Porsche Carrera Cup Australia teams are one step closer to finalising their preparations ahead of the 2016 season with the conclusion of the championship’s official pre-season test day at Sydney Motorsport Park.
The Wednesday test was a crucial part of the Porsche teams’ preparations, as the Carrera Cup championship will contest two rounds of its 2016 season at the Sydney venue.
Among the championship newcomers testing in Sydney were former V8 Supercars drivers Ash Walsh and David Wall, former V8 racer and team boss Garth Walden, and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia graduates Dylan O’Keeffe and James Abela.
The reigning series runner-up, Matt Campbell, was among the returning drivers at the test and suggested his sole 2016 pre-season outing in the Porsche was crucial to his title chances.
“It was good to get in the car at least once before the Clipsal 500. It was a pretty productive day, which will certainly help when the season starts in Adelaide. It was pretty hot today but it was good getting more laps in the car before the season and especially at Sydney Motorsport Park where we race twice this year,” said Campbell.
“We had a great end to last season and had a good championship position, though I hope to improve on that this year. I’m really looking forward to this season.”
Other professionally ranked racers at the test included Michael Almond, Nick McBride, Duvashen Padayachee, Steven Richards and Fraser Ross.
TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge drivers Tony Bates, Marc Cini, Adrian Mastronardo and class champion Shane Smollen also attended the Sydney test, along with James Bergmuller, who is confident leading into 2016 after a promising pre-season preparation.
“Today was a great day. This is the first time I’ve come to a pre-season test having done the Bathurst 12 Hour and it’s got me in the groove straight away. I feel comfortable in the car and I’m uninjured unlike last season, so for me, it’s been a great start to the year,” said Bergmuller.
“I’m coming in this year better than I’ve come into any season previously. It’s my best preparation yet so I’m looking forward to this season. It’s exciting.”
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia’s opening round will be held at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on March 03-06, 2016.
