a strong record in GT racing, Team Australia captain Stephen Grove was confident Campbell would fare well at the Games.

“I have known Matt for a long time and have experienced first-hand his exceptional car control and race craft,” Stephen said.

“He will bring invaluable experience, not only to the GT race but will be a great asset for the entire Team Australia.”

Brenton echoed his father’s sentiments about the talented Queenslander and was looking forward to competing alongside him.

“We were always keen to try and line up a drive together so when the opportunity presented itself, we had to take it,” Brenton added.

“To have him continue his relationship with Grove Racing into a car he’s more familiar with is exciting, we’re doing everything we can to try and generate another medal for Australia.”

Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca was pleased to welcome Campbell to the team.

“A big congratulations to Matt for being selected as the latest representative for Team Australia at the FIA Motorsport Games,” Arocca said.

“To have a driver of Matt’s calibre join the team is a major boost for our campaign at this year’s FIA Motorsport Games and I have no doubt his addition will have a positive impact.

“As an individual with a successful racing history, Matt brings a wealth of experience in GT racing to the fold and we wish him all the best in his endeavours for Gold in France.”

The FIA Motorsport Games will take place at Circuit Paul Ricard in France on 28-30 October.

For race information, videos and interviews, follow the Porsche Motorsport Australia social pages: Instagram – @PorscheMotorsportAU / Twitter – @PorscheMspAU / Facebook.com/ PorscheMotorsportAU

Applications for the 2023 Team Porsche New Zealand Scholarship Open

Team Porsche NZ outlines application process for Scholarship programme supporting young kiwi talent

Team Porsche New Zealand (TPNZ) is opening the application process for its Scholarship programme to support a young kiwi talent to drive in the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series.

TPNZ has already had success in achieving its purpose – winning & creating a pathway for young New Zealand talent to advance in motorsport. In its debut Australian season, the 2021 scholarship recipient Matthew Payne achieved two pole positions, and a race win in the Carrera Cup Australia.

Payne has since signed with Grove Racing as their inaugural inductee into their Grove Junior Team, debuting in the Dunlop Super2 Series this year.

In 2022, Callum Hedge has been competing for Team Porsche New Zealand in the Carrera Cup Australia scholarship seat and after his maiden win in Townsville, Hedge is currently sitting in 7th place with 483 points in the Pro Drivers standings.

In his first year with Team Porsche NZ, Ryan Wood is currently ranked second place in the 2022

Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, the feeder series for the top-tier Carrera Cup Championship.

Halfway through the race season, motorsport expert Greg Rust recently sat down with Callum and Ryan, to chat about the highs and lows of their season so far and what the future has in store: Click here to watch the interview.

Applications for the 2023 scholarship are now being accepted online and will be closing on the 13th of September: Apply here.

A short list of candidates will then be chosen for interview and assessments before a final selection will be made.

QUOTES:

Earl Bamber: “Our recipients of the 2022 scholarship have done an incredible job this year. Callum Hedge achieved our first ever round win for a scholarship winner, and Ryan Wood has had a fantastic season so far, also grabbing a round win and pole positions in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge. It’s amazing to see their progression and now we are looking forward to choosing a new recipient for the Team Porsche scholarship in 2023.”

Porsche New Zealand General Manager, Greg Clarke: “It’s great to see ongoing success come out of the scholarship programme and it has been a pleasure following Matthew’s development after being signed with Grove racing this year. We hope to see a similar success story with Callum at the end of the Carrera Cup season as he has had great success so far in the brand new 992 GT3 Cup Car. This programme in conjunction with our support of the local Porsche NZ Championship & Super GT New Zealand Motor Racing Series are key in our support of New Zealand Motorsport and talent.”

Porsche Cars Australia’s Motorsport Manager, Barry Hay: “It has been fantastic to witness the success the Team Porsche New Zealand drivers have had with the Earl Bamber Motorsport Team since entering both Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia and our feeder series, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia. It’s been equally rewarding to see the high regard New Zealand teams and drivers have for both our Championships, as they continue to provide the most proven pathway for young Australasian drivers to reach the highest levels of the sport both locally and internationally.”

About Team Porsche New Zealand:

Team Porsche New Zealand was formed by Porsche New Zealand in conjunction with Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) in late 2019 to provide young New Zealand talent the opportunity and pathway to advance their motorsport career in Australia. The scholarship program sees drivers competing in the

Carrera Cup Australia which is a key component in the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid, and the feeder series, the Porsche Sprint Challenge.

The team is based in Brisbane and run by EBM, whose principals are brothers Earl & Will Bamber. Two times Le Mans 24 hour winner Earl himself progressed his motorsport career via the Porsche Pyramid through Carrera Cup Asia, Porsche Super Cup and ultimately as a factory driver for Porsche in both the WEC (World Endurance Championship) & the North American IMSA (International Motor Sports Association).

It is intended that each year a scholarship will be offered to support an exciting young New Zealand talent achieving a drive in the Porsche Pynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship and a second driver in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series. The combination of the Bamber’s international motor racing and Porsche Motorsport experience providing a unique opportunity to develop their skills and succeed.

For further information regards the 2023 Team Porsche New Zealand Scholarship please contact:

Jamie Taylor

Sales Manager – Porsche New Zealand

Phone: +64 21 803 358

E-mail: jtaylor@porsche.co.nz

Caitlin Ryan

Marketing Manager – Porsche New Zealand

Phone: +64 21 191 2425

E-mail: cryan@porsche.co.nz

Love climbs to title contention with crushing Sandown victory

Morris Pro-Am fight goes the way of Geoff Emery at Melbourne circuit

AARON LOVE has secured back-to-back Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia rounds amidst a dramatic sixth round of the season at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne, while local Geoff Emery triumphed in Morris Pro-Am. 

A pair of races produced remarkable racing and varied results as the two drivers first and second in the championship each suffered a non-finish in what was a dramatic day of racing.

Dylan O’Keeffe, who trailed leader Harri Jones by just 22 points following his Race 1 win, failed to finish the enduro cup race – while points leader Harri Jones was a non-finisher on Sunday afternoon in the weekend finale.

Through it all, Aaron Love continued his remarkable run to claim the round, leading Simon Fallon home in a 1-2 result for the Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic Motor Racing outfit.

David Russell completed the round podium in his milestone 50th Carrera Cup Australia round.

Love’s path to the round win came via a racy performance in the Enduro Cup, claiming the victory there before dominating the final race to win by the largest ever margin for a Porsche race at Sandown.

His repeat winning performance ended a streak of seven different winners from the last seven Carrera Cup rounds.

Fallon’s podium was the first of his Carrera Cup career, the former Michelin Sprint Challenge champion producing a racy performance to finish the Enduro Cup race in second, before leading the finale’ briefly and ultimately finishing fifth to secure second overall.

Russell’s podium came after qualifying only 14th, working his way through the field as the weekend progressed.

Remarkably, Harri Jones continues to hold a championship lead into Mount Panorama’s seventh round of the championship, despite failing to finish the final race.

Aaron Love, who is fifth, has dramatically closed the margin to the leaders and can consider himself a title contender as the championship approaches the business end of the season.

Geoff Emery’s Morris Pro-Am victory came by virtue of two wins from the three races, while fellow home-town hero Matt Belford won the Enduro Cup race on Sunday morning.

Belford finished second overall for the weekend while Adrian Flack was third.

The enduro cup race on Sunday morning was a wild affair and while Aaron Love claimed the victory, it was no easy thing.

A wild start saw Max Vidau briefly lead into turn one, before running wide and allowing Love and O’Keeffe back through.

A crazy sequence of racing a few laps later saw Love wide at Turn one, opening the door to the race one winner to re-take the lead.

The trip then raced wheel to wheel on the run to turn six, with Love re-taking the lead and Vidau grabbing second as O’Keeffe ran around the outside at the high speed, 200-plus Km/hr corner.

O’Keeffe ran slightly wide and partially through the runoff, he and Vidau making contact on the re-join in the braking zone with the hit sending the TekworkX driver spinning into the fence and out of the race. O’Keeffe would also later pit and fail to finish the race with damage.

On the restart, Love lead Harri Jones, who was the main beneficiary of the exchange, and teammate Simon Fallon.

Fallon was quickly able to pass Jones for second, however, to secure a 1-2 result for the Bob Jane T-Marts backed Sonic entries, with Jones scoring his first Top 3 finish since Darwin back in June.

Matt Belford won a wild Morris Pro-Am fight ahead of Liam Talbot and Adrian Flack, while Race 1 winner Geoff Emery was fifth and fellow title contender Sam Shahin a lap one non-finish.

Fallon then jumped to an early lead at the start of race three, however ran wide at turn three to hand the lead to his teammate – one he’d never lose.

Love powered away in front to win by more than eight seconds while Callum Hedge charged his way through to second.

Jackson Walls was third in the final race; contact between he and teammate Jones the reason for the latter’s non-finish in the closing stages of the race. Russell was fourth while Fallon slipped to fifth following his earlier moment at turn three.

While O’Keeffe could recover no further than 15th from the back of the grid, fellow title contender David Wall finished 10th following a late off at Turn 9.

Emery rebounded strongly to claim a narrow Morris Pro-Am race win over Belford and Flack to determine the class podium.

After a remarkably busy stretch of racing, the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship takes a well-earned break prior to the penultimate round of the championship at the Repco Bathurst 1000 this October 6-9.

Aaron Love, Pro winner

“It’s a pretty good felling to win the round here and carry on from Tailem Bend. For us to win two out of the three races and have Simon (Fallon) second for a 1-2 Sonic podium finish is pretty cool. The car felt great all weekend and the Sonic team’s been working really hard, so its huge props to them, they’ve really turned it on this year and its definitely showing on and off track. I struggled a bit with our starts this weekend, so got through the first few corners and then tried to settle in. I came up behind Simon and didn’t want to have a big lung at him – because it was too big a risk as he’s my teammate, but he made a little bit of a mistake into turn 2 and I saw it. So I tried to stay hard to the left through turn 3 and went wide out to the right. He gave the corner to me in the end which was nice, I didn’t have to work very hard for it, but in the end we got the race win and round win, so I couldn’t be happier.”

Geoff Emery, Morris Finance Pro-Am

“It feels really good, I obviously did my best to throw it away in race 2, but we had a really good car in race 3, so I think that made up for everything. Overall very happy for the round win and big thanks to the ASM boys, they gave me an awesome car, which I think was our advantage this weekend. I’m very happy to win the round.

Harri Jones crowned 2022 Porsche Michelin Junior Champion

Another McElrea driver earns Porsche Global Junior Shootout nomination

Harri Jones has been crowned the 2022 Porsche Michelin Junior Champion at Round 6 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship at Sandown Raceway.

Following strong performances in the early rounds of the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia season, the McElrea driver had already amassed an unassailable lead in the Porsche Michelin Junior Championship heading into round 6 at Sandown Raceway.

Both Porsche Cars Australia’s CEO & Managing Director, Daniel Schmollinger, and Michelin Australia’s Managing Director and Commercial Director B2C of Oceania, Oliver Biggart, were present at Sandown Raceway to crown the new Michelin Champion, whose ascent up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid first began with the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia title in 2019.

As part of his prize, Jones receives a trip to Germany to attend the Porsche Motorsport Night of Champions Dinner in December 2022. The main prize for the Michelin Junior drivers is a nomination to attend the global Porsche Motorsport Junior Shootout in Europe to represent the Carrera Cup Australia later this year.

The Porsche Junior Shootout continues to play a crucial role in the development of the best emerging talent from the Australasian region and is seen as the most proven pathway for talented drivers to progress to the highest level abroad.

Carrera Cup Australia drivers that have progressed up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid in recent years via the Michelin Junior Programme, include the likes of two-time Carrera Cup Champion, Jaxon Evans, Matt Campbell (Porsche factory driver), Nick Foster, Andre Heimgartner, Jordan Love, Cooper Murray, Cameron Hill and Dylan O’Keeffe, who have all since gone on to succeed at the highest levels of the sport both locally and internationally.

Quotes:

Harri Jones, 2022 Porsche Michelin Junior Champion: “The Porsche Michelin Junior Championship is what we’ve been working for since we joined Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge in 2019, to have won the Junior title is a big tick for this year and obviously we still have the outright Carrera Cup Championship to win as well. So that’s our full focus at the moment, but to potentially get the opportunity to go to the Global Shootout against the best junior Carrera Cup drivers from around the world, is a dream come true. I hope we can get the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Matt (Campbell) and Jaxon (Evans) as we’ve all been supported by the McELrea team.”

“This year started off really well, but we’ve had a couple of tricky rounds recently and I’m looking to get back on the front foot here at Sandown this weekend. McELrea have been pivotal in my career so far, they taught me a whole lot together with Warren Luff my driver coach, without them I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this and I would like to say thanks to them. My naming rights partners Hastings Deering and MacKellar Group have helped me massively this year and in past seasons I have had Helimods on the car. I’ve been very lucky to have such amazing partners as these, I want to say a big thanks to my family, Sandra, my manger and my fiancé Emily. Together they’re an amazing support group that make it possible for me to get on the track and excel at what I do.”

Porsche Cars Australia’s Motorsport Manager, Barry Hay: “It’s fantastic to recognise Harri’s achievements in the Michelin Junior Championship this year and we have every confidence he will continue to impress on his ascent up the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid.”

Michelin Australia’s Marketing Manager Oceania, Hugo De-Boischevalier: “We congratulate Harri on joining a highly respected list of drivers that have been nominated to represent Australia in the Porsche Motorsport Junior Shootout later this year. The Michelin team look forward to watching his progression and success in the years to come.”

Porsche Michelin Junior Training in Australia:

To learn more about the professional coaching provided by leading experts in the Porsche Michelin Junior Programme in Australia, watch the following videos:

Porsche Michelin Junior Training 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tts2ywGVXQ

Porsche Michelin Junior Training 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YXWEjT_ewM

Porsche Michelin Junior Training 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cquPduF6iqw

For race information, videos and interviews, follow the Porsche Motorsport Australia social pages: Instagram – @PorscheMotorsportAU / Twitter – @PorscheMspAU / Facebook.com/ PorscheMotorsportAU

O’Keeffe draws near title lead thanks to emphatic Sandown win

Geoff Emery takes narrow win in Morris Pro-Am class battle

A PERFECT start was all Dylan O’Keeffe needed to continue his remarkable charge to the top of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, the Victorian powering to a race one victory in the Round 6 opener at Sandown. 

Starting from the outside of the front row, O’Keeffe beat polesitter Aaron Love off the line and into the first corner and from there was never to be headed, claiming his second career race victory and culling Harri Jones’ championship lead down to just 22 points in the process.

Geoff Emery claimed victory in Morris Pro-Am, leading Dean Cook and Adrian Flack home in a close battle for the class victory.

After getting the jump on Love and leading into the first corner, the race was a straightforward affair for O’Keeffe as he managed a small margin to his Sonic rival throughout.

The pair traded lap records in the early stages with Love never able to draw closer than a few car lengths in the battle.

It was O’Keeffe’s second career victory in Carrera Cup and his first of the season – and first since the 2018 season.

The race was also a source of redemption: O’Keeffe denied a race victory at Winton after leading for much of the race.

It also ensures the GWR Australia / Dexion squad joins the list of race winning teams for the first time this year.

Max Vidau started and finished third in a quiet race for South Australian TekworkX driver, while Simon Fallon equalled his personal best race result in fourth outright aboard his Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic machine.

He spent much of his day fending off Harri Jones, who moved up three spots from eighth on the grid thanks to a dynamic start and opening lap.

Dale Wood was next, with Christian Pancione, Angelo Mouzouris, David Russell and David Wall – up three spots from his 13th-placed effort in qualifying – completing the top-10.

Jackson Walls had featured in the battle for the back half of the top-10 before he spun on the exit of turn four with two laps remaining.

O’Keeffe set a new Sandown Carrera Cup lap record on his way to victory, his 1:09.0541 flyer on lap 12 not only the fastest race lap at the venue, but the quickest ever in one-make Porsche competition across 12 visits to Sandown.

In Morris Pro-Am, Emery converted pole position to his 11th class victory in the opening race, though it didn’t come easy.

The Victorian was forced to fend off a race-long attack from Dean Cook’s Zonzo Estate entry, while Adrian Flack closed quickly in the latter stages of the race to challenge in a three-car battle for the lead.

Sam Shahin was fourth, holding out Rodney Jane by a tiny margin in a close fight – the latter setting the fastest lap of the Pro-Am class in the process.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns for a pair of races tomorrow, including the next stanza of the enduro cup and a final sprint to decide Round 6.

Both races will be shown live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.

Dylan O’Keeffe, Race 1 Pro winner:

“It was excellent, our car has been really fast, we tested here a few weeks ago and we got a heap of points last round, but the car didn’t feel that great, we still maximised it. Coming here I was eager to get good starts and win some races, so completely stoked with that win.

“Huge thanks to Ram Motorsport and the GWR crew. When Aaron hit the fence on the out lap, I knew he would be a bit frazzled, so I was able to get a really good launch and just hold the gap from then on. Aaron was coming for me mid-race but then the gap settled, it was good fun. Tomorrow is the long race, so it will definitely be interesting, we’ll have to look at the data, as this was the first properly dry session we had. We’ll run some new tyres and see if we can do the same thing.”

Geoff Emery, Race 1 Morris Pro-Am winner

“I had a really good start, I had a couple of good runs with the pros there and battles for a few laps, I was having a great time. I enjoy this place, so I could in a few good lap times, manage to hold my spot and could come away with the Pro-Am win. We need to work on the car a little bit before tomorrow, to improve the handling but that’s not my job to do that.”

**

Earlier in qualifying, Aaron Love charged to his second-straight and third pole position of 2022 as the field negotiated a drying circuit on wet weather Michelin tyres.

Love’s Sonic Motor Racing / Bob Jane T-Marts entry scored the top spot by 0.3 seconds – the biggest margin of the season so far.

Dylan O’Keeffe continued his strong run of form by qualifying second, his fourth front-row start from six rounds so far this year.

Max Vidau qualified third while Simon Fallon was fourth in a personal best qualifying effort at his home circuit.

Angelo Mouzouris was another to record a PB effort with fifth, edging out Dale Wood’s Timken entry.

Notably, Harri Jones qualified eighth while fellow championship contender David Wall could only manage 13th.

In Morris Pro-Am, Geoff Emery secured the TAG Heuer Pole Award, edging out Adrian Flack by 0.028s with Sam Shahin and Dean Cook third and fourth, respectively.

Love form continues with record Friday Sandown pace

Adrian Flack heads Morris Pro-Am battle in tight Friday running

AARON LOVE has picked up where he left off as the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns to Sandown, setting a new circuit record to top practice ahead of Round 6 this weekend. 

Love, who dominated the recent round at The Bend Motorsport Park, set the fastest ever Carrera Cup lap of Sandown to head the practice order beneath sunny skies at the suburban Melbourne circuit.

His 1m09.0667s flyer was 0.2 seconds quicker than the previous qualifying record at the circuit.

Adrian Flack topped the Morris Pro-Am leaderboard across the pair of 25-minute sessions, however an accident towards the end of the second session damaged his Agas National entry.

Love’s Friday pace was impressive and will impact the remainder of the weekend – the fastest driver on Friday the first to hit the track during the 10-minute qualifying session tomorrow morning.

While Love was 0.2 seconds clear of the Carrera Cup field, the next 19 cars were covered by exactly one second in a typically intense day of practice.

TekworkX Motorsport’s Max Vidau was second aboard his Tyrepower entry while championship contender David Wall was third.

Christian Pancione was fourth while Dylan O’Keeffe – who sits third in the championship and had earlier topped practice one – was fifth and Ryan Suhle sixth, making it six different teams in the top six on the combined practice times.

Vidau’s teammate Luke Youlden, Duvashen Padayachee, Callum Hedge and Jackson Walls completed the top-10 runners – the latter just 0.5s behind Love’s session best.

In his 50th championship round, David Russell was 13th while championship leader Harri Jones was only 14th; 0.8 seconds from the quickest time.

Flack’s best lap in Morris Pro-Am came on his final flyer in practice two, his 1m10.0467s best putting him within one second of the quickest time overall.

He topped Liam Talbot for class bragging rights, the Wash It / Paynter Dixon Wall Racing driver rolling out in a brand-new chassis this weekend having been ousted from the final race at The Bend in a nasty rollover.

Sam Shahin and Dean Cook were next among the Pro-Am contenders, while three-time Sandown winner Stephen Grove was fifth. Geoff Emery topped practice one earlier on Friday amidst a remarkably competitive title battle that has seen a different points leader following every round to date this year.

The 31-car field returns tomorrow for a pair of 10-minute qualifying sessions, one each for Morris Pro-Am and then the Pro class runners.

The first race of the sixth round will commence later on Saturday afternoon with all sessions to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sport.

QUOTES: 

Aaron Love, fastest Pro

“It’s obviously nice to know what we’ve got  underneath ourselves going into qualifying, so really happy with that.

“I think a couple cars ran new tyres, whereas we didn’t, so there’s that to add onto it so happy with that. We’ve just got to see what comes tomorrow with the rain, it might flip everything upside down.

“It’s nice to know what we’ve got though, the car is really good to drive and we can push on to tomorrow. With the split qualifying, we won’t have a lot of time, we only really have the one opportunity, it’ll be about getting the tyres up to temperature as it will be cold in the morning, then it’s just about making no mistakes, as you only have one real shot at it.”

Adrian Flack, fastest Morris Pro Am

“I was having a lot of fun in that session, obviously after practice 1 you can try different things, but it was good fun.

“With ten minutes for qualifying, there is not much time, you’ve got to just keep building up to it and who ever puts the right lap together at the end, will get pole at the end of the day.

“Unfortunately the car went into the barrier on the last lap, so it might be a radiator and a few bits and pieces, but it wasn’t that hard, it just in an awkward spot.”

Love back for Carrera Cup Australia Championship assault on Sonic’s home turf

Only 14-points separate Morris Pro-Am Championship contenders heading into Sandown

Only 14-points separate Morris Pro-Am Championship contenders heading into Sandown

• There have been five different winners from five rounds this year in the Pro class
• Harri Jones has missed the Top 6 in the last six consecutive races
• Sam Shahin, Dean Cook, Geoff Emery are covered by just 14-points in battle for supremacy in Morris Pro-Am
• David Russell will start his 50^th Porsche Carrera Cup Australia round this weekend
• Tim Miles will notch up his 100^th Porsche Carrera Cup race start in Race 2 at Sandown
• Aaron Love has now won six races this year and has climbed to 5^th in the championship, 183 points from the lead
• With 6 podiums from 11 rounds, Aaron Love has the best podium strike rate among active drivers.

With five different winners from the last five rounds this year, the streak of non-repeating round winners in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship now stands at seven (Wall, Murray, Vidau, Jones, Wood, Hedge, Love) when dating back to Bathurst last year.

Due to the extremely high-level of competition among the Pro class of 2022, this streak has only happened on one occasion in series history – in 2014, between Rounds 2 and 8 – with the Championship record standing at eight different round winners in a row. A record which could be equalled this weekend should the form book repeat itself.

With Victoria’s traditionally wet and wintery weather predicted for all three days of the 135^th round in Championship history, Porsche teams will be provided two warm up laps at the start of each race to allow drivers to build sufficient heat into the Michelin front control tyres. As evidenced at Round 2 in Winton, this measure should help the large, 31-car grid navigate first turns of the bumpy, 3.1km Sandown Race Circuit.

Fresh off a dominant round victory at The Bend Motorsport Park last time out, Sonic Motor Racing’s Aaron Love finds himself creeping back in contention in the overall Pro championship race, despite missing several point scoring rounds while abroad. With six podiums from 11 rounds, the West Australian has the best podium strike rate among active drivers.

Another driver to reaffirm his intentions for the 2022 title in Round 5, was the Dexion liveried Porsche 911 GT3 Cup entry of Dylan O’Keeffe. The Victorian now sits second overall, only 46-points adrift of leader, Harri Jones (Hastings Deering / Mackellar Group) and 10 points ahead of 2017 Carrera Cup Australia Pro Champion, David Wall (Monochrome / Paynter Dixon) in third.

Despite missing the Top 6 in the last six consecutive races, Jones has always showed good pace on the Sandown Circuit and the 2019 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Champion currently holds the Qualifying lap record  – 1m09.2626s) – the fastest official lap of the historic circuit to date since it featured on the 2003 race calendar when the championship was first formed.

After a strong round at his own circuit in South Australia last time out, Sam Shahin (The Bend Motorsport Park) now enjoys a slender lead over the ever-consistent, Dean Cook (Zonzo Racing) and Geoff Emery (Force Accessories / MJR) entry in the Morris Pro-Am class.

Stephen Grove also returns for round 6 searching for his third consecutive victory in Morris Pro-am, having won the two prior Pro-Am rounds at the venue in 2017 and 2021.  Despite his success, Grove has never qualified on pole at Sandown.

Following two practice sessions on Friday 19 August, Saturday plays host to a split qualifying (Pro / Morris Pro-Am) session with the first Sprint race scheduled in the mid-afternoon. A 40-minute, 31 lap Endurance race kicks off on Sunday morning before the final Sprint race after midday. All three races will be broadcast live on both Fox Sports and Kayo Sports throughout the weekend, with free-to-air coverage across Channel 7.

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 6, Sandown

Broadcast Schedule:

Friday, 19 August

09:40 – 10:05 Practice 1

12:30 – 12:55 Practice 2

Saturday, 20 August

09:40 – 09:50 Qualifying 1

09:55 – 10:05 Qualifying 2

14:45 – 15:10 Race 1 (18 laps)

Sunday, 21 August

09:20 – 10:00 Race 2 (31 laps)

14:20 – 14:45 Race 3 (18 laps)

Entry List:

The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team Aims to return stronger in season 9

100th Formula E race marks finale of season 8

Porsche 99X Electric displays TAG Heuer livery at the Formula E season finale in Seoul

• TAG Heuer and Porsche celebrate the world premiere of the luxury smartwatch TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 – Porsche Edition.
• Season 8 came to an end at the Seoul E-Prix with the 100th race in Formula E history.
• The final race for André Lotterer with the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team.
• The one-two result for the Porsche 99X Electric in Mexico City marked the highlight for Porsche.
• Season 9 with the new Gen3 cars takes off on 14 January 2023 with the Mexico City E-Prix.

The anniversary was also the finale with the 100th race in the history of Formula E in Seoul on Sunday, season 8 of the world’s first electric racing series came to an end. The two Porsche 99X Electric racers lined up on the grid sporting a new and exclusive design – in a celebration of the world premiere of the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 – Porsche Edition, the first jointly developed Smartwatch from Porsche and TAG Heuer.

The sports car manufacturer and the Swiss luxury watch brand joined forces as global partners in 2021. TAG Heuer has been the team’s title partner since Porsche entered Formula E in 2019. The squad’s third season did not conclude with the notable achievement it had hoped for at the Seoul E-Prix. André Lotterer (GER/#36) failed to reach the finish in his final race for the team. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/#94), who earned points with seventh place in Saturday’s race, also retired early both through no fault of their own.

Season 8 proved to be a rollercoaster for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. The greatest success for the team from Weissach was its historic one-two victory at the Mexico City E-Prix on 12 February 2023. In the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, pole-setter Pascal Wehrlein clinched the first victory for Porsche in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in his Porsche 99X Electric. André Lotterer followed him over the finish line in second place, making the triumph perfect for the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer at its third Formula E race of the season.

At the Rome E-Prix, André Lotterer was on his way to claiming the winner’s trophy. With just under twelve minutes left on the clock, he swept to the front of the field and held the top spot for a long stretch. At the restart after the safety car phase, he lost his advantage and had to let his rivals pass. When the safety car was deployed for a second time, he was no longer in a position to make a bid for the lead.

At the Monaco E-Prix, it was Pascal Wehrlein who was on course for victory. Tackling the race from the first grid row, he snatched the lead with a breathtaking manoeuvre at the tunnel exit before the port chicane on the legendary Grand Prix circuit in the Principality on the Côte d’Azur and managed to pull away slightly from his pursuers. However, just after the halfway mark, his Porsche 99X Electric suddenly lost speed and he was forced to retire with a technical problem.

At the other races, André Lotterer and Pascal Wehrlein put in strong drives, particularly in qualifying, but were not always able to match these performances in the race.

In the drivers’ classification of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Pascal Wehrlein ranks 10th after 16 races with 71 points. André Lotterer wraps up the season 12th with 63 points. In the team classification, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team lies in seventh place with 134 points.

Comments on season 8

Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Motorsport Formula E: “This last race in Seoul was definitely not our day. Both of our drivers became entangled in other competitors’ accidents and were thrown out of contention. After just a couple of laps, Pascal had fought his way into the top 10. He was certainly on track for something more. André contested his last race for us today. I’d like to thank him very much for his dedication over the last three years. The team will miss him as a driver and a great guy. All in all, season 8 was a rollercoaster for us. There were great highlights like our one-two result in Mexico and the strong performances in Monaco and Rome, but some races and racetracks underlined our weak areas. We will now work hard on those weaknesses to make our Gen3 car a winner. Our goal for next year is clearly on consistently going for victories so that we’re in a position to fight for the world title.”

André Lotterer, Porsche works driver (#36): “I’d like to thank the team and Porsche for three great years. During this time, we experienced many highs and lows together. We’d hoped for more successes and we surely deserved them. This year began well for us. Our one-two in Mexico was a big highlight. But the second half of the season turned gnarly, and Seoul wasn’t how I’d imagined my farewell either. I’ll miss the team – they’re like family to me. I wish the squad all the very best and great success in the future. I’ll remain with Porsche Motorsport and I’m in good hands there.”

Pascal Wehrlein, Porsche works driver (#94): “At the moment, I’m still feeling disappointed about this weekend and our unfortunate second half of the season. Nevertheless, although we didn’t get the results we could have achieved, we showed a lot of potential.  Despite everything, there were also many positives. Mexico was our highlight, of course. That’s a feeling we want to experience again as soon as possible. I’d like to thank the team for their great support, hard work, and camaraderie, too. We’ll do everything in our power to come back stronger next year and hopefully win many races.”

Next up
Season 9 of the ABB Formula E World Championship takes off with the new Gen3 racing cars at the Mexico City E-Prix on 14 January 2023.

Porsche in Formula E
With a historic one-two result thanks to Pascal Wehrlein and André Lotterer in the Porsche 99X Electric, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team celebrated its greatest success to date in Mexico on 12 February 2022. The team contests its fourth season in the world’s first all-electric racing series in 2023. At the debut event in November 2019, André Lotterer scored second place at the season-opening race in Diriyah: a dream start and proof that with the Porsche 99X Electric, Porsche had a competitive vehicle right from the outset. Last season, Wehrlein claimed pole position in Mexico City. Two podium results followed with Wehrlein finishing third in Rome and Lotterer securing second in Valencia. As an accelerator for innovative and sustainable mobility technologies, Formula E has brought thrilling motorsport to people living in major cities since 2014. With the all-electric Taycan, Porsche supplies the safety car this season, underlining the importance of Formula E for Porsche Motorsport.

Love sweeps The Bend to claim maiden Carrera Cup round win

Intense Morris Pro-Am battle goes the way of Sam Shahin

AARON LOVE has become the seventh different round winner from the last seven Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia rounds, sweeping all three races to dominate Round 5 at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

Local hero Sam Shahin won Morris Finance Pro-Am in front of his local friends and family as the Carrera Cup ‘race within a race’ was blown wide open in a dramatic weekend.

Love was at his dominant best in his Bob Jane T-Marts entry, converting pole to wins in both of Sunday’s races to claim his first Porsche Carrera Cup Australia round win.

He led from lights to flag in the Enduro Cup race on Sunday morning before claiming an abbreviated final race to score the maximum 181 points available from the weekend – backing up pole position and a win on Saturday.

It was Love’s first round victory and the first clean sweep of a round this year, and also delivered Sonic Motor Racing their first round win since 2019 – notably claimed by Aaron’s older brother, Jordan.

Love is the fifth different driver to win from the five rounds this year, while the streak now stands at seven winners from the last seven rounds, dating back to Bathurst in 2021.

A consistent weekend saw Dylan O’Keeffe finish second overall to claim his third podium finish of the year so far, and firmly inject himself into the championship fight aboard his Dexion entry from RAM Motorsport / GWR Australia.

David Russell was third overall aboard his EMA Motorsport entry, claiming the 12^th podium finish of his Carrera Cup career and second of the 2022 season.

Key title contenders endured challenging weekends with both leader Harri Jones and second-placed David Wall both striking dramas across the weekend.

Jones found himself pointing the wrong way at turn two in the final race and finished 16^th, while Wall spent Sunday in recovery mode following his spin and a 25-point championship penalty on Saturday.

He finished the two races in sixth position, which coupled with Jones’ issues and O’Keeffe’s strong weekend means the top three in the championship are provisionally split by 46 points heading into Round 6 at Sandown in two weeks time.

Love won the enduro cup race over O’Keeffe and Russell, with Christian Pancione a personal-best fourth and Brad Shiels an outstanding fifth.

The final race, which finished under Safety Car, also went the way of Love while Russell edged O’Keeffe for second and third. Simon Fallon charged himself through the field to a personal-best fourth, while Pancione completed the top five.

The Bend’s Morris Pro-Am fight went the way of local hero Sam Shahin, who scored a clinch victory in the Enduro Cup race on Sunday morning to anchor his weekend and ultimately deliver the round win.

Shahin won the round ahead of Adrian Flack and Dean Cook: However, almost every key contender in the class had dramas throughout the weekend in one of the most unpredictable rounds in the Pro-Am class history.

Local knowledge was key for Sam Shahin as he hunted down and passed Liam Talbot for the win late in the Enduro Cup race on Sunday morning.

Starting fourth, Shahin chased Talbot throughout the race however pounced when the light rain began to fall to pass for the lead.

Adrian Flack then relegated Talbot to third in class late in the race, while Rodney Jane was fourth. Geoff Emery was one of several drivers involved in a lap one incident, failing to finish.

Race three was even more dramatic when Shahin and Talbot bumped wheels while running side-by-side at Turn 3, the contact tipping Talbot’s car into a roll, which ended on its wheels. Talbot escaped unscathed while the race was brought under the control of the Safety Car.

Through the drama, Geoff Emery came from the back of the grid to claim the race win over Shahin and Dean Cook, though the results for the weekend remain provisional pending post-event investigations.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns at the Sandown SuperSprint on August 19-21.

Aaron Love, Pro Round 5 winner:

“I’m over the moon to be honest, we had some awesome pace in practice, then putting pole by a really good margin was nice then to go away and win three from three and do it not comfortably, but really smoothly, I couldn’t be happier. Its all credit to the Sonic team, its been a long time coming and I’m just happy that we made it work and that we got it done this weekend. I’m not sure what it is about this track but sonic has always seem to have gone well here, it’s just a real credit to Mic (Ritter), Mike (Henry) and Maria (Ritter) and everyone there, they always give me an awesome machine to drive and they put in 110% every day and every night, so huge credit to them I couldn’t be happier. I’ve got a little bit of a break now around 5 weeks to my next race in French Carrera Cup in Valencia, Spain, so I have a little bit of time to regroup and get ready for then but we’ll try put our best forward that’s for sure.”

Sam Shahin, Morris Pro-Am Round 5 winner:

“It was exciting, but not what you want to see in any form of racing, I hope Liam (Talbot) is ok, it was just really unfortunate the angle at which his front wheel hit mine. Again, I just hope he’s ok and I was glad when I saw him get out of the car. Personally, I’m just so thrilled after having a tough qualifying and to finally get a good result at The Bend, this has been my bogey track so personally I’m thrilled. But I have a deep and genuine concern for Liam, I hope he is ok. The Bend really is tailor made for these GT3 Cup cars and I hope everybody enjoyed it.”

Love lights up The Bend to take dominant win

Liam Talbot claims Morris Pro-Am class win in style

AARON LOVE has dominated the opening Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship race at The Bend Motorsport Park, leading from lights-to-flag to win by the biggest margin of the 2022 season to date.

The Sonic Motor Racing driver launched away from pole and led every lap to claim his fourth win of the 2022 season, winning by 5.7 seconds over Dylan O’Keeffe and Callum Hedge.

Liam Talbot claimed victory in the Morris Pro Am class, winning over Adrian Flack and Geoff Emery, while early contender Sam Shahin struck dramas not far from the finish having earlier battled for the lead.

Love led the 29-strong field into turn one, while there was drama behind as title contender David Wall and Max Vidau made contact at turn two – both cars ending up off the road and off the circuit. The incident is being investigated post-race, with Vidau ultimately finishing 16^th and Wall 18^th.

That elevated Callum Hedge to third, the Earl Bamber Motorsport driver spending the remainder of the race chasing Dylan O’Keeffe in a close battle for second.

David Russell followed them home in fourth with Christian Pancione finishing fifth and Luke Youlden sixth.

Championship leader Harri Jones started ninth but gained two spots to finish seventh, taking maximum advantage of his nearest title rival Wall finishing further down the order.

Ryan Suhle, Jackson Walls and Dale Wood completed the top-10, the latter having worked his way through a furious four-car battle that included Brad Shiels, Bayley Hall and Simon Fallon.

The latter had led the group for much of the race but a damage front splitter slowed his Sonic entry, setting up the furious fight that at one point had cars three abreast heading downhill through the high-speed Turn 7.

The battle in Morris Pro-Am was for much of the race battled between Liam Talbot and Sam Shahin, the pair swapping the lead in class after a tense battle in the race’s early laps.

They looked to finish that way before a reported off at turn 14 late in the race dropped Shahin down the order.

That elevated Adrian Flack to second in class, having passed championship leader Geoff Emery for position with a strong move at turn one late in the race.

Emery was third with Dean Cook and Matt Belford completing the top five.

Harri Jones provisionally leads the championship by 55 points heading into tomorrow morning’s 20-lap enduro cup race, with Wall second and O’Keeffe third. Emery continues to hold sway in the Morris Pro-Am title race.

Two races complete the fifth round of the championship on Sunday at the OTR SuperSprint at The Bend Motorsport Park, with both to be shown live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.

Aaron Love, Race 1 winner, Pro

“It’s nice to convert it from putting it on pole, we had a fairly smooth race and we got a good start. I managed to get a bit of a gap and then just maintain it. We have a little bit of work to do with the car as always, but we’ll just fine tune it, there’s nothing too wrong with it, so we’ll regroup and go again tomorrow, fingers crossed.”

Liam Talbot, Race 1 winner, Morris Pro-Am

“Stoked with that, race wins are hard to get, so great to start the weekend with pole and a race win, it was very satisfying. It was a bit hard with the circuit owner behind me. Sam was putting a bit of pressure on, but we weathered the storm and are looking forward to race 2. The Pro-Am battle is fascinating this year, you never really know who is going to be stronger and be weaker, practice doesn’t mean anything, but qualifying is where it counts and the race means something else completely. But it’s all fun, exciting, edge-of-your-seat for us drivers.”

LOVE, TALBOT SEAR TO TAG HEUER POLE AWARDS IN RECORD PACE

EARLIER in qualifying, Aaron Love and Liam Talbot (Morris Pro-Am) became the first repeat pole winners of the 2022 season as they charged to the top spot in a compelling 20-minute session.

The pair, who were both on pole in their respective classes at the Australian Grand Prix season opener in April, topped an intense session where cold track conditions and blustery wind made conditions extremely challenging.

Love’s best lap came late in the session and on his second set of new Michelin tyres.

He edged out Dylan O’Keeffe by 0.1 seconds for his second career TAG Heuer Pole Award, with David Wall close behind in third.

While not as quick as his Friday flyer, Love’s 1m50.1212s best stands as a qualifying record for Carrera Cup at The Bend.

Callum Hedge lost his final lap to traffic and had to settle for fourth, while Christian Pancione continued his strong recent form in fifth.

David Russell, Max Vidau, Luke Youlden, championship leader Harri Jones and Ryan Suhle completed the top-10.

Talbot jumped to Morris Pro-Am pole on his final flyer to edge out Geoff Emery by under one-tenth.

Adrian Flack was third while Sam Shahin showed his frustration after qualifying fourth.

TAG Heuer Pole Position, Pro, Aaron Love:

“It’s a really nice feeling to get a good result, especially after Townsville. I made it hard for myself as I usually do, but we’ll get over that and put our heads down for the race. It was relatively good with the traffic, just because the track is so long here you get clean space which we managed to do that, but it was definitely tough out there as the wind has been quite strong, there’s corners that it helps you with, which you’ve got to take advantage of, but it really makes it hard to read and maximise the car. It will be great to convert the pole, but for sure it will be a tough race, we’ll go back debrief and get our heads down for the race.”

TAG Heuer Pole Position, Morris Pro-Am, Liam Talbot:

“Fantastic to get pole position, had to dig deep as the tyres were going off, we committed to one set of tyres and we had big moments through (turns) 8 and 9 almost going off, but somehow got through it only to get held up by Dale Wood, so that was a bit of a shame in the last corner after doing all that hard work. To get back up again on the last lap though, was very satisfying and I want to say a big thanks to the Wall Racing team. It was hard to manage the temperatures with the tyres, a one set strategy worked for us but you had to commit to it and you couldn’t be 50/50, but in the end it worked out well.”

Debut for the newest generation of the Porsche 911 GT3 R

Newly developed customer sport race car for GT3 series around the world

• New 911 GT3 R ready to race from the start of the 2023 season
• More power, sophisticated aerodynamics and optimised balance
• Conceptual influences from the 911 GT3 Cup and 911 RSR

The new Porsche 911 GT3 R will be unveiled to the public at this year’s 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. From the 2023 season, Porsche customer teams can campaign the new racing vehicle in worldwide motorsport events that adhere to the GT3 regulations. The vehicle is based on the latest 992-generation 911. Compared to its predecessor, the new 911 GT3 R features a larger engine producing up to 416 kW (565 PS), a more constant aerodynamic performance and an optimised vehicle balance.

With the latest generation of the 911 GT3 R, Porsche unveils a new customer racing car. The new challenger for GT3 series around the world is based on the current 992 generation and will be ready to race at the beginning of the 2023 season. Development began in 2019. Priority was given to further improving the driveability for professionals and so-called gentleman drivers, as well as tapping larger performance reserves for different Balance of Performance (BoP) classifications. Another focus was on streamlining the handling of the race car for the teams and reducing the running costs. Porsche Motorsport now offers the new 911 GT3 R at a price of 511,000 Euros ex-factory plus country-specific VAT and optional extras.

“The new 911 GT3 R has big shoes to fill,” says Michael Dreiser, Sales Director at Porsche Motorsport. “Its forerunner has won almost everything there is to win in the GT3 scene in four seasons since 2019. Its stand-out successes include overall victories at the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and also here at Spa-Francorchamps. Raced by our customers, the predecessor scored class victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. The new model faces a massive workload in the hands of the Porsche customer racing teams.”

After the GT3 class was announced as a professional category in the North American IMSA series, the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship follows suit: From 2024, GT3 racing cars such as the new 911 GT3 R will be eligible to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time.

“We hit the bull’s eye with the enormously successful predecessor. Accordingly, the bar for its successor is high,” emphasises Sebastian Golz, 911 GT3 R Project Manager at Porsche Motorsport. “Our task was less about making the new 911 GT3 R even faster – the classification within performance windows set by the BoP quickly cancels out this advantage. For us, it was primarily about our customers being able to drive the racing car fast for longer. This requires durability and that’s why we focused predominantly on improved driveability. This is reflected in the new 4.2-litre engine’s broader usable rev band, more stable and constant aerodynamics and lower loads on the rear tyres, which allow their potential to last longer.”

At the core of the new racing car is the near-standard engine based on the 992-generation 911 power plant. Like in the previous model, it is a water-cooled flat-six engine with four-valve technology and direct fuel injection. The main new development is the displacement: like the 911 RSR, the capacity of the new 911 GT3 R has increased by a good five per cent from 3,997 to 4,194 cc. This has boosted the engine’s peak output to around 416 kW (565 PS). First and foremost, however, Porsche has optimised the torque and power curve across the entire rev range. Consequently, the new 4.2-litre six-cylinder is better suited to gentleman drivers.

The high-revving six-cylinder manages without turbocharging and sits in the classic rear position, thus enhancing traction and braking. However, it has been tilted forwards by 5.5 degrees, creating more leeway for the underbody diffuser. Auxiliary units such as the alternator and the air conditioning compressor were moved a good metre forward and further down into a space in front of the engine and gearbox, which has a positive effect on the weight balance of the 911 GT3 R. The sequential six-speed contest-mesh gearbox is derived from the current 911 GT3 Cup. Shift paddles control an electronic shift drum actuator that enables particularly rapid and precise gear changes.

The new 911 GT3 R’s suspension – many details of which have been modified – supports driveability, allows more precise steering, ensures less wear on the rear tyres and reduces the time spent on set-up changes. For this, numerous components and technical solutions were taken from the 911 RSR. At the front axle, a state-of-the-art double wishbone layout controls the wheels. The rear axle sports a multi-link design. The KW shock absorbers were further improved and offer five adjustment settings. Set-up modifications are done with so-called shims. These plates enable precision adjustments without the need for the time-consuming re-alignment of the suspension afterwards.

The optimised positioning of the central pivot points at the front axle frees up space for the aerodynamic “race underfloor” concept. Like in the 911 RSR, this elevated underbody allows for a clean flow of air to the rear diffuser and reduces the pitch sensitivity of the racing car – i.e. a high rake under braking. The rear wheels have moved a little further back, which extends the wheelbase from 2,459 to 2,507 millimetres. This also reduces the load on the rear tyres and improves the consistency of the tyres’ performance over longer stints.

In addition to the aluminium monobloc racing brake callipers, the brake discs on the new 911 GT3 R are now also supplied by the specialist company AP. The internally vented and slotted front steel discs measure 390 mm in diameter and are activated by six pistons. Fitted at the rear are four-piston callipers and discs measuring 370 mm. A sophisticated software application for the fifth-generation racing ABS reduces wear on the tyres and brakes. Porsche’s traction control system also received a further development.

The new 911 GT3 R is just the second racing car from Porsche Motorsport to be based on the current 992-generation 911 after the 911 GT3 Cup. Its lightweight body with an intelligent aluminium-steel composite design draws on the production model, albeit with major modifications for use in the 911 GT3 R. Almost all body components are made of lightweight carbon, including the front and rear lids, doors, side panels, rear wing and roof. The wheel arches are made of aramid fibres.

In a vehicle like the new 911 GT3 R, functionality stands at the forefront. Nevertheless, Grant Larson from Style Porsche again succeeded in creating particularly stunning and harmonious shapes. They accentuate the heritage of the nine-eleven and blend it with sophisticated efficiency. Most notably, this is reflected in the aerodynamics. The key points: an elevated underbody at the fore of the front axle, for the first time in conjunction with a smooth undertray, and a rear diffuser. This combination improves downforce without a significant increase in drag. The rear wing now features a swan-neck mount. This ensures a clean airflow under the wing and thus improves the aerodynamic efficiency of the component.

In terms of safety, the new 911 GT3 R follows an uncompromising approach. The seat has moved closer to the centre of the car. This enabled Porsche to optimally adapt the more ergonomic seat position to the improved roll cage and the newly developed FIA side impact protection. Like in the forerunner, the steering wheel and pedals can be adjusted longitudinally to suit the driver. Porsche specialists took another close look at the six-point safety harness: the tongues now slide even faster into the clasp via special ramps – saving about a second during pit stops for driver changes. The steering wheel design also received further upgrades on the previous model. It incorporates elements that have proven themselves in the latest generation 911 GT3 Cup and 911 RSR race cars. The 10.3-inch display, for example, comes from the successful one-make cup racer, with the multi-switch concept adopted from the Le Mans class winner.

The high-performance LED headlights on the 911 GT3 R rely on so-called collimator technology, which Porsche developed for the new LMDh 963 prototype, among others. This device works like a magnifying glass, only in reverse. It illuminates a particularly large area of the racetrack and is a significant improvement on the predecessor model, which was previously regarded as the class leader.
Detailed information on the new 911 GT3 R is available on the Porsche website at this link.

Technical data Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) model year 2023
Concept • Single-seater customer race car; homologated for the FIA GTE category; homologation basis: Porsche 911 GT3 (992 series).

Weight/dimensions
• Base weight: ca. 1,250 kg (depending of BoP classification); wheelbase: 2,507 mm.
• Length: 4,619 mm; width: 2,039 mm (front axle) / 2,050 mm (rear axle).

Engine
• Water-cooled six-cylinder boxer, rear-mounted; capacity 4,194 cc, stroke 81.5 mm, bore 104.5 mm; max rpm 9,250/min; power: ca. 416 kW (565 PS); four-valve technology; single throttle butterfly system; direct fuel injection; engine control unit Bosch MS 6.6; dry sump lubrication with oil-water heat exchanger; single mass flywheel; race exhaust system with twin tailpipes and DMSB certified catalytic converter; fuel quality: Superplus unleaded to E20 (min. 98 octane).

Transmission
• Porsche six-speed sequential constant-mesh gearbox; shift paddles on the steering wheel with electronic shift actuator; mechanical limited slip differential with adjustable preload system unit; three-plate carbon race clutch.

Body
• Lightweight body featuring intelligent aluminium-steel composite design; mounting points for lifting device, removable rescue hatch in the roof; welded-in roll cage; approved for co-driver use on circuits; six-bolt carbon racing seat pursuant to FIA 8862-2009; six-point safety harness for use with HANS®; longitudinally adjustable pedal assembly and adjustable steering column with steering angle senor; front cover with integrated quick-release fasteners, cooler exit-air duct and central air intake for cockpit ventilation; widened front bumper with spoiler lip; fenders with extensions; rear trim with integrated rain light in accordance with FIA; doors, carbon-fibre rear lid and rear wing; rear wing with “swan neck” mounts; fully polycarbonate glazing with hard coating; heated windscreen; four-post air jack system; valve mounting points on either side; 117-litre FT3 fuel cell in front of the car.
• Carbon-fibre interior trim, multifunctional carbon-fibre steering wheel with quick release coupling, shift paddles and illuminated push buttons; ergonomic digital touch panel with multi-colour backlighting; safety nets (centre and driver’s side) in accordance with latest FIA safety regulations; integrated CFK side impact protection; drivers’ seat with seat ventilation; fire extinguishing system with electronic release unit.

Suspension
• Forged aluminium control arms and top mounts, stiffness optimised; high-duty spherical bearings with dust protection; wheel hubs with central locking; five-way adjustable racing shock absorbers, motorsport-specific valve design and blow-off function; suspension adjustment via shims; sword-type anti-roll bars adjustable on both sides; spring travel potentiometer; tyre pressure monitoring system.

Front axle:
• Double wishbone front axle, adjustable ride height, camber and toe.
• Electro-hydraulic power steering.
• Single-piece alloy rims, 12.5J x 18, tyre size 30/68-18.

Rear axle:
• Multilink rear suspension, adjustable ride height, camber and toe.
• Racing driveshaft with tripod flanges.
• Single-piece alloy rims, 13.5J x 18, tyre size 31/71-18.

Brakes
• Two independent brake circuits incorporating front and rear axle brake pressure sensors, driver adjustable brake-force distribution via brake balance system; racing brake pads; optimised brake ducting; brake temperature sensors; ergonomic brake pedal positioning for left and right foot braking.
• Generation 5 racing ABS from Bosch
• Front axle: Six-piston aluminium monobloc racing brake callipers ‘anti knock-back’ piston springs; internally vented multi-piece 390 mm x 35.7 mm steel brake discs; aluminium brake disc chamber.
• Rear axle: Four-piston aluminium monobloc racing brake callipers with ‘anti knock-back’ piston springs; internally ventilated multi-piece 370 mm x 32.1 mm steel brake discs; aluminium brake disc chamber.

Electrical system
• 992 EE Motorsport architecture; new easier-to-use Porsche toolset with more streamlined handling; latest generation Cosworth electronic components; Porsche Logger Unit; Porsche power box; 10.3-inch Porsche colour display with integrated RLU, data recording via USA stick; leak-proof LiFePo4 battery 12V, 40 Ah in the passenger footwell; 210 A alternator; digital touch panel with multi-colour backlighting; single-arm windscreen wiper with direct drive (intermittent and continuous).
• LED headlights with integrated auxiliary lights; LED taillights plus rain light. Attachments for Accident Data Recorder (ADR).

Seven Carrera Cup Australia drivers to contest 24 Hours of Spa

• Five Porsche 911 GT3 R with world-class drivers fight for overall victory
• Porsche’s winning trio reunited in GPX Racing’s 911
• Presentation of the newest generation GT3 racing vehicle from Weissach
• Matt Campbell; Brenton Grove; Jaxon Evans; Matt Payne; Stephen Grove; Earl Bamber and Jordan Love to start 24 Hours of Spa
• Three Carrera Cup Australia teams (EMA Motorsport, Grove Racing and Earl Bamber Motorsport) will also contest the Belgian Endurance classic this year.

A total of 13 Porsche 911 GT3 R are entered for this year’s 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on 30/31 July. Five of the over 368 kW (500 PS) 911 contest the pro-category and have excellent chances to score overall victory at the world’s largest GT3 endurance classic. On the occasion of the event, Porsche Motorsport unveils the latest generation of a GT3 race car for customer racing.
With 13 Porsche 911 GT3 R, the Porsche customer teams are well represented at this year’s 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps. The long-distance classic in the Ardennes is considered the largest GT3 event in the world. In the long and illustrious history of the event, which was held for the first time in 1924, Porsche racing cars have clinched eight victories to date. On the last weekend in July, the experienced customer squads are determined to add to this track record.

“The organiser SRO headed by Stéphane Ratel celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. We’re expecting a particularly tough and spectacular grid line-up with a total of 65 cars,” explains Sebastian Golz, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R. “Our customer teams have entered 13 of our GT3 cars. This makes Porsche the most strongly represented manufacturer in the race. We’re well positioned in terms of both quantity and quality. I’m confident that our five pro-class vehicles manned by world-class drivers will be serious contenders for victory. The key to success lies in the best use of the tyres. During tests, we noticed that the latest renovations and modernisations at Spa-Francorchamps have left some rough ridges and edges in the asphalt and kerbs. What’s more, the new gravel traps pose a risk to the tyres, so it’s important to cover the distance with as little damage as possible. We won with the current generation of the 911 GT3R in 2019 and 2020. We’re now aiming for win number three before our new GT3 car enters the competition in 2023.”

The race
The first 24-hour race was contested in Belgium’s Ardennes in 1924 – making this classic just one year “younger” than the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Until 1949, the track measured about 15 kilometres in length and ran between the towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot. In 1970, the track was shortened to 7.004 kilometres and has remained virtually unchanged until today. Last winter and spring, the storied racetrack underwent an extensive upgrade. As part of this modernisation, new gravel traps, among other features, was added to the famous Eau Rouge/Raidillon passage. The basic layout, however, remained the same. Due to its location in the Ardennes, teams and drivers must expect unpredictable weather conditions at any time.

The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is considered the largest single GT3 event in the world. The endurance race is contested as round two of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) and is the third race of this year’s GT World Challenge Europe (GTWC).

The customer teams and drivers
In the Pro class, elite professional drivers compete for overall victory. With its customer teams, Porsche is well positioned in this category: works drivers Kévin Estre (France), Michael Christensen (Denmark) and Richard Lietz (Austria) share the cockpit of GPX Racing’s No. 221 entry. This trio won the endurance classic in 2019. The 2020 winners tackle this year’s race in separate cars: Local hero Laurens Vanthoor and Nick Tandy from England share the No. 47 car fielded by KCMG with the Norwegian DTM driver Dennis Olsen. New Zealander Earl Bamber contests the Pro-Am Cup for the Singha Racing team.

The other contenders for overall victory sit in cars campaigned by the customer squads Dinamic Motorsport (#54), EMA Motorsport (#74) and Toksport WRT (#100). EMA from Australia makes its debut at the largest GT3 event in Belgium. Sharing the wheel of the No. 74 EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R are the works drivers Matt Campbell from Australia, Mathieu Jaminet from France and Felipe Nasr from Brazil. Last January, this trio won the GTD-Pro class at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Dinamic’s No. 54 car is driven by Austria’s Klaus Bachler, Frenchman Côme Ledogar and Thomas Preining from Austria. Julien Andlauer from France and the two Germans Marvin Dienst and Sven Müller compete for Toksport.

Herberth Motorsport fields three 911 in the Gold Cup and Pro-Am classes, with Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM), Allied Racing and Dinamic Motorsport also aiming for victory in the amateur categories. Experienced Porsche drivers such as Alessio Picariello (Belgium), Jaxon Evans (New Zealand) and the former Porsche Junior Ayhancan Güven (Turkey) will tackle the event at the wheel of the 911 GT3 R.

An overview of the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia teams and drivers
No less than seven present (and former) Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia drivers are among the star studded field to contest 24 Hours of Spa this year including: Matt Campbell; Brenton Grove; Jaxon Evans; Matt Payne; Stephen Grove; Earl Bamber and Jordan Love. The 2019 Pro Champion will be part of the Haupt Racing Team (Mercedes-AMG GT3) in the Silver Cup class. 2022 will also see three Carrera Cup Australia teams (EMA Motorsport, Grove Racing and Earl Bamber Motorsport) contest the Belgian Endurance classic.

An overview of the Porsche crews
Pro class:
KCMG (#47) – Nick Tandy (UK) / Laurens Vanthoor (B) / Dennis Olsen (N)
Dinamic (#54) – Klaus Bachler (A) / Côme Ledogar (F) / Thomas Preining (A)
EMA (#74) – Matt Campbell (AUS) / Mathieu Jaminet (F) / Felipe Nasr (BR)
Toksport (#100) – Julien Andlauer (F) / Marvin Dienst (D) / Sven Müller (D)
GPX (#221) – Kévin Estre (F) / Michael Christensen (DK) / Richard Lietz (A)

Pro-Am Cup:
Herberth (#9) – Antares Au (HK) / Kevin Tse (MAC) / Dylan Pereira (L) / Jaxon Evans (NZ)
EBM (#16) – Adrian da Silva (MAL) / Brenton Grove (AUS) / Stephen Grove (AUS) / Matt Payne (NZ)
Herberth (#24) – Nicolas Leutwiler (CH) / Stefan Aust (D) / Alessio Picariello (B) / Nico Menzel (D)
Singha (#39) – Piti Bhirombhakdi (T) / Christophe Hamon (F) / Tanart Sathienthirakul (T) / Earl Bamber (NZ)

Gold Cup:
Allied (#91) – Alex Malykhin (UK) / Julien Apothéloz (CH) / Florian Latorre (F) / Ayhancan Güven (TR)
Herberth (#911) – Ralf Bohn (D) / Alfred Renauer (D) / Robert Renauer (D)

Silver Cup:
Allied (#22) – Dominik Fischli (CH) / Joel Sturm (D) / Patrick Matthiesen (DK) / Vincent Andronaco (D)
Dinamic (#56) – Giorgio Roda (I) / Mauro Calamia (CH) / Marius Nakken (N) / Mikkel Pedersen (DK)

The new GT3 customer racer in the limelight
The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps sets the stage for a very special debut: In the paddock, Porsche presents the new customer sport racing car for worldwide GT3 series to the public for the first time. The successor to the winning current model will be on display from Saturday, 30 July.

The schedule (all times CEST)

Friday, 29 July
6:20 pm – 6:50 pm: Warm-up
7:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Superpole

Saturday, 30 July
4:45 pm: Start of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

Sunday, 31 July
4:45 pm: Finish of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

Drivers’ comments before the race
Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche 911 GT3 R #47): “For me as a Belgian, the race is of course a major highlight, especially since I live almost around the corner from the track. I’ve been quite unlucky at Daytona, Le Mans and the Nürburgring this season. This makes the race in Spa my last chance to win another 24-hour classic this year. That’s our clear objective. I’ve already stood at the top of the podium twice at Spa. On the test day, our 911 GT3 R from KCMG ran extremely well. Nevertheless, we still don’t have a concrete idea of how our performance will compare to the huge competition.”

Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 911 GT3 R #74): “I’m confident that we have an excellent overall package for the race. The Porsche 911 GT3 R is tried and tested, my teammates Matt and Felipe are extremely strong and the EMA team is super consistent and goal-oriented. My teammates and I won at Daytona in January. We know each other well and tackle the task at hand with a healthy dose of self-confidence. However, we’re certainly not taking the strong competition for granted. Plus, it’s our first time at Spa as a team. Despite this, we have one very clear goal: victory.”

Sven Müller (Porsche 911 GT3 R #100): “The official tests in preparation for this year’s race went very well. We managed to test different set-up options and so we feel well prepared for the race. The Toksport WRT team really exceeded my expectations. I’m really looking forward to tackling the race with my super-fast teammates. Our chances look very good.”

Kévin Estre (Porsche 911 GT3 R #221): “It’s great to have our winning team from 2019 – Michael, Richie and myself – back together with GPX Racing. We joined forces as a trio for the first time three years ago and promptly left the competition in our dust. In light of the packed and powerful grid line-up, it’ll be anything but easy to repeat such a result this year. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to check off our entire list during the test drives, but we’ll definitely be sorted in time for the race.”

Up-to-date information as well as film and photo material on Porsche Motorsport live from race tracks all over the world can be found on the Twitter channel @PorscheRaces, in the Porsche Newsroom and on the Porsche Motorsport Hub.

Love beats record to top The Bend practice

Adrian Flack on top in close MORRIS Pro-Am battle

AARON LOVE has once again returned from Europe to lead the field in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, the Sonic Motor Racing Services driver comfortably topping the times across a pair of 25-minute practice sessions today at The Bend Motorsport Park.

Love’s best lap of 1m49.9159s in the second session was the quickest ever for a Carrera Cup car at the 4.9km circuit in South Australia, the West Aussie driver topping the times by more than four-tenths of a second as the field prepared for the fifth round of eight this year.

Adrian Flack edged out home-town hero Sam Shahin to top the Morris Pro-Am runners as Porsche’s race within a race continues to heat up.

Love, who is splitting his time between Europe and Australia this season, raced in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup at Paul Ricard last weekend however showed no signs of jetlag to top the times in South Australia on a crisp but dry Friday at The Bend.

His Bob Jane T-Marts Porsche was fourth fastest in practice one before a searing sequence of laps towards the end of the second, quicker session in the afternoon saw him drop well beneath the existing circuit records – topping both the race and qualifying benchmarks.

Sonic are prior winners at The Bend, in 2018 and 2019, while both the race and qualifying records are held by Aaron’s older brother, Jordan – also aboard Sonic machinery.

Second was EMA Motorsport’s David Russell, who headed a queue of nine cars covered by 0.4 seconds.

EMA are fielding cars on two continents this weekend with a Porsche 911 GT3R entry in the Spa 24 Hour enduro in Belgium – co driven by former Aussie champion, Matt Campbell.

Townsville race winner Jackson Walls ended the day third, Dylan O’Keeffe fourth and Townsville round winner Callum Hedge was fifth.

Hedge topped the opening practice session aboard his Earl Bamber Motorsport / Team Porsche NZ entry to continue his strong recent form.

Championship leader Harri Jones, Christian Pancione, Luke Youlden, Ryan Suhle and second-placed David Wall completed the top-10.

South Aussie Max Vidau had a solid day at the office on his return to his home circuit – finishing third quickest in practice one.

All 10 fastest cars on Friday’s combined practice lap times all lapped beneath the existing The Bend lap record.

Morris Pro-Am was equally competitive as usual with Adrian Flack edging out Sam Shahin for the fastest time of the day.

Flack’s 1m51.57s was 0.07s quicker than Shahin’s best and just 1.6s behind the outright leader on the third-longest lap on the Carrera Cup calendar.

Liam Talbot was third fastest with Dean Cook and Matt Belford next in Pro-Am.

The fifth round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship continues tomorrow with a 20-mintue qualifying session, before the first race later in the afternoon.

Both sessions will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.

Aaron Love, Fastest Pro

“It was a nice session, I’ve never been here before in this car so I’ve been learning lap after lap. So it’s nice to get the result, but at the end of the day its only Friday and practice. I think we still got a bit of work to do overnight and we have to make sure we do it all tomorrow in qualifying. It’s always been a good track for Sonic, one of our home tracks is Phillip Island so we can correlate a lot of the data from there to it, it’s always good that we can have a track that we always go to and get a relatively good base off, but I’m enjoying being back here.”

Adrian Flack, Fastest Morris Pro Am, Practice 2

“First is a good place to be for the start of the weekend, we just need to try push on with it and end up in the same position at the end of the weekend. The track had a lot more grip that session than the previous session, but I still find it tricky to know how much grip you going to have in the corner, until you get into it. Sam has done so many laps around here, I figured he would be way up the road so to be in front, or even that close, I’m stoked.

Callum Hedge, Fastest Pro, Practice 1

“We tested here a few times before and we took a few theories into that session which we thought would work and it seemed to pay dividends, but the track is really cold and fresh as it rained overnight. We’ve just got to wait for a bit of rubber to come in and put some better tyres on and we’ll go have a proper crack. But it’s a good continuation from our win in Townsville and hopefully we stay there for the rest of the weekend.”

Wall and Jones resume Championship battle in Round 5

Sonic heads to The Bend Motorsport Park in search of elusive 2022 round win

Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia, Round 5, The Bend Motorsport Park

• Four different round winners, from the first four rounds this season in the Pro class
• Geoff Emery first repeat winner in Morris Pro-Am this year in Townsville
• Shahin, Cook, Talbot and Jane all covered by just 8-points in battle for third in Morris Pro-Am
• Walls, Hedge, Hall, Shiels and Mouzouris all set personal best round results in Round 4
• Wall only driver to finish in top-10 in every race this year

Following two big rounds in the north of Australia, Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup teams now travel south to country town of Tailem Bend in South Australia for round 5 of the 2022 Championship.

Hosting races 393 to 395 in Championship history, the 4.95km circuit at The Bend Motorsport Park is characterised by fast, flowing turns that are tailored for GT style cars, such as the new 992 generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car.

The Bend, run by Morris Pro-Am driver, Sam Shahin, became only the 17th venue to host a round of Carrera Cup Australia since the series inception in 2002, and is the third fastest venue on the 2022 calendar, with its average lap speed of 161kph eclipsed only by Albert Park (174kph) and Bathurst (178kph).

Following a massive start-line accident in the Saturday’s torrential conditions, the 2021 Sunday races at The Bend witnessed two incredible battles between Cameron Hill and Harri Jones, with the 2021 Pro Champion Hill claiming both the 20-lap Enduro and 11-lap finale by near identical race margins 0.23s.

Prior to that, Sonic Motor Racing drivers had dominated both the inaugural 2018 round (Michael Almond) and 2019 events (Jordan Love). Love won all three races from pole position with an average winning margin of more than 5.5 seconds.

But it has been 12 consecutive rounds since the Sonic Motor Racing Team’s last round win, edging ever closer to their longest ‘dry spell’ of 13 rounds in the 2005-06 season. The Victorian Championship winning team has been in position to win twice this year though, both with Aaron Love (Australian Grand Prix and Townsville) and will be hungry to amend that stat heading to South Australia round.

In their way, stands McElrea Racing’s Harri Jones, whose Championship lead was reduced to 39-points by David Wall in Round 4, with the Paynter Dixon driver being the only driver in the field to have finished in the top 10 in every race so far this year. Both drivers finished on The Bend’s podium last year.

The team that has made the biggest progression in the last six races however, is Earl Bamber Motorsport Team, thanks to the efforts of Dale Wood and Callum Hedge. After a shaky start to the season, Hedge took his first Carrera Cup Australia round win in Townsville and has progressed from 10th, 9th, 8th, 3rd, 2nd to first in the last six races.

Together with Hedge, Round 4 also saw the likes of Jackson Walls, Bayley Hall, Brad Shiels and Angelo Mouzouris all set their personal best Carrera Cup Australia performances.

In Morris Pro-Am, Geoff Emery was unstoppable and became the season’s first repeat winner in the class, elevating him into the Championship lead by 17 points from three-time class champion, Stephen Grove.

With Grove overseas for the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa this weekend, the battle for class victory and podium positions will be hotly contested affair. As only eight points currently separate Dean Cook, Sam Shahin, Liam Talbot and Rodney Jane for positions 3 to 6 in the Championship.

Following two practice sessions on Friday 29 July, Saturday plays host to qualifying and the first Sprint race in the mid-afternoon. A 40-minute, 20 lap Endurance race takes place on Sunday morning before the final Sprint race after midday. All three races will be broadcast live on both Fox Sports 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 5, The Bend
Broadcast Schedule:

Friday, 29 July
10:50-11:15 Practice 1
13:25-13:50 Practice 2

Saturday, 30 July
10:30-10:50 Qualifying
15:05-15:30 Race 1 (11 laps)

Sunday, 31 July
10:20-11:00 Race 2 (20 laps)
14:25-14:50 (11 laps)

Entry List:
# Name Surname Class Sponsor
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
14 Matthew Belford Pro-Am ID Land / Porsche Centre Melbourne
17 Callum Hedge Pro Team Porsche NZ / EBM
20 Adrian Flack Pro-Am AGAS National
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 Hall Finance & Insurance
38 David Wall Pro Monochrome / Paynter Dixon
45 Indiran Padayachee Pro-Am Rentcorp Hyundai Forklifts
48 Geoff Emery Pro-Am Force Accessories / MJR
53 Luke Youlden Pro TekworkX / Hire A Hubby
72 Max Vidau Pro TekworkX / Tyrepower
74 David Russell Pro EMA Motorsport
76 Christian Pancione Pro VCM Performance / HP Tuners
77 Rodney Jane Pro-Am Sonic / Bob Jane T Marts
86 Drew Hall Pro-Am Wall Racing
88 Dylan O’Keeffe Pro Dexion / RAM Motorsport
100 Dale Wood Pro Timken Racing
222 Scott Taylor Pro-Am Scott Taylor Motorsport
333 Brad Shiels Pro Royal Purple Racing
777 Simon Fallon Pro Bob Jane T Marts / Bremtech
TBC TBC TBC Pro TBC

Tough weekend for Grove and Love in Porsche Mobil1 Supercup

Rookie Bastian Buus wins Supercup race at the Circuit Paul Ricard

Rookie Bastian Buus took victory in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup race at the Circuit Paul Ricard, while Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia driver’s Aaron Love and Stephen Grove, would cross the line in 19th and 30th respectively.

Despite the Mediterranean heat and temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, Bastian Buus kept a cool head. Le Castellet was only the fifth Supercup race for the 19-year-old Dane. Moreover, the youngster from the BWT Lechner Racing squad started from pole position for the first time.

The rookie, however, got off the line like a seasoned pro and defended his spot from his relentlessly attacking teammate Harry King. When the safety car was deployed during the first lap, Buus remained vigilant and again defended his lead after the restart to bring home a commanding victory at the wheel of his ca. 375 kW (510 PS) Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. “To be honest, I fluffed my start a little – and Harry pulled alongside me. But I swore to myself, I wasn’t going to brake until he brakes. It was extremely late, but it worked,” said Buus describing his first few seconds of the race.

The final lap did not run smoothly either for the 19-year-old from the seaport city of Kolding. “Towards the end of the race, Harry came dangerously close. His tyres seemed to be in an better condition than mine. I suspected it would be a close finish – then suddenly the flag came out. It was a complete surprise because I thought I had another lap to go.”

Harry King praised his young teammate. “Bastian didn’t make a single mistake that I could have taken advantage of. I conserved my tyres to attack at the end – it almost worked. Still, I’m extremely pleased with second place,” concluded the BWT Lechner Racing driver from England.

Larry ten Voorde, too, was greatly relieved: The defending champion from the GP Elite squad left the previous race in Austria empty-handed after becoming entangled in an accident. Third place at the Circuit Paul Ricard enabled him to close the gap on the championship leader. “First and foremost, I’d like to congratulate Bastian Buus on his first Supercup win – I almost feel old next to him,” joked the 25-year-old Dutchman. “I’m pleased to be back on the podium after my bad luck at the Red Bull Ring. I’m not thinking too much about the title yet. I just want to win races.”

Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich crossed the finish line in fourth place. But he was handed a three-second time penalty after the race and lost this position. The stewards of the meeting accused the German from the SSR Huber Racing team of exceeding the track limit immediately after the start. As a result, Heinrich had to relinquish his fourth place to Dylan Pereira. With this, the Luxembourger from BWT Lechner Racing defended his overall lead in the rankings.

The race
The rookie, however, got off the line like a seasoned pro and defended his spot from his relentlessly attacking teammate Harry King. When the safety car was deployed during the first lap, Buus remained vigilant and again defended his lead after the restart to bring home a commanding victory at the wheel of his ca. 375 kW (510 PS) Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. “To be honest, I fluffed my start a little – and Harry pulled alongside me. But I swore to myself, I wasn’t going to brake until he brakes. It was extremely late, but it worked,” said Buus describing his first few seconds of the race.

The final lap did not run smoothly either for the 19-year-old from the seaport city of Kolding. “Towards the end of the race, Harry came dangerously close. His tyres seemed to be in an better condition than mine. I suspected it would be a close finish – then suddenly the flag came out. It was a complete surprise because I thought I had another lap to go.”

Harry King praised his young teammate. “Bastian didn’t make a single mistake that I could have taken advantage of. I conserved my tyres to attack at the end – it almost worked. Still, I’m extremely pleased with second place,” concluded the BWT Lechner Racing driver from England.

Larry ten Voorde, too, was greatly relieved: The defending champion from the GP Elite squad left the previous race in Austria empty-handed after becoming entangled in an accident. Third place at the Circuit Paul Ricard enabled him to close the gap on the championship leader. “First and foremost, I’d like to congratulate Bastian Buus on his first Supercup win – I almost feel old next to him,” joked the 25-year-old Dutchman. “I’m pleased to be back on the podium after my bad luck at the Red Bull Ring. I’m not thinking too much about the title yet. I just want to win races.”

Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich crossed the finish line in fourth place. But he was handed a three-second time penalty after the race and lost this position. The stewards of the meeting accused the German from the SSR Huber Racing team of exceeding the track limit immediately after the start. As a result, Heinrich had to relinquish his fourth place to Dylan Pereira. With this, the Luxembourger from BWT Lechner Racing defended his overall lead in the rankings.

“Congratulations to Bastian Buus: To win his first race during his first Supercup season is extremely impressive and speaks volumes about his huge talent. All in all, we witnessed an action-packed race with thrilling fights for positions among the frontrunners, the midfield and also further back in the order. My respect goes to the drivers and teams who worked professionally in these hot summer temperatures,” stated Oliver Schwab, Project Manager of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

In the Rookie classification, Bastian Buus remains unbeaten after five rounds of the season. Victory in the ProAm class at Le Castellet went to Norway’s Roar Lindland driving for the Pierre Martinet by Alméras squad. Buus and Lindland both lead their respective classes.

After the race on the ultra-modern Circuit Paul Ricard, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup now heads to one of the most tradition-steeped racetracks on the Formula 1 calendar: In five weeks, the 911 GT3 Cup will contest round six at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium (24 to 26 August 2022).

Result race 5 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Le Castellet (F)
1. Bastian Buus (DK/BWT Lechner Racing), 29.21.612 minutes
2. Harry King (UK/BWT Lechner Racing), +0.452 seconds
3. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), +3.813 seconds
4. Dylan Pereira (L/BWT Lechner Racing), +10.230 seconds
5. Laurin Heinrich (D/SSR Huber Racing), +10.655 seconds
6. Marvin Klein (F/CLRT), +11.683 seconds

Points standings 2022 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup (after 5 of 8 races)
1. Dylan Pereira (L/BWT Lechner Racing), 92 points
2. Laurin Heinrich (D/SSR Huber Racing), 88 points
3. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), 82 points
4. Harry King (GB/BWT Lechner Racing), 80 points
5. Bastian Buus (DK/BWT Lechner Racing), 73 points

Full race results and championship standings:
https://motorsports.porsche.com/germany/de/category/mobil1supercup/pmsc-2022-results

Stephen and Brenton Grove to contest 24 Hours of Spa and FIA Motorsport Games

Stephen Grove to return to Porsche Mobil1 Supercup for Round 5, Le Castellet

Stephen Grove to return to Porsche Mobil1 Supercup for Round 5, Le Castellet

• Stephen Grove to join the French Martinet by Almeras Team for Round 5 of Porsche Mobil1 Supercup in Le Castellet, France
• Australian father and son pairing to campaign Porsche 911 GT3 R in Total Energies 24 Hours of Spa alongside Matt Payne and Adrian D’ Silva
• Stephen and Brenton Grove to represent Australia at FIA Motorsport 2022 Games in 26-30 October

Melbourne. Three-time Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Pro-Am Champion, Stephen Grove, will mark his return to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup this weekend when the global one-make Championship converges on Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, Var, near Marseille in France.

Grove will join the French Martinet by Almeras Team for the fifth round, in a one-off drive in the premier Championship in preparation for the Total Energies 24 Hours of Spa which takes place the following weekend.

As a result, the Penrite Racing Team owner, will not be able to contest Round 5 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship at The Bend Motorsport Park on the 29-31 July. Grove currently lies second in the Morris Finance Pro-Am class, 17-points behind class leader Geoff Emery.

Grove previously campaigned in rounds of the 2019 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup season along with fellow Carrera Cup Australia drivers, Jaxon Evans, Marc Cini and Joey Mawson. This year, Grove will have fellow Australian, Aaron Love for company in the French team, as the young West Australian’s busy 2022 calendar continues between select Porsche Carrera Cup France and Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia rounds.

For the endurance classic in the Ardennes, Grove Snr will join son, Brenton and Grove Junior driver, Matthew Payne and Adrian D’Silva behind the wheel of the rebuilt 911 GT3 R, following damage the Porsche sustained in this year’s Liqui Molly Bathurst 12 Hour.

Following the 24 Hours of Spa, the Grove Porsche 911 GT3 R will stay in Europe for the Hankook 24 Hours of Dubai in January 2023, before potentially returning down under for the Liqui Molly Bathurst 12 Hour next year.

QUOTES:
Stephen Grove: “The Total Energies 24 Hours of Spa is a special one. It’s such iconic circuit where we are honoured to race the #16 Porsche 911 GT3 R in the Po-Am class. It will be a tough race with an exceptionally strong field, but we are confident and excited to participate with our line-up of drivers including Grove Junior driver, Matt Payne, and Adrian D’Silva.

Brenton and I were really pleased to win bronze in the GT Nations Cup back in 2019 in a hard-fought race. We’ll both be representing Australia again in this prestigious and globally recognised event. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to take part and to give ourselves a chance at winning gold.

I am really proud to be captaining the Nations Cup team for Australia, it is something that is special to me and I am excited to be racing as part of a strong and competitive Australian team.”

Brenton Grove: “Stephen and I are excited to be racing at Spa in the 24 Hour. It’s a great challenge and everyone is looking forward to a great weekend of racing. It will be our first race where we’ll have Matt Payne with us who is part of our Junior Program, as well as Adrian D’Silva, so we are confident we can fight for some strong results.

We are also racing in the 2022 FIA Motorsport games in which we are proud to represent Australia once again after achieving bronze in 2019. We hope to go two steps better this year and bring home gold to continue Australia’s strong sporting results in recent weeks.”

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

About:
2022 FIA Motorsport Games

Taking place between 26-30 October 2022, around 80 nations are expected to compete representing the individual FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) from each country. They will race in a vastly expanded programme of 17 disciplines spanning the motorsport spectrum, staged across the three locations of Circuit Paul Ricard, Veynes and St. Baume.

The FIA Motorsport Games combines sport with culture and education, creating an environment that uplifts the values of respect, unity, and equal opportunities. More than a thousand amateur and professional drivers from ASNs across the globe and all levels of motorsport will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals under the colours of their country’s flag.

Porsche announces Esports Carrera Cup Australia competition for sim-racing community

Mount Panorama to host Porsche open qualification sim-racing event

Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) is pleased to announce the 2022 Porsche Paynter Dixon Esports Carrera Cup Australia presented by ORDER. In 2020 PCA hosted a six round virtual Championship on the iRacing platform for their drivers from both Carrera Cup Australia and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Series, together with special guest appearances from past Champions.

For 2022, PCA have partnered with Australian esports team, ORDER and Oceanic Sim Racing (OSR), offering drivers from the Australian esports community the opportunity to compete in the first open qualification sim-racing event by Porsche Cars Australia and be crowned the 2022 Porsche Esports Australia Champion.

Over three days in September, pre-qualifying sessions will see sim-racers set their best times around the iconic Mount Panorama, Bathurst circuit, with the top 50 drivers proceeding to the final race day.

The main event will be held on Sunday, September 25. The race day will start with a Last Chance Qualifier race to finalise the top 30 drivers for the Grand Final, from which one winner will become the inaugural Porsche Esports Australia Champion.

The overall winner will be a guest of Porsche at the final round of the 2022 Carrera Cup Australia season on the Gold Coast. Both the Last Chance Qualifier and Grand Final races will be broadcast live on @PorscheMotorsportAU YouTube channel and Facebook page, & the ORDER Twitch channel.

In order to compete in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Esports Carrera Cup event, drivers must have a current, active, iRacing account, in their legal name. (No secondary or pseudonym named accounts will be accepted). Drivers must also be a resident of, and be residing in and racing from, Australian states or territories only for the event.

For full details and registration information, head to the official site at: https://www.carreracup.com.au/porsche-paynter-dixon-esports-carrera-cup-australia/

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Esports Carrera Cup Australia dates:
Date Event
21 Sept Pre-Qualifying (Day 1)
22 Sept Pre-Qualifying (Day 2)
23 Sept Pre-Qualifying (Day 3) P1-20 drivers qualify for Grand Final, P21-50 proceed to LCQ
25 Sept Last Chance Qualifier Race 15 lap race, 30 drivers, P1-10 qualify for Grand Final
25 Sept Grand Final 25 lap race, 30 drivers, 1 champion

For more Porsche Motorsport Australia news and content follow the Porsche Motorsport Australia social pages: Instagram – @PorscheMotorsportAU / Twitter – @PorscheMspAU / Facebook.com/ PorscheMotorsportAU

Hedge, Emery take Townsville as championship battle opens up

Four winners from four rounds as Carrera Cup heads into second half of 2022

A championship-changing day has turned the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia title fight on its head as a pair of Michelin Junior driver stars took the trophies on the streets of Townsville. 

Team Porsche New Zealand young-gun Callum Hedge won Round 4 of the championship, while earlier in the day Jackson Walls claimed the Enduro Cup race to make it two first-time winners in two races in a chaotic Sunday of racing in North Queensland.

Former champion David Wall finished third to take a huge chunk of championship points out of leader, Harri Jones, who had a tough weekend.

In MORRIS Pro-Am, Geoff Emery converted his pole position and race one win to another pair of victories on Sunday to complete a clean sweep of Round 4. It’s the first time anyone has swept the weekend in Townsville in the Carrera Cup ‘race within a race’. Stephen Grove and Dean Cook completed the podium.

Hedge is the fourth different winner from four rounds this year as a fiercely competitive championship reaches its half-way point.

The day started with a fiercely competitive Enduro Cup encounter on Sunday morning, won superbly by Jackson Walls in his Objective Racing Porsche.

Starting from second, the young Sydneysider made a perfect start to out-drag Luke Youlden into the first corner.

From there he withstood pressure from the Race 1 winner, Callum Hedge, David Wall and Aaron Love in a furious battle to the line, to claim his maiden Carrera Cup victory in just his eighth round.

Hedge was second, taking advantage of a last-lap bump at turn three between Walls and Youlden, that saw the latter slowed and enabling the Kiwi to charge past.

Youlden would grab third with Wall fourth and Love in fifth, with the contact between Walls and Youlden called a racing incident.

Ryan Suhle, Brad Shiels, Duvashen Padayachee, Angelo Mouzouris and Harri Jones completed the top-10.

Emery pulled clear of former Townsville winner Stephen Grove to claim the victory in MORRIS Pro-Am, with Liam Talbot third. Dean Cook and Rodney Jane completed the top five in class.

The final race of the weekend was just as dramatic as Walls and Hedge drag-raced down towards turn two, having made equally impressive starts. The two juniors ran side-by-side through the first four corners before Hedge was able to wrestle his way into the front.

Walls would later lose two further spots to Wall and Love to finish fourth, a moment that ultimately the deciding factor handing Hedge the round win overall in just his sixth Carrera Cup round.

It’s the second time in two years Carrera Cup has delivered three winners from three races in Townsville.

Walls’ finished second overall to further enhance his weekend of firsts, while David Wall’s second in the race and overall round podium finish, represented his first time in the top three in Townsville in any category.

Hedge and Walls were both on the outright podium for the first time in Carrera Cup.

Love finished third in the race, however faces a post-event investigation following contact with Luke Youlden that sent the Tekworkx Motorsport car spinning at turn 7 – ending his otherwise strong run to a round podium and dropping him to 24th position.

Championship leader Harri Jones finished 10th and 7th in the two races, respectively, to see his 114-point championship lead pre-round reduced by a significant margin to just 39 over David Wall heading into the second half of the season.

Dylan O’Keeffe sits third with Dale Wood and David Russell completing the top five.

Emery’s path to a third straight MORRIS Pro-Am win came ahead of Steven Grove and Rodney Jane, while key title contenders Sam Shahin and Liam Talbot both struck dramas. Dean Cook’s fourth position was enough to give him the point to secure a spot on the podium.

Emery’s round win was the third Pro-Am win of his Carrera Cup career and makes him the first repeat winner of the season, the Victorian having won at Albert Park earlier this year.

He now takes a 17-point lead in the Pro-Am class over Stephen Grove into the next round, with Dean Cook climbing to third

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship returns in three weeks time at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia, racing at the OTR SuperSprint on July 29-21.

Callum Hedge, Round 4 Pro winner:

“Really stoked, got really lucky at the start, got a really good launch and passed Jackson across the third and fourth corner. I knew David Wall was on green tyres so I was hoping he could get held up for a few laps, but when he got to me, he couldn’t get passed. It’s hard to pass in this car with the aero wash around this street circuit. I just want to say thanks to the Earl Bamber Motorsport boys and Team Porsche New Zealand for a really good car and I can’t thank everyone enough. I’m absolutely stoked to win, I’ve been really unlucky the last few rounds, finally fourth time lucky we did it.”

Jackson Walls, Race 2 Pro winner:

“It’s definitely weird to get my first race win here, I didn’t expect it, especially being my first time in Townsville and one of the only rookies, but I’ll take what I can get. I couldn’t be happier with the team and everyone who has supported me to get where I am today, it’s been a long two years through Covid, but I couldn’t be happier.

“We had a tyre disadvantage due to the fact we used our new set yesterday, it was all good until they started to go with five laps still left to go, so I was struggling to get the car on the apexes and locking up everywhere. The battle with Luke (Youlden) I was just trying to defend and I was really hungry for the win and kept telling myself I’m going to win, so wasn’t give it up easily.“

Geoff Emery, Round 4 Morris Pro-Am winner:

“It feels really good, it all started in the practice, I had solid qualifying sessions and then three strong races, it couldn’t have been a better weekend for us. In the race I broke away pretty early and just managed the gap, I had a really good car and plenty car speed.

“Townsville is not without its incidents and there was a couple going on there (in Race 2) which brought out the safety car. That cooled the tyres right off, but once the tyre came back up (to temperature) they were good. But otherwise it was a really good race for us and for the last race it will be a lot hotter, so we’ll adjust the pressures. The car has been really good throughout the whole weekend and I think we’ve made the right decisions so far.”

Judicial update

Update on Motorsport Australia Race Stewards, Race 1 Townsville decision

Following appeals made by some of the Porsche Carrera Cup Teams overnight regards the decision made to penalize the first three drivers of race 1, Motorsport Australia Race Stewards this morning have reinstated the top 3 place finishes who were excluded from the results initially

Wall, Emery provisionally claim shortened Townsville opener

Dramatic opener in Townsville has championship-changing implications

A CHAOTIC and dramatic Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia opener on the streets of Townsville has delivered victories to David Wall and Geoff Emery (MORRIS Pro-Am). 

Results remain provisional following a dramatic day that saw the race completed under Safety Car, with several drivers excluded post-race – including Luke Youlden, who had crossed the line first.

Starting from pole – his first since 2005 – Youlden was beaten into Turn one by front-row starter Aaron Love and Dylan O’Keeffe, who started third.

Contact from O’Keeffe at turn two then turned Love’s Sonic entry around, his car pointing in the wrong direction as the 32-strong field fired into the tight right-hander.

The spin caused chaos with more than a third of the field either stopped completely or significantly delayed as they took evasive action – though all were remarkably able to continue, a vast majority of them with little damage.

The action continued at turn two when Simon Fallon, who was fighting for second, also speared up the escape road at turn three after his car suffered radiator damage in the Turn 2 incident.

As the field regrouped, Tony Quinn had a significant impact at Turn 10 aboard his Local Legends 911 GT3.

The heavy crash at the high-speed right-hand sweeper saw the Safety Car called.

Quinn was extricated by the car by Team Medical and taken to the circuit medical centre, and subsequently Hospital in Townsville, following the incident.

Ultimately the lengthy recovery of Quinn’s car saw the field greet the chequered flag behind the Safety Car with 8 laps completed.

Youlden received the flag first, followed by Jackson Walls and Callum Hedge.

However, the trio were excluded post race, with the Motorsport Australia stewards report stating: ‘Based on the Preliminary Results, the last lap of cars 53 (Youlden), 11 (Walls) and 17 (Hedge) was slower than twice the fastest lap lap time of the winner in the preliminary results. Competitors have the right to protest.’

That decision elevated David Wall to the provisional victory with Duvashen Padayachee second and Brad Shiels third – both recording their best ever Carrera Cup race finishes.

Wall’s result is more significant given nearest title rival Harri Jones was caught in the Turn two dramas and could only recover to 10th in the Professional class on the revised provisional results.

Bayle Hall was classified fourth, and Angelo Mouzouris fifth – with MORRIS Pro-Am leaders Geoff Emery, Liam Talbot and Dean Cook next.

Nick McBride and Aaron Love completed the top-10.

O’Keeffe was issued a 10-second time penalty for his role in the Turn 2 contact, dropping him to 12th outright in the final classifications.

Results remain provisional pending further investigations.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia field returns for a further two races tomorrow with the 28-lap Enduro Cup race set for an 8:30am local time start, ahead of the final race at 12:45pm.

Both races will be shown live on Fox Sports and Kayo, with the finale’ also shown live on the Seven Network.

Earlier, in qualifying, Luke Youlden became the fourth different TAG Heuer Pole Award winner of the season, taking the Pro class pole position with a Townsville-record 1m12.9801s flyer late in the second 10-minute session.

It was Youlden’s first Porsche Carrera Cup Australia pole since the Oran Park round of the championship in 2005 – a gap of 6,174 days.

Aaron Love missed out on scoring his second pole of the year by 0.0974s while Dylan O’Keeffe was third.

Ryan Suhle qualified a career-best fourth outright, while Simon Fallon’s fifth position was also a career best.

Dale Wood, David Wall, Duvashen Padayachee, Jackson Walls and championship leader Harri Jones was only 10th.

The top 13 cars were all beneath the existing Townsville qualifying record, while the entire 19-car Pro field was covered by exactly one second.

In MORRIS Pro-Am, Geoff Emery became the fourth different polesitter from four rounds as he edged out Liam Talbot by 0.2 seconds to grab his first pole of the year.

Sam Shahin and Tim Miles made up the second row of the Pro-Am grid with Adrian Flack and Dean Cook next.

Official Statement: Accident involving Tony Quinn in Race 1 of Round 4

Official Statement

Accident involving Tony Quinn in Race 1 of Round 4 of Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia, Townsville, 2022

During Race 1 in Townsville on 09 July 2022 at 12:45pm an incident occurred on the opening laps in which driver, Tony Quinn, was injured.

On lap one Quinn’s car made contact with the wall on the outside of Turn 10. No other car was involved in the accident. Quinn was transported to Townsville University Hospital, where he is being treated by medical staff.

Initial medical checks of Quinn have identified a suspected broken leg and fractures to his ribs on the left hand side. It is also suspected he has a punctured lung.

Doctors are currently awaiting results of scans and x-rays.

According to the medical staff at the hospital, Quinn is in a stable condition and will remain under observation in hospital.

Wall nudges record to top fast Friday in Townsville

Liam Talbot paces Morris Pro-Am field in Townsville practice

PORSCHE Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia title contender David Wall has fired the first shot of the weekend at the NTI Townsville 500, setting the fastest ever lap of the 2.86km Reid Park street circuit to top an intense day of practice today. 

Wall’s 1m13.5641s best saw him top the times mid-way through the second of two, 25-minute practice sessions today aboard his Monochrome / Paynter Dixon Wall Racing 992 GT3 Cup Car.

Another former champion topped the Morris Pro-Am contenders, Liam Talbot continuing his momentum to top the Carrera Cup ‘race within a race’ with a flying 1m14.1740s best in the second session – quick enough to put him 16th overall in the record 32-car field.

Wall, who sits second in the championship, ultimately topped both practice sessions today with the returning Aaron Love second in both.

Love, driving a Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic Motor Racing entry, was two-tenths behind Wall in practice one however closed the margin to just 0.0178s in practice two.

Wall’s flyer was fractionally quicker than the Townsville street circuit qualifying record, set by Roger Lago en-route to his remarkable outright pole position in 2019.

Christian Pancione was a fast third overall while his fellow McElrea Racing Michelin Junior, Bayley Hall, had his best ever Carrera Cup session – finishing fourth outright but topping the leaderboard for some time throughout the session.

Luke Youlden was fifth, Dylan O’Keeffe sixth and Darwin winner Dale Wood seventh, with Callum Hedge, championship leader Harri Jones and Ryan Suhle completing the top 10 overall today – the group of ten drivers from six different teams covered by just 0.44s.

Exactly one second covered the top 21 cars in practice two as the field builds towards qualifying tomorrow.

Talbot was quickest overall in the Morris Pro-Am battle today however the times were tight between all the key contenders in the class.

Geoff Emery topped the opening practice session by just 0.0033s, with championship leader Sam Shahin just behind and Talbot third.

Talbot’s flyer in the second session saw him comfortably top the class in practice two – and overall in Morris Pro-Am – with Emery 0.5s behind in second and Shahin third.

The field will now be split in two for qualifying on Saturday morning, the MORRIS Pro-Am runners running first at 8:25am before the Pro class cars run in a separate, 10-minute session at 8:40.

The first race of the weekend will be contested over 17 laps at 12:45pm local time and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports, Channel 7 and Kayo Sports on Saturday afternoon.

QUOTES:

David Wall – fastest in Pro / outright