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.