Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia this weekend commences the second half of its 2018 season as the one-make championship heads to Queensland Raceway.
With three rounds completed this season, young gun Cooper Murray has emerged as the standout Pro contender, taking a 60-point lead into round four, trailed by Simon Fallon and Michelin Junior Max Vidau.
After claiming an impressive 20-second victory in the season’s opening endurance race at The Bend Motorsport Park, Murray will eagerly await the hour-long race one at Ipswich, which will feature as the second race of the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy.
“I’ve been to Queensland Raceway in a Formula Ford before with a few good results. I know the track and have performed well there in the past so I can’t wait to get there,” said Murray, who looks to take a revised approach into the second half of the season.
“I think my season will go into somewhat of a conservative mode – don’t take unnecessary risks, get the points and hopefully finish the season in a strong position.”
The seven-car Pro class will be boosted by the inclusion of South Australian driver Dan Day, who returns to the series after a significant accident at the Sandown round.
The Pro-Am class continues as the best represented in the series with Danny Stutterd leading the eight-strong field in the class points. Stutterd holds a dominant 104-point advantage over Brett Boulton, while Queensland based Scott Taylor makes his series return this weekend at his local round.
Young racer Christian Pancione will lead a six-strong Class B into the Queensland Raceway weekend, which sees the return of fellow young racer Tom Taplin to the series.
Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia will feature two practice sessions this Friday, followed by qualifying and the 60-minute race one on Saturday and two 20-minute races on Sunday.
To watch Sunday’s entire on-track program, including race two and race three of Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia, visit the event’s Live Stream, available at the Shannons Nationals website – thenationals.com.au.
Race Schedule
Friday July 27
12:10pm Practice 1 (30 minutes)
3:30pm Practice 2 (30 minutes)
Saturday July 28
11:45am Qualifying (20 minutes)
2:30pm Race 1 (60 minutes)
Sunday July 29
09:30am Race 2 (20 minutes)
11:45am Race 3 (20 minutes)
Entry List
1. #2 Dan Day (Pro) Tectaloy UNLMTD Racing
2. #7 Jimmy Vernon (Pro) McElrea Racing
3. #9 Tony Martin (Class B) Triffid Bar+Venue
4. #21 Shane Barwood (Pro-Am) Melbourne Orthopaedic Group
5. #22 Andrew Goldie (Class B) Woodford Trailers
6. #23 Daniel Stutterd (Pro-Am) The Porsche Broker
7. #26 Tom Taplin (Class B) Taplin Real Estate
8. #27 Sam Fillmore (Pro-Am)
9. #36 Cooper Murray (Pro) Lodge Bros Racing
10. #38 Chelsea Angelo (Pro) PAYCE/Wilson Security
11. #73 Michael Hovey (Pro-Am) Triffid Bar & Venue
12. #76 Christian Pancione (Class B) VCM Performance
13. #77 Max Vidau (Pro) Sonic / Bob Jane T Marts
14. #84 Brett Boulton (Pro-Am) Bold Living
15. #87 David Greig (Class B)
16. #88 Phil Morriss (Class B) Morriss Racing Services
17. #96 Simon Fallon (Pro) Sonic Motor Racing
18. #99 Ross McGregor (Pro-Am) Southern Star Windows
19. #131 Graham Williams (Pro-Am) Sonic/Williams Racing
20. #222 Scott Taylor (Pro-Am) Scott Taylor Motorsport
21. #230 Luis Leeds (Pro) OPS Gateway
