HAMISH FITZSIMMONS has stormed to a thrilling maiden Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series race victory, claiming the 45-minute Jim Richards Endurance Trophy race in style at Phillip Island. 

The 18-year-old from Queensland engaged in an epic battle with Race 1 winner Oscar Targett in the early stages of the Sunday morning race, the pair of teenagers swapping positions on two occasions before Fitzsimmons was able to complete a pass at turn four.

Kiwi Clay Osborne then raced his way into the fight, catching the two leaders and passing Targett on lap 14 to move to second position.

The trio, representing three different teams, then raced nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race in an intense one-make Porsche fight.

Osborne stole the lead from Fitzsimmons with five minutes remaining after a bold move at the hairpin and led for a lap – only for Hamish to re-take the lead with three laps remaining.

The trio then battled in an intense final lap with Targett re-asserting his position in second with a bold move down the inside of MG within sight of the flag, grabbing second position back on the last lap.

After an intense race that featured five lead changes between the three Porsche Michelin Juniors, Fitzsimmons won from Targett and Osborne, in third.

Targett did claim a new Phillip Island lap record, however, his 1m31.1036s best on lap 5 finally unseating Matt Campbell’s 10-year-old Phillip Island benchmark.

While the leading three battled, Brock Gilchrist and Caleb Sumich completed the top five, with Tyler Greenbury making waves and moving to sixth position, overhauling Aron Shields late in the race.

Jake Santalucia was eighth – surviving a wild moment at turn 12 late in the race that claimed his Sonic Motor Racing teammate Conor Somers – with Slade Orsmond and Ayrton Hodson rounding out the top-10.

Brett Boulton claimed the Pro-Am class after starting from the back, overhauling early leader and race one winner Danny Stutterd in the closing stages, with Ramu Farrell third.

Jacque Jarjo recorded his second win of the weekend by taking out the Class B battle.

A third and final race will complete the opening Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series round at 12:55pm on Sunday, with the race to be shown live and free on 7plus.