Lodge, Williams the big winners at The Bend on Sunday

Gilbertson claims Pro-Am round win as new driver takes outright points lead

KOBI WILLIAMS passed his way to a second consecutive Jim Richards Enduro Trophy race win on Sunday at The Bend Motorsport Park, while James Lodge’s consistency saw the returning driver claim round two of Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge this year. 

While Williams claimed the feature race, Lodge’s consistency across all three races saw him bank a trio of second-place race results and score enough points to win the round overall despite not wining a race. It was the second consecutive round win for Lodge’s Jones Motorsport team, who also claimed the season opener thanks to Hunter Robb.

His round win came in front of Xavier Avramides, who now leads the series standings overall, and fellow rookie Hayden Haikal who claimed his first podium in third.

The pair of Sonic Motor Raving Services drivers had each claimed their maiden Porsche victories on Saturday in the pair of sprint races held earlier in the weekend.

Anthony Gilbertson won not just the Enduro Cup race but also claimed his second-straight Pro-Am round with Stephen Moylan a strong second overall and Kent Leicester in third.

The 45-minute Enduro race was another thriller that saw massively combative racing throughout – continuing the recent theme.

Haikal, who started from pole, converted that to an early race lead while Hunter Robb continued his comeback from a slow start to proceedings on Saturday to jump to second.

The leading group ran as a train of up to seven cars before a climactic moment on the 10th lap saw Robb challenge for the lead at turn one, though the resulting combat saw both he and Haikal shuffled down the order with Williams in the right place at the right time to capitalise and grab the race lead.

Lodge, who had been running fourth at the time, was another beneficiary and jumped to second with Haikal shuffled back to third and Robb all the way back to sixth place.

While Williams did what he needed to fend off Lodge for the lead, the battle continued apace behind with Haikal, Avramides, Quimby and a recovering Robb all fighting on the final step of the podium.

Avramides and Quimby both passed Haikal with two laps remaining, the former securing himself into third position to ensure he would grab a narrow championship lead in the process.

On the final lap, Lodge then surged forward and passed both Quimby and Haikal to grab fourth.

The end result saw TGR’s Williams claim his second race win of the season in style and extend his lead at the top of the Jim Richards Enduro Cup standings.

Lodge finished second to assure himself of the round win with Avramides third, Robb fourth, Quimby fifth and Haikal sixth to secure his first round podium as well.

Behind them, Kamal Mrad recovered from a rollercoaster of a weekend to finish seventh with Ruari Avern, Lincoln Taylor and Lincoln Evans completing the top-10.

Gilbertson claimed a comfortable win in the Pro-Am ranks as he led Stephen Moylan and Kent Leicester to the line.

His round result was helped by a non-finish by Eric Constantinides, who was out at the same time as John McInnes that brought out the race’s only Safety Car.

Two rounds into the series and Xavier Avramides now finds himself leading the Pro standings by just two points; Round 1 winner Hunter Robb now a narrow second.

Kobi Williams’ strong form has seen him climb to third in the championship, just 16 points behind, while Haikal and Mrad complete the top five.

Five different drivers have now scored a round podium finish so far this year with four different race winners from the six races contested to date.

Anthony Gilbertson’s second straight round win ensures he extends his lead over Stephen Moylan in the Pro-Am ranks.

The next round of Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge will see the field return to Queensland Raceway in Ipswich for Round 3 of the championship, with the Shannons SpeedSeries, in early June.

Porsche rookies reign in wild day at The Bend

New winners highlight competitive day in pair of Sprint Challenge sprints

TWO rising stars of the sport from different corners of the globe have claimed their maiden Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia victories in a crazy Saturday at The Bend Motorsport Park.

Two sprint races in varying conditions provided two vastly different results and delivered delight for two highly rated young stars, Xavier Avramides and Hayden Haikal, who each claimed their maiden race wins in a challenging day.

The path to victory for the pair of Sonic Motor Racing Services drivers was vastly different however each had to fight hard for their respective successes.

The first race was due to start before a rain shower fell just before the cars departed the formation grid.

Teams were allowed to pit and fit wet weather Michelins before the race commenced with 15 minutes of race time remaining.

Polesitter Haikal burst into wheelspin from the inside of the front row while Avramides launched into an early lead before a Safety Car was called, Kamal Mrad then sliced past into the race lead and headed the field for two laps, before running wide at turn 17 with two laps remaining and ceding the lead back to his young rival.

Taking advantage was James Lodge, who charged his way to second position behind the eventual winner, with Mrad finishing third; Haikal – who had dropped as low as 7th – and Daniel Quimby completed the top five, with Diesel Thomas, Hunter Robb, Ruari Avern, Kobi Williams and Lincoln Evans rounding out the top 10.

Lincoln Taylor had run in the top three early and was challenging for a place on the podium before he spun out of third place while side by side with Lodge in the final corner.

Conditions had cleared prior to the second 30-minute sprint race with dry conditions later in the afternoon at The Bend.

James Lodge found himself the early leader with Mrad in second and Josh Thomas an early third.

That would all change following a brief Safety Car with a wild series of racing at turns one, two and three.

While Lodge and Mrad went in leading, Mrad would end up spinning while challenging for the lead; the surprise mover through it all being Hayden Haikal, who jumped from fourth to first in the space of one corner.

The Malaysian youngster would never be headed, fending off pressure from Lodge and a chasing Hunter Robb, who had recovered to third, to claim his maiden win.

Kobi Williams was fourth while Xavier Avramides rollercoaster ride of day saw him completing lap one of the race in only 14th position before setting about a charge through the field that would see him claim fifth by the finish.

Avern, Taylor and Brandon Madden were next, with Daniel Quimby and Lincoln Evans completing the top-10.

In Pro-Am, Anthony Gilbertson continued his sweep of the season by claiming victory in race one in a straightforward race that saw him lead Tim Farrell and Stephen Moylan to the line.

Moylan’s recovery was notable following an incident on Friday that saw the front of his car damaged; they Sydneysider missing practice two before having the car repaired prior to qualifying.

Race two was more dramatic; Gilbertson leading early before plunging down the order on the race restart following the Safety Car to nearly tail the field. That handed the class lead to Eric Constantinidis, who would go on to claim his first win of the season.

Gilbertson recovered to second position, while John McInnes claimed his first Pro-Am podium by finishing third.

The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge concludes its second round of the 2026 season with the 45-minute Jim Richards Endurance Trophy race on Sunday morning at The Bend, with the race to be live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.

Malaysian junior makes Sprint Challenge history with The Bend Pole

Sonic 1-2 in Pro as Anthony Gilbertson scores Pro-Am pole award

21-YEAR-OLD Malaysian driver Hayden Haikal has etched his name into Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia history, become the first driver from outside of Australia or New Zealand to score a pole position in the one-make Porsche series. 

The Sonic Motor Racing / Johor Motor Racing driver set a 1m50.1479s flyer to edge out teammate Xavier Avramides to pole position by 0.07 seconds ahead of Round 2 this weekend at The Bend’s Shannons SpeedSeries event in South Australia.

It was the second quickest Sprint Challenge lap in the history of the 4.9km circuit and came on his final flyer of the session on a rapidly improving circuit.

Light rain fell just before the 30-minute qualifying session however the track dried rapidly throughout as times tumbled.

Kobi Williams held the top spot mid-way through the session before both Sonic cars pipped the Phillip Island race winner on their second runs.

The result is notable for Haikal, who is in just his second ever round of one-make Porsche racing and his first visit to the fast and flowing circuit at The Bend.

It’s also the first major result for the JMR Junior program, only launched this year with Haikal the first recipient of the Johor-based team’s support.

The front row lock-out was a big result for the Sonic team who has a strong record at The Bend, while Williams’ form picked up where he left off at Phillip Island.

Kamal Mrad was fourth, with Lincoln Taylor and championship leader Hunter Robb making up the third row of the grid, with Daniel Quimby just behind – that trio split by just 0.03 seconds and just six-tenths from pole.

The returning James Lodge, Diesel Thomas and Ruari Avern completed a competitive top-10.

Anthony Gilbertson continued his strong form in the Pro-Am ranks, banking his second straight pole position and qualifying 13th outright in his McElrea Racing entry.

He’ll start in front of Eric Constantinidis while Tim Farrell qualified third and Indiran Padayachee fourth in class.

A busy day at The Bend saw three sessions completed with two 30-minute practice sessions preceding the afternoon’s qualifying outing.

Sprint Challenge show heads to South Australia

Battle rolls towards The Bend for second round of competitive series

AN already strong field will only get stronger when the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series returns to action this weekend in South Australia.

A 23-strong grid will tackle Round 2 of the series at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at The Bend this weekend with two-time race winner James Lodge returning to the fray, having made an impact in his debut season last year.

Lodge will join forces with Jones Motorsport for a part-time Sprint Challenge campaign commencing this weekend, joining a field fired up and ready to go after a stunning opening round at Phillip Island in late March.

Claimed by Hunter Robb, who leads the championship, five different drivers featured in the top three across the opening round’s trio of races that set the tone for a massive year ahead.

Robb won the first two races at the Victorian circuit before fellow young-gun Kobi Williams blazed though to claim the Enduro in an absolute thriller.

However, the New Zealander’s consistency saw the Jones Motorsport driver claim the round ahead of Kamal Mrad (McElrea) and Xavier Avramides (Sonic), Lincoln Taylor (TekworkX) and Williams (TGR) completing the top five – all representing different teams.

Nine of the Professional class drivers have recently completed the Porsche Michelin Junior Camp, a three-day program of physical, mental and driver preparation held in Queensland.

The opening round of the championship was box office stuff with the Jim Richards Enduro race in particular featuring hugely competitive battling for the race lead, with the similar nature of The Bend’s fast and flowing 4.6km International circuit set to provide much the same this week.

After sweeping proceedings at Round 1, Anthony Gilbertson returns to lead the Pro-Am ranks into the second round of the championship, while Stephen Moylan’s Effect Building Projects entry sits second in class following a strong season opener.

The 23-strong Round 2 grid remains similar to the grid at Phillip Island, with Lodge’s addition adding to the Pro class ranks.

Returning following drama at Phillip Island will be Brandon Madden – who crashed at turn one late in the second practice session at the opening round.

The Tyler Greenbury Motorsport-run Harvey’s Towing Porsche has been repaired since it’s accident with the Queenslander looking for his first official Porsche race start this weekend.

Also back on the grid will be Dean Wanless, who was another to fall victim to Phillip Island’s high speed and close walls; the GWR crew ensuring the Sydneysider – who is making a return to racing after 20 year stint on the sidelines – returns this weekend.

The most recent trip to The Bend was the penultimate round of the 2025 season and saw Team Porsche New Zealand’s Tom Bewley claim pole position, with Pro-Am leader and eventual champion Ramu Farrell in second outright.

Farrell went on to claim the first race outright while Bewley claimed the Pro class honours in second.

Eventual outright champion Jake Santalucia would claim race two ahead of Farrell and James Lodge, before going on to claim the Enduro Cup race on Sunday to take the round overall.

Action commences on Friday with both practice sessions and qualifying to set the tone for the weekend.

Two sprint races highlight Saturday’s action while the 45-minute Jim Richards Enduro Trophy affair will see the series take centre stage at the Shannons SpeedSeries GT Festival event on Sunday.

All three races will be broadcast live and ad-break free on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.

Robb, Gilbertson claim brilliant, breathtaking Phillip Island fight

Kobi Williams claims Enduro Cup race in dramatic start to new Sprint Challenge season

HUNTER ROBB and Pro-Am racer Anthony Gilbertson have claimed their respective classes in a thrilling opening round of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series at Phillip Island. 

It was, however, far from easy for either the Jones Motorsport Kiwi who claimed the Pro class, or the Pro-Am returnee back in the championship for the first time in more than seven years.

Robb’s pathway to the round one win came via victory in race two on Sunday morning, a Safety Car interrupted affair that saw him ultimately claim his second win of the weekend ahead of Lincoln Taylor and Kamal Mrad – the pair reversing their race one finishing order.

Things unravelled for Robb early in race three however after contact with Taylor at turn one as the pair battled for the race lead saw him spinning off wildly to the outside of turn one early in the race.

Taylor was penalised for the contact, while Robb visited pit lane before resuming at the back of the field in a bid to secure enough points to ensure he could claim the round victory.

That left a host of other contenders at the front looking to make their mark – and several of them did just that.

An incredible five-car fight for the lead saw several drivers swapping the race lead, including Xavier Avramides who assumed the lead following Robb’s off.

He was then passed late by Daniel Quimby, who executed an incredible pass at turn four when he sliced down the inside of both Avramides and Kobi Williams at turn four.

The FCL Transport / McElrea Racing driver held the lead for two laps before disaster struck just over one lap from home: a right-rear puncture stopping his quest for a first victory within sight of the last lap board.

The beneficiary there was Williams – who had just passed Avramides for second, a position that quickly became the race lead with just over 4.46km remaining.

Williams held the lead to claim a dramatic race win with Avramides and a charging Hayden Haikel completing the top three in the Jim Richards Enduro Trophy Race while Robb’s recovery to 10th in the Pro class was enough to ensure he held on to claim his first ever Porsche round win.

Robb claimed the Pro round ahead of Kamal Mrad and Avramides to lead the championship heading into Round 2 at The Bend in May.

In the Pro-Am class, Anthony Gilberton’s remarkable comeback weekend ended in a clean-sweep performance that included pole and victory in all three races.

He led home Stephen Moylan and Lachy Harburg in race two, before claiming victory in the enduro over Eric Constantinidis and Stephen Moylan. Moylan finished second overall in the class for the weekend – his best ever round result – while Eric Constantinidis finished third.

Robb races to maiden win in breathless Sprint Challenge season opener

NEW ZEALANDER Hunter Robb has converted pole position into a maiden Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia race victory in a season-opening race at Phillip Island that, at times, bordered on breathless. 

The Jones Motorsport young-gun got the pick of the starts from the front row, fenced off staunch opposition early and then watched as several tried but failed to challenge his lead before powering to victory to become the first series leader of the year.

Meanwhile, Anthony Gilbertson continued his racing comeback in style to snare a come-from-behind win in the Pro-Am class today.

Out front, Robb headed home Kamal Mrad in today’s 30-minute race while Lincoln Taylor clung onto third place – despite being under siege for most of the race after a minor off-track excursion at Siberia cost him his front splitter and the grip that comes with it when he was challenging for the race lead.

While Robb led every lap in race one, second position changed hands on four occasions between three drivers in an almighty fight for the minors today.

The Kiwi made the best start in greasy conditions while others struggled, Taylor following him across the line on the opening lap.

The latter then battled with JMR Junior Hayden Haikal, the pair running side by side at turn one before the Malaysian, who was trying to go around the outside, spun off into the gravel trap at turn one – bringing out the Safety car.

With Taylor carrying his damage, his lack of front grip saw him come under fire from anyone who could challenge him – the first being Kobi Williams, who had blazed his way to third from fifth position at the end of lap one with a series of well-executed moves.

Williams briefly held onto second and challenged Robb for the lead on the exit of turn one, before grabbing a kerb and dropping a few spots three laps from home – only to spin off the road later that lap while on the outside of turn twelve.

That elevated Taylor back to second for one lap, before Kamal Mrad charged past to grab second two laps from the flag.

He remained there to the line with Taylor clinging on to third at the line with Daniel Quimby and Diesel Thomas rounding out the top five.

Behind them came Xavier Avramides in sixth, Josh Thomas in seventh and Pro-Am winner Anthony Gilbertson in eighth.

The Queenslander had started from pole in class however slipped to third at the end of the first lap following a sluggish start.

He then worked his way back to second and closed on class leader Lachy Harburg in the mid-race Safety Car, pouncing a lap later to take the Pro-Am win, with Harburg next and Stephen Moylan third in class.

The race was filled with action throughout the field from the opening lap; a notable moment ocurring when Ruari Avern spun across the front of the field at turn four, having been wide on the exit of turn three as the field raced into Miller turn on the opening lap. Remarkably, no contact was made as the Sonic car threaded the eye of the needle through the pack.

Two races complete the opening round of the championship on Sunday at Phillip Island, both able to be watched on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo.

Flying start to Sprint Challenge season at Phillip Island

Rookies on top in Pro, returnees on top in Pro-Am in PI Practice

A Flying start to to the 2026 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia season has been topped, narrowly, by series rookie Lincoln Taylor.

The teenage graduate of the one-make Toyota GR Cup series topped the 25-strong field across a pair of 30-minute practice sessions today at a cold and blustery Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, as the field readies for three races this weekend to kick off the new year.

Taylor, driving for TekworkX, banked a 1m30.8199s flyer late in practice two to top fellow Porsche first-timer Kobi Williams by 0.04s today.

Williams, driving for Tyler Greenbury’s team, was quick all day and was only bumped to second late in the session by Taylor’s final-lap flyter.

Third was Kamal Mrad, the first driver returning to the championship this season having made his debut in 2025.

He was fractionally quicker than McElrea teammate and good friend Daniel Quimby as the teenage Class B Champion from last year makes the step up to the outright category for the first time this year.

Jones’ Motorsport’s Hunter Robb was next, having earlier topped the slower first session earlier in the morning.

Making his debut on Aussie shores, JMR junior development driver Hayden Haikal was sixth aboard his Sonic entry – the Malaysian leading the Sonic trio that includes Xavier Avramidis (7th) and Ruari Avern, in 10th.

Between them were the TFH Racing brothers of Diesel and Josh Thomas, while the returning Lincoln Evans was just outside the 10.

In Pro-Am, the returning Anthony Gilbertson was the man to beat as he returns to one-make Porsche racing (and motorsport in general) following a six year stint on the sidelines.

The Queenslander was quickest in both sessions on Friday and headed former Pro-Am champion Lachy Harburg in each session.

Tim Farrell (practice one) and Eric Constantinidis (FP2) were third in the two sessions, respectively.

The two sessions were relatively trouble free save for an unfortunate incident for Porsche rookie, Brandon Madden.

The Harvey’s Towing Service car found the tyres heavily at turn one in the second session, bringing out the red flag. While the driver climbed from the car, the crash ended his debut weekend on Friday.

Attention turns to Qualifying on Saturday morning, followed by the first of three races later in the afternoon.

All three races and the morning’s qualifying session will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports this weekend.

Talent-packed grid ready for Michelin Sprint Challenge opener

25 cars to compete at Phillip Island GP circuit as new season commences

A STRONG field of 25 cars will tackle the opening round of an exciting new season of Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia this weekend at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in Victoria.

Featuring the regular broad mix of Porsche Michelin Juniors, experienced Pro drivers and Pro-Am drivers both experienced and new, the first of six rounds this year will be a highlight of the Phillip Island GT Festival this weekend – an event that kicks off the Shannons SpeedSeries schedule for 2026.

The field includes 14 in the Pro class, 11 in Pro-Am and 9 Porsche Michelin Junior drivers.

Nine drivers, spread across both Pro and Pro-Am, of the 25 are also making their respective one-make Porsche debuts this weekend.

With the top three drivers from the 2025 championship all moving up to Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia this year, attention turns to the crop of returning Pro drivers, including proven podium finishers Kamal Mrad and Hunter Robb, 2025 Class B Champion Daniel Quimby plus second-year driver, teenager Lincoln Evans.

Brothers Josh and Diesel Thomas, who made their respective debuts at Sandown’s season finale last year, will split their Sprint Challenge campaigns with Carrera Cup championship seasons this year.

Ben Taylor moves to Jones Motorsport this year to continue his learning curve as he continues to raise awareness for those with Autism via his racing program.

Those on debut include a huge mix of impressive rookies, including international open wheel graduates like Jesse Lacey (from US F4) and Xavier Avramides (British F4), current Australian Formula Ford Champion Kobi Williams, 2025 GR Cup runner-up Lincoln Taylor and Radical Cup Australia’s top 2025 rookie, Ruari Avern.

Aussie Racing Cars contender Brandon Madden – who was third in the championship last year – also makes his Porsche debut this year while international interest comes in the form of 21-year-old Malaysian driver, Hayden Haikal; Johor Motor Racing’s first Junior Program member set for his Porsche debut this weekend.

The Pro-Am field has also had an off-season shakeup with the return of former class champion Anthony Gilbertson this year.

The Queenslander, who claimed the 2017 Pro-Am title and went on to win races in Carrera Cup’s Pro-Am class as well, returns with McElrea Racing following six years away.

Gilbertson holds a rare piece of Sprint Challenge history as the first Pro-Am driver to have taken an outright Pole Position in the history of the championship – a feat achieved at Winton in 2017.

He’ll be up against a tough field which includes 2024 champion Lachy Harburg and Pro-Am regulars Eric Constantinidis – who was fifth in the class last year – plus Kent Leicester, Indiran Padayachee, Stephen Moylan, Tim Farrell, John Papantoniou and Mark Darling.

Making their respective local Porsche debuts this weekend include John McInness, who returns to racing following a decade competing in the United States – including in Sprint Challenge USA competition and the Pikes Peak hillclimb.

Meanwhile, former Australian NASCAR and Development Series (now Super2) racer Dean Wanless will make a racing return after an even lengthier break on the sidelines, making a racing comeback more than 20 years following his last competitive start. Both newcomers will be run by reigning Carrera Cup champions, GWR Australia.

The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series hits the track for a pair of practice sessions on Friday, the first at 9:35am local time and the second at 1:15pm.

Action on Saturday and Sunday will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports, with qualifying (1035am) and Race 1 (3:05pm) on Saturday with the weekend completed with Race 2 (10:20am) and the Jim Richards Enduro Trophy race completing the weekend at 4:00pm.

Now approaching its 17th season, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia has established itself firmly as one of Australia’s premier categories; a long list of drivers successfully progressing their careers after tackling the series.

Former stars of the series include Matt Campbell, recent Sebring 12 Hour podium finisher Thomas Sargent, two-time Carrera Cup Champion Harri Jones, Jordan and Aaron Love, Jaxon Evans and more – including 2025 champion Jake Santalucia who, along with runner-up Ryan Casha and third-placed Tom Bewley, this year stepped up to the Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

Similarly, Pro-Am competitors are a significant factor in Sprint Challenge competition both as a destination category, but also as a pathway to higher levels of Porsche and GT racing.

Using the Generation 2 991 Porsche GT3 Cup Cars, Sprint Challenge will be contested across six rounds this year, four with the Shannons SpeedSeries and two with the Repco Supercars Championship.

ENTRY LIST – Round 1, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia

Sonic signs two rookies for 2026 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge campaign

Xavier Avramides and Ruairi Avern join reigning Sprint Challenge champions

Reigning Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge champion team Sonic Motor Racing Services will field two rookies in the second-tier Porsche class in 2026.

Former European open-wheel racer Xavier Avramides and last year’s Radical Cup Australia top rookie Ruairi Avern have joined the team for what will be an expanded Sprint Challenge campaign.

For Avramides, entering Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge is a homecoming following three years overseas in karting and a stint in the highly-competitive F4 British Championship last year.

The Queenslander finished fifth in the Rookie Cup class of the F4 British Championship, finishing a best of sixth outright and scoring five top 10 results. Previous to this, Avramides was part of the prestigious Tony Kart factory squad in 2024.

Avern was a late starter to motorsport, first pulling on a helmet in karting at 16 years of age. The West Australian has advanced through the development pathways quickly though, jumping from karting to the Porsche class in a matter of just three seasons.

Competing with front-running team Arise Racing, Avern scored multiple podiums during the Radical Cup season and finished as the top scoring rookie at the end of the season.

Avern’s Radical Cup Australia campaign ensures he has experience at a majority of the circuits on this year’s Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, with Townsville and Queensland Raceway the only exceptions.

Sonic secured its sixth Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge title last year with Jake Santalucia claiming the crown.

Santalucia joins an illustrious list of Sprint Challenge champions for Sonic, including Sven Burchartz’s success in the inaugural season of 2008, Ryan Simpson in 2016, followed by Harmish Hardeman, Jordan Love and Simon Fallon in consecutive seasons.

Avramides and Avern will enjoy a number of test days ahead of their race debut at Phillip island on March 27-29.

QUOTES

Xavier Avramides – Sonic Motor Racing Services

“Even before I jumped in a car, the Sonic has been great to me. We clicked very quickly,” said Avramides.

“It’s clear they know what they are doing and I knew it was the squad to be with.

“I learnt a lot while I was racing on the other side of the world. I made new friends, I met new people and it was great to develop my skills.

“I just missed out on third in the F4 British Championship Rookie Championship, but I collected some solid results and plenty of class podiums.

“I’ve spent the last three seasons in Europe, so to be back this year in Australia is exciting and I know I’m really going to enjoy racing the Porsche.”

Ruairi Avern – Sonic Motor Racing Services

“Sonic has such an amazing history as a winning team, one of the most successful in the country and it’s a real privilege to represent them this year,” said Avern.

“I’m going into this season with a lot of motivation and a clear focus on being competitive. I’ve worked hard for this opportunity and I’m ready to make the most of it.”

“I know the standard in this year’s championship will be extremely high, but that’s exactly the challenge I’m looking for.  With Sonic’s experience and professionalism, I feel that we’ve got everything we need to be competitive.”

Jake Santalucia claims Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge title

Tom Bewley claims maiden round victory with double Sandown race wins

JAKE SANTALUCIA has claimed the 2025 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series, surviving a dramatic showdown at Sandown to claim his maiden one-make Porsche Championship.

The 18-year-old from Melbourne had to survive two tough races on Saturday to claim his title, in just his second year aboard the Sonic Motor Racing Series #777 entry.

He’s Sonic’s sixth Sprint Challenge champion and their first since Simon Fallon claimed the crown in 2018 and at 18 years, four months and 21 days old, he’s the second youngest one-make Porsche champion in Carrera Cup or Sprint Challenge history.

Santalucia came into the weekend with a comfortable 70-point plus lead but had it whittled down in race two on Saturday after an off-track excursion and a post-race penalty saw him tumble down the order of the Pro class field.

However his cool demeanour and race craft saw him race his way to fifth position in the finale’, which was more than enough to claim the title.

Tom Bewley claimed the Sandown round after sweeping two a pair of Saturday race wins – one of them after Ryan Casha was penalised after crossing the line first in race two, the second of them in dominant style in the season finale’.

It was Bewley’s first round win of an unpredictable year for the Team Porsche NZ / Earl Bamber Motorsport driver.

His pathway to a maiden round win came first via a combative Jim Richards Enduro Cup finale’ which saw a host of drivers penalised, either in race of following its conclusion, for on track incidents.

Ryan Casha had muscled his way to the front and had for a moment looked to have claimed his first Sprint Challenge win – however a post-race penalty dropped him to fourth place.

Lockie Bloxsom was also pinged for a moment that involved Jake Santalucia coming off the road at turn one, while the latter was also pinged for contact with James Lodge at turn one. Starting from pole, Lodge was slower away than the pair on the second below and contact from behind at the first corner saw him firstly off the road, then spun into the path of an unfortunate Tyler Greenbury.

The amended results for the Enduro Cup affair saw Bewley win, Kamal Mrad finish an outstanding second from the back of the field – on account of a race one non-finish – and Casha third.

Casha’s result, however – coupled with Santalucia’s struggles – was enough to ensure that the Queenslander will lift the prestigious Jim Richards Enduro Trophy this year.

Daniel Quimby finished an outstanding fourth outright in his Class B car while Lachy Harburg claimed the Pro-Am race win in style.

Bewley then pulled away from the field after a perfect start in race three, checking out from the pack while a ferocious battle between Mrad, Bloxsom and Casha unfolded for second, third and fourth, respectively.

Santalucia charged his way through the field from 14th to fifth position to ensure he did enough to seal the championship in style, while Hunter Robb led the race at one point before he unfortunately failed to finish thanks to a loose coolant pipe.

Harburg claimed the Pro-Am class win, at one point running fifth outright on the road before settling into an eighth place finish, while Daniel Quimby’s car didn’t make the start.

The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series returns in 2026.

ROUND RESULTS:

3rd Pro-Am: Stephen Moylan
3rd Pro: Kamal Mrad

2nd Pro-Am: Jacque Jarjo
2nd Pro: Ryan Casha

1st Class B: Daniel Quimby
1st Pro-Am: Lachy Harburg
1st Pro: Tom Bewley

CHAMPIONSHIP: 

PRO:
1. Jake Santalucia (Sonic Motor Racing)
2. Ryan Casha (DNA Autosport)
3. Tom Bewley (Team Porsche NZ / EBM)

PRO-AM: 
1. Ramu Farrell (Jones Motorsport)
2. Jacque Jarjo (DNA Autosport)
3. Lachy Harburg (EBM)

Class B: 
Daniel Quimby (McElrea)

Jim Richards Enduro Trophy:
1. Ryan Casha (DNA Autosport)

Lodge claims Sandown opener as title battle heads to final day

Feisty opener in season finale' sets the scene for final day of 2025 season

JAMES LODGE fended off Ryan Casha to claim the opening race in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series finale’ at Sandown, while Jake Santalucia retains his points lead heading into the final day of the season. 

Lodge, who had earlier scored a stunning pole position in the final stages of qualifying, scored his second win of the season after spending his entire race fending off an attack from Ryan Casha.

The latter ran within a car length of the leader all race but couldn’t find a way through Lodge’s resolute defence, ultimately finishing second.

Lodge’s win was the second of his year but the first time that he had crossed the line in first – his earlier win in Sydney coming after the driver who crossed the line first was pinged a post-race penalty.

Jake Santalucia finished third, working his way forward from sixth position on the grid to drop just four championship points to his nearest rival.

The Sonic driver made a solid start to climb to fourth at the start – taking advantage of a slow start from Tom Bewley – and spent the early stages of his race chasing Lockie Bloxsom’s McElrea entry.

He then pounced at turn six mid-race to wrestle third position away to ensure he retains more than a full race’s worth of points margin heading into tomorrow’s two races.

Provisionally, Santalucia retains a 71-point lead with 120 up for grabs tomorrow.

Bloxsom finished fourth, while Hunter Robb was a stout fifth in his Jones Motorsport-run entry.

The Kiwi was one who took advantage of Bewley’s slow start in his Team Porsche NZ / EBM entry, though had to take evasive action to squeeze through past the slow-moving car.

Bewley recovered to sixth position, rapidly working his way through the field having dropped to the back half of the top 10 before his recovery drive.

Tyler Greenbury charged from 15th position on the grid to finish seventh, with Pro-Am winner Jacque Jarjo next, in front of Diesel Thomas and Class B winner Daniel Quimby.

The DNA Autosport driver had started second in class however gained ground at the start, and then further places when class polesitter Andrew Georgiadis locked his front brakes at turn one, making contact with Kamal Mrad’s entry and ending up with damage in the turn one gravel.

That brought out a brief Safety Car prior to the race to the line.

Jarjo’s Pro-Am win elevated him to second in the class championship with two races remaining tomorrow. He led home Lachlan Harburg, who was second, and Stephen Moylan.

Two races remain in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series tomorrow at Sandown.

Santalucia can realistically claim the championship in race two – the enduro cup race – while now only second-placed Ryan Casha and Lockie Bloxom can challenge for the crown.

Both of Saturday’s races will be shown live on Fox Sports, Kayo and Sky NZ.

2026 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge calendar confirmed

Consistency key for 2026 calendar with mix of Speedseries, Supercars events

PORSCHE Motorsport Australia has confirmed calendars for both the 2026 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship and 2026 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series.

One-make Porsche action will feature at 9 Repco Supercars Championship events and four Shannons SpeedSeries events across a bumper 2026 season that stretches from March to December.

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia will contest a seven-round championship, commencing at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in March.

From there, the championship returns to the Betr Darwin Triple Crown at Hidden Valley, the Supercars Ipswich Super440 and the AirTouch 500 at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

The massive run-home to the championship decider then features three of the largest events in the sport; the Repco Bathurst 1000, Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, and Adelaide Grand Final.

The reduction by one in the number of events is not without precedent – the championship was contested across seven events in 2011 and 2013 – and is designed to assist teams managing both budgets and logistics across the season.

Race format changes will see four of the seven rounds (Darwin, Queensland Raceway, The Bend and Gold Coast) adopt the international Carrera cup format of two, 45-minute races. The remaining three events will feature three, 30-minute sprints as per the 2025 season format.

2026 marks the final year of competition for the current, Type 992 GT3 Cup Car before the second generation 992.2 GT3 Cup arrives in Australia for the following season.

The ever-popular Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia will see calendar continuity, with an ongoing balance between Shannons SpeedSeries and Repco Supercars events.

Commencing at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge will also race at The Bend, Queensland Raceway and Sydney Motorsport Park with the SpeedSeries.

A third year at the Reid Park street circuit and the NTI Townsville 500 will allow the field street circuit experience, while the finale’ will once again be held with the Supercars Sandown 500 in November.

Further details surrounding the calendar will be announced in due course, with several exciting initiatives planed to further grow both Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge into 2026 and beyond.

Craig Nayda – Senior Motorsport Manager, Porsche Cars Australia

“The 2026 calendar is the result of significant consultation with our teams, stakeholders, event promoters and is designed to give the best possible balance in pacing the events throughout the year while delivering great experiences to our competitor group.

“A shift to seven rounds for Carrera Cup focusses the championship on some of the most popular and largest motorsport events in the country and will ensure the final year of the current generation 992 GT3 Cup Car is as strong as possible.

“Our partnerships with the SpeedSeries and Supercars are extremely productive, and we’ve got a great working relationship with both to ensure that both Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge remain in premium positions on both calendars.

“We’re excited about the 13 events on our 2026 calendar and another big year of one-make Porsche racing in Australia.”

2026 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia

1. Shannons SpeedSeries Phillip Island, VIC – March 27-19
2. Shannons SpeedSeries Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, SA – May 8-10
3. Shannons SpeedSeries Queensland Raceway, QLD – June 12-14
4. NTI Townsville 500 Townsville, QLD – July 10-12
5. Shannons SpeedSeries Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW – September 18-20
6. Sandown 500 Sandown Raceway, VIC – November 13-15

2026 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship

1. Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Melbourne, VIC – March 5-8
2. Betr Darwin Triple Crown Hidden Valley, NT – June 19-21
3. Ipswich Super440 Queensland Raceway, QLD – August 21-23
4. AirTouch 500 Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, SA – September 11-13
5. Repco Bathurst 1000 Bathurst, NSW – October 8-11
6. Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 Surfers Paradise, QLD – October 23-25
7. BP Adelaide Grand Final Adelaide, SA – December 3-6

Six-way fight for Michelin Sprint Challenge crown awaits at Sandown

Jake Santalucia leads the standings with five contenders chasing Sonic racer in final round showdown

THE PORSCHE Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series will be decided in a six-way fight for the crown this weekend at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne. 

A potentially dramatic title decider is in store in the Sprint Challenge Pro class this year between six talented Porsche Michelin Junior rising stars, representing five different teams and split by just 159 points, with 181 up for grabs across qualifying and three races this Friday and Saturday.

It kicks off a busy fortnight for one-make Porsche racing in Australia with titles across Sprint Challenge and Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia up for grabs and to be decided this month.

Melbourne teenager Jake Santalucia will be aiming to give Sonic Motor Racing their sixth Sprint Challenge crown this weekend as he takes a handy 77 point lead into the finale at his home circuit.

It’s been a strong season for the second-year driver who this year has mixed completing year 12 with a Sprint Challenge season that has delivered round wins at Queensland Raceway, Townsville and The Bend and seven race wins.

Santalucia leads Queenslander Ryan Casha, the TCR convert adapting well to his rookie Porsche season with DNA Autosport in a season that while is yet to deliver a win, has been remarkably consistent thanks to seven top three race finishes this year.

Just 30 points further back is Lockie Bloxsom who heads to Sandown with his first real shot at an outright championship this weekend.

After claiming his first one-make Porsche race win earlier this year in Sydney, Bloxsom has been a threat at every circuit this year as he doubles up his Michelin Sprint Challenge campaign with a Carrera Cup season too.

Bloxsom sits 107 points from the series lead but in the midst of a tight battle for second, third, fourth and fifth positions with 52 points separating the four contenders to Santalucia’s lead.

Four points back from the McElrea racer is Team Porsche New Zealand’s Tom Bewley, the Kiwi fourth in the standings following a rollercoaster season of highs and lows.

The Hawkes Bay-based Kiwi is the only multiple outright polesitter this season and has claimed two race wins in his rookie season aboard the Earl Bamber Motorsport-prepared Kiwi entry.

In fifth position, 149 points from the leader, is Ashley Seward Motorsport’s James Lodge – who has spent much of his season working his way back into title calculations after a challenging opening round at Phillip Island.

One of seven different outright race winners (from 14 contested races), Lodge will need the perfect weekend to score the title however remains in contention.

The same could be said for open-wheel graduate Kamal Mrad, who has been another to impress in his rookie season, scoring four top three race finishes to place him 159 points from the leader and still in title calculations.

The maths in the Pro-Am class are somewhat simpler with attention turning to the battle for second position this year – Ramu Farrell electing to sit out the Sandown event having done enough to claim the class title with a round to spare.

Pro-Am competitors can drop their worst round score each season, with five of the six rounds counting towards the title.

The Jones Motorsport driver has enjoyed a stunning season that at several rounds – Queensland Raceway and The Bend, in particular – has seen him contending and even winning races outright against the Pro contenders.

The result stands be a maiden title for Jones Motorsport, the Sunshine Coast-based squad founded by former Sprint Challenge champion Harri Jones.

The battle for the final spots on the podium will, however, be up for grabs with Andrew Georgiadis leading Jacque Jarjo in second and third, respectively, with defending champion Lockie Harburg, who sits fourth, not out of contention for a podium finish either.

While Daniel Quimby long ago sealed the Class B championship, the prestigious Jim Richards Enduro Trophy will be up for grabs in race two of the weekend, Santalucia leading Casha by just 28 points, with 60 up for grabs.

A 24-car field will tackle the final round of the 2025 championship headlined by those fighting for the title.

After making his debut at The Bend recently, Diesel Thomas will return for a second start in a TekworkX-prepared TFH Hire entry while his brother, Josh, will make his Sprint Challenge debut in a car entered by Ashley Seward Motorsport.

This weekend marks the first visit to Sandown for the Sprint Challenge field since the 2022 season. That weekend, current Walkinshaw Andretti United Supercars star Ryan Wood claimed pole and race one, while eventual champion Tom Sargent claimed the final race and the round overall.

A condensed, two-day format will see the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge field on track early on Friday morning for a 45-minute practice session ahead of qualifying and the first race on Fridat afternoon.

Saturday will see the Enduro cup race commence at 10:50am local time before the final race of the season at 2:10pm.

All three races will be broadcast live this weekend on Fox Sports, Kayo and Sky Sport NZ.

ENTRY LIST
Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia, Round 6

Santalucia stars to take handy lead to Sprint Challenge showdown

Clutch day delivers largest margin of the season to Sonic ace with one round to go

JAKE SANTALUCIA has starred on his way to securing a handy lead in the battle for the 2026 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series with just one round remaining. 

The teenager from Melbourne turned a 16-point lead coming into the weekend into one that nears 90 points with three races to go at Sandown in November after two victories on Sunday at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at The Bend, delivering him back-to-back round victories in the process.

An imperious Ramu Farrell claimed the Pro-Am class victory over Lachy Harburg and Andrew Georgiadis to put one hand on that class trophy, while Daniel Quimby again impressed in his class B machine.

However it was Santalucia’s starring Saturday – some of it aided by drama for others but mostly via raw speed and race craft – that saw him claim both Sunday races and entrench both he and his five-time title winning team, Sonic Motor Racing, on top of the standings with a round to go.

He finished second on the road to Lockie Bloxsom in race two however the former was later penalised 10 seconds for his role in contact with Ryan Casha at turn six, relegating him down the order and delivering Santalucia maximum points.

Race one Pro winner Tom Bewley was another to falter, gearshift selection issues seeing him drop from an early lead to an eventful seventh-placed finish, while Pro-Am winner Farrell crossed the line second on the road and James Lodge third.

Santalucia’s success in the Jim Richards Enduro Trophy race that completed the weekend was hard-won, escaping to an early lead before having to withstand several Safety Car restarts before he could claim the win.

The Sonic racer led early but then was jumped by James Lodge on lap six, who went on to lead the next three laps.

A further restart saw Santalucia attack and Lodge hung out wide, losing several spots and dropping as low as fifth while the #777 car returned to the race lead. The battle then waged behind as Bewley and Casha made contact at turn six, delaying both and allowing Kamal Mrad and Lodge to pass them both – only doing favours for the race and series leader out front.

They crossed the line in that order, Farrell finishing fourth outright and claiming the Pro-Am race win in the enduro encounter.

Bloxsom, meanwhile, was working his way through the field after a lap one off at the high-speed right hander sequence around the back of The Bend’s International layout. Contact then subsequently saw him out with broken suspension, scoring zero points.

The results saw Santalucia claiming his second round win of the season and becoming the first repeat round winner of the year to date.

James Lodge and Kamal Mrad completed the Pro class podium – Bewley later penalised 30 seconds for his clash with Casha during the race – while Farrell’s Pro-am sweep saw him win the round over Harburg – who scored a pair of seconds on Sunday – and Andrew Georgiadis.

With one round remaining, Santalucia takes a (provisional) 81-point lead into the Sprint Challenge season finale’ at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne this November.

Ryan Casha now sits in second overall with Bloxsom third (26 behind the DNA Motorsport driver) and Bewley fourth, a further four points back.

181 points will be up for grabs at the season finale’, to be held at the Sandown 500 Supercars event in November.

Farrell claims another, Bewley takes Pro win at Tailem Bend

Pro-Am runner beats the pros again as title battle intensity turns up the intensity.

RAMU FARRELL has claimed his third Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia outright race win, sweeping to a comfortable victory in Race One at The Bend in South Australia. 

On a cool Friday afternoon, Farrell made a blinding start from second on the grid and build a comfortable margin on the opening lap, never headed en route to another outright win, while also extending his lead in the Pro-Am class.

In the Pro class, Tom Bewley converted outright pole to second on the road at the line – though scores maximum points in the ongoing intense fight for the 2025 championship.

He was trailed home closely by series leader Jake Santalucia and Lockie Bloxsom, who rebounded from a slow start to work his way to fourth outright at the line, and third in class.

The 30-minute race saw multiple battles throughout the field though Farrell saw few of them – at one point building a nearly five-second margin out front.

Bewley fended off an early challenge from James Lodge to hold on to second, the latter – who had run second on the opening lap – slipping back after being caught on the wrong side of the road in an intense fight for the Pro Class win, eventually finishing ninth.

Bewley asserted himself in the Pro lead for much of the race before Santalucia and later Bloxsom each closed on the Team Porsche NZ car, Bloxsom having crossed the line seventh at the end of lap one before picking his way forward with a series of key overtakes.

Ryan Casha finished fifth with Hunter Robb sixth, his best race result since Queensland Raceway. Daniel Quimby completed a day of outstanding performances to finish seventh and claim the Class B win, while Kamal Mrad, Lodge and Tyler Greenbury enjoyed a combative scrap to complete the 10.

Behind the dominant Farrell, Jacque Jarjo took second in Pro-Am, less than a second in front of Andrew Georgiadis with Lachy Harburg keeping them both in sight in fourth place.

Early contact ruled out Eric Constantinidis and debutant Diesel Thomas after just three laps, while Ben Taylor was out of the race before the race commenced with a technical issue on his Auticon Porsche.

The race 1 results help to further close the intense battle for the Pro class in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series, just 43 now points splitting leader Jake Santalucia and fourth-placed Bewley – who was the big winner today, trailing the Sonic racer by 50 points coming into the weekend.

Bloxsom now sits 23 behind his Sonic rival while Ryan Casha grips onto third place by just two points ahead of tomorrow’s two races.

Race 2 will be held first thing at The Bend, while the third and final race – the Jim Richards Enduro trophy encounter – will complete the weekend and will be broadcast live on 7plus.

Two-day SA challenge to prove decisive in Michelin Sprint Challenge title battle

Condensed weekend adds to storylines with 4 cars split by 50 points

A QUICK-FIRE penultimate round of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series could prove make or break for key title protagonists this weekend in South Australia.

A condensed two-day schedule will see a 23-strong field practice, qualify and complete three races across the Friday and Saturday at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park / The Bend this weekend as key title contenders look to position themselves best for the Sandown championship finale’ in November.

Just 50 points separate the top four contenders with 181 up for grabs this weekend meaning it truly remains anyone’s year with six races and two rounds remaining.

Sonic Motor Racing’s Jake Santalucia leads the standings heading to South Australia, his race three non-finish in Townsville not significantly denting his lead following three dominant Pro class wins at Queensland Raceway.

Lockie Bloxsom was a big winner from the series’ street circuit stop in July, the McElrea racer climbing back second in the standings and just 16 behind Santalucia.

Meanwhile, Ryan Casha climbed to third aboard his DNA Racing entry – the Queenslander now having finished either second or third in five of the last six completed races, only outscored by Santalucia who has won four of them.

A non-finish for Team Porsche NZ / EBM racer Tom Bewley dropped him to fourth in the standings following Townsville however it also showed how quickly things have changed in this year’s Sprint Challenge title fight.

All four will be in action this weekend amidst a 12-strong Pro class pack that will include the Michelin Sprint Challenge debut of Diesel Thomas, who steps in for Willie Exton at TekworkX Motorsport for his one-make Porsche debut.

At longer odds to become title contenders and yet too competitive to be ruled out of the hunt, fifth-placed Kamal Mrad and James Lodge in sixth are both likely to be contenders this weekend, while Tyler Greenbury’s strong recent pace has not been represented by results.

Every driver in the top nine of the outright / Pro class standings has finished in the top three of at least one race this year, showcasing the depth of the 2025 grid.

In the Pro-Am class, Ramu Farrell remains in control with a handy 131 point lead over Andrew Georgiadis, with Townsville winner Jacque Jarjo only 12 points further back in third. Lachy Harburg sits fourth in the standings and will return to the track this weekend following damage sustained in the substantial multi-car accident at the start of race two in Townsville.

The event at The Bend will see the field return to the full, 4.9km International circuit, having raced on the shorter ‘West’ circuit last year.

The last time the series raced on the longer version of the South Australian circuit, in 2023, it delivered one of the most dramatic races in series history as five different drivers led the Enduro Cup race.

The race, now regarded as one of the most thrilling in series history, was won by Aron Shields – driving for TekworkX – after both Lockie Bloxsom – who had initially crossed the line first – and runner-up Oscar Targett copped post-race penalties and were relegated.

Bloxsom had dropped to as low as ninth by the end of lap one after stalling but recovered superbly before his post-race penalty dropped him down the order.

Remarkably, The Bend’s International circuit has a lap record held by two drivers at the same time.

Ryan Wood (2022) and Oscar Targett (2023) each set a time of 1m50.4916s to score their respective pole positions – though technically Wood can claim the benchmark given he set it first.

The now Supercars ace holds the race lap record on his own, at 1m51.5419s.

The condensed two-day format this weekend – designed to support teams also tackling the upcoming Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship round at the same circuit next week – will see an extended practice, qualifying and the opening sprint race on Friday this week, followed by a second sprint on Saturday morning and then the longer, Jim Richards Endurance Trophy affair on Saturday afternoon.

That race will be broadcast live and free on 7plus as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries GT Festival coverage this weekend.

ENTRY LIST, Round 5 – Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, South Australia

Flack grabs surprise win in drama-filled Townsville Sunday

Wild day delivers race, round win to Flack as series leaders fail to score

RETURNING to the category in which he made his name, Marcos Flack has claimed Round 4 of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series on the streets of Townsville in a wild and crazy Sunday of action. 

Flack triumphed in the sole sprint race held on the final day of the NTI Townsville 500, taking advantage of high drama from key contenders at the front of the field to not only grab the race win, but the round as well.

Flack claimed the round win over Lockie Bloxsom and Kamal Mrad in the Pro Class, while Jacque Jarjo took the Pro-Am battle and Daniel Quimby Class B.

The race was notable for the non-finishes from both championship leader Jake Santalucia and his then-nearest rival Tom Bewley, with their zero scores and big results from Bloxsom and points for Ryan Casha ensuring the championship is now closer than ever ahead of the final two rounds.

Sunday’s action started in dramatic fashion with the Jim Richards Enduro Trophy Race making it just a few hundred metres beyond the race start before an enormous accident saw the race stopped.

Contact at turn one between Lachy Harburg and Eric Constantinidis saw the former spun across the circuit and into the path of much of the field, 10 cars involved in a substantial accident that saw the race suspended and ultimately declared a non-event.

That left a reduced field ready for the finale’ which turned into a wild sprint for the sole points on Sunday.

Santalucia made the early headway and grabbed the race lead with Bewley and Ryan Casha behind in the early stages.

The leader then ran slightly wide at the turn 11 hairpin, opening the door for Bewley to pass on the entry to turn 13 – and Casha to sneak past on the exit.

With Santalucia watching on and now in third, that pair then battled down towards turn two, Casha making contact with Bewley as he defended in the braking zone on the run into turn two.

The Team Porsche NZ entry was tipped into the wall and ultimately parked up on the run to turn three with damage to the front of the car and the steering; bringing out the Safety Car and bunching up the field.

Casha was penalised with a drive through penalty for his role in the incident, serving that once racing had resumed.

The drama wasn’t over, however, with Santalucia’s Sonic entry noticeably trailing smoke and leaking fluid once the race resumed.

It would ultimately boil over – literally – when the #777 car slowed on the run to turn two; closing up the pack and allowing Flack to take the lead while at the same time Mrad passed teammate Bloxsom for second position on the road.

They would end the race in that order with Flack taking his first Sprint Challenge race victory in style.

Behind them there was plenty of action with a stirring drive from Tyler Greenbury seeing him charge from 17th position to fifth place in his rebuilt car – the Edge Designer Homes entry one of the 10 cars involved in the race two accident.

Daniel Quimby finished an outstanding 6th outright in his class B entry while Jacque Jarjo fended off Ramu Farrell for the second time in as many races to take the Pro-Am win, sealing the deal in the round result as well.

With four rounds complete, Jake Santalucia continues to lead the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia standings though his lead has been significantly reduced this weekend.

Provisionally, Lachlan Bloxsom now moves to second in points with Ryan Casha third and Tom Bewley fourth – though just 50 points cover the top four contenders heading into the final two rounds of the championship.

The championship resumes in mid-September at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at The Bend for Round 5.

Santalucia stars in Townsville opener

Jacque Jarjo claims Pro-Am victory in ultra-competitive fight at Townsville 500

SERIES leader Jake Santalucia has starred in the opening Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge series race at the NTI Townsville 500, launching from second on the grid to lead every lap of the opening race to claim a strong victory. 

It was the Sonic Motor Racing driver’s fifth Pro class victory of the season and saw him extend his series lead ahead of the two races on Sunday in North Queensland.

Santalucia led home a strong Ryan Casha – who finished inside the top three for the fifth consecutive race – and Tom Bewley, who started sixth but continued his supremely consistent season by climbing to a top three finish by race’s end.

In the Pro-Am class, Jacque Jarjo spent much of his race in a furious battle with series leader Ramu Farrell to claim the victory.

The 25-minute race was a competitive affair and saw Santalucia beat polesitter Lachy Bloxsom into turn one to assume a lead he would never lose.

Bloxsom was then under fire in second and saw himself involved in a frenetic fight for the minors before ultimately slipping behind both Casha – who started fifth – and Bewley.

Tyler Greenbury and Willie Exton were also in the fight for the top three early in the race before contact ended both of their races.

Marcos Flack and James Lodged battled for fourth and fifth, with Kmal Mrad also in the fight and ultimately finishing seventh. Hunter Robb was eighth, while another starring performance from Daniel Quimby saw the class B contender score ninth outright.

10th was Lincoln Evans, who scored his first top-10 finish in what was his first ever street circuit race.

Behind them was the furious battle for the Pro-Am class win that would ultimately go to Jacque Jarjo.

His win didn’t come easy however after spending much of his race with Ramu Farrell locked beneath his bumper bar.

The pair battled until the closing stanza of the race when Farrell attempted a move up the inside of Jarjo into the back chicane, locking his rears and spinning into the runoff area.

That elevated Andrew Georgiadis to second position and Eric Constantinidis to third in the class.

With one of three races completed this weekend, Jake Santalucia’s championship lead extends to 50 points over Tom Bewley, Ryan Casha closing to within two points of second position thanks to his performance on Saturday.

Two races complete round four of the series on Sunday at the NTI Townsville 500, including the next stanza in the always competitive Jim Richards Enduro Trophy race in the morning.

The final race of the weekend will double as the curtain raiser before the Super2 and Supercars races on Sunday afternoon.

Both races will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo, with race three also on the screens of seven.