Having stormed his way to victory in the opening 50-minute race, McLaughlan was then part of a thrilling three-way lead battle deep into the day’s second race.

Pushing hard in pursuit of race leader Rob Smith, McLaughlan spun in the closing minutes of the race to fall to seventh at the flag.

Moments later,.Salmon capitalised on a moment’s hesitation from Smith, seizing the inside line at Dandenong Road to move into top spot.

Smith immediately fought back, harrying the back of the Skwirk Audi R8 Ultra for the remainder of the race, the two Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia cars split by just 0.9-seconds at the flag.

“The weather was absolutely terrible, but the racing was close,” enthused Rod Salmon after collecting the trophy for claiming second for the round.

“At the end Audis were just on each other; Steve was in front of me, Rob was in front of me, then when Steve just clipped the corner and went around in front of me I thought it was all over.

“It was exciting to get the win considering the first place when we were pretty well off the pace with old tyres.”

Third place across the line in Trophy Class was Wayne Mack (Mack Bros Roofing Products Ferrari 458 GT3), who flashed across the line less than half a second off the back of Scott Hookey’s Fiorano Motorsport Ferrari 458 Challenge.

Earlier, McLaughlan drove an inch perfect race to dominate the opening encounter, taking control of proceedings at the pit stops before extending a 39-second advantage over Jan Jinadasa.

McLaughlan had gone door to door through the opening two corners with pole-sitter Jake Fouracre, the Eat Funiture Audi holding the advantage around the outside of turn one before handing the car to Rio Nugara from the race lead.

Jan Jinadasa put in a solid drive to take a well-earned second place in the JJA Consulting Lamborghini Gallardo while, rising almost unnoticed through the field, Emanuel Mezzasalma moved from 15th to 3rd in the to record a strong podium position

“The race this morning was great because we had plenty of tyre grip,” McLaughlan explained.

“We finished seventh in the second race, which wasn’t ideal because we were fighting for the lead.

“It didn’t quite go to plan in the second race, but we managed to gather it up and do enough to get the round win,” McLaughlan said.

“It’s great to have a win, and hopefully we can go on and have a few more.”

A race-long battle between Rod Salmon (Skwirk Audi R8) and Rob Smith (Southern Developments Audi) was resolved in the dying stages in favour of the 2016 title winner as Keith Kassulke claimed the opening MARC Class victory of the weekend, before trailing Jake Camilleri across the line in Race 2.

The MARC Cars Australia duo had been engaged in an exciting battle for fifth place mid-way through the opening race that also involved Smith and Salmon, with Kassulke ultimately taking out the round courtesy of two strong qualifying sessions on Saturday.

Camilleri scored enough points to claim second for the round and John Goodacre (Gap Solutions/SEKTOR) sealed third in class for the weekend.

The CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli next heads to Winton Motor Raceway (June 9-11) for its second round, while Australian GT will be back in action at Barbagallo for the third round of the CAMS Australian GT Championship on May 5-7.

Race 1 Results
Pos    Competitor/Team    Driver    Vehicle    Time
1    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Steve McLaughlan    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    50:29.051
2    JJA Consulting Group    Jan Jinadasa    Lamborghini Gallardo LP560    51:08.144
3    Harcourts Epping    Emanuel Mezzasalma    Porsche 997 Cup Car    51:35.991
4    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rob Smith    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    50:37.485
5    MARC Cars Australia    Keith Kassulke    MARC Focus V8    50:39.623
6    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rod Salmon    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    50:43.700
7    MARC Cars Australia    Jake Camilleri    MARC Mazda V8    50:44.172
8    Freechoice    Travers Beynon    Audi R8 LMS    50:53.708
9    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rio Nugara/Jake Fouracre    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    51:06.150
10    Fiorano Motorsport    Scott Hookey    Ferrari 458 Challenge    51:19.601
11    Mack Bros Roofing Products    Wayne Mack    Ferrari 458 GT3    51:26.286
12    MARC Cars Australia    Melinda Price/Liam McLellan    MARC Mazda V8    51:32.380
13    Kentucky Fried Chicken    Gary Higgon/Matthew Stoupas    Audi R8 LMS    50:58.697
14    Whitlock Bull Bars    Con Whitlock    Audi R8 LMS    51:14.367
15    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rick Mensa    Audi R8 LMS    51:26.295
16    M Motorsport Interlloy    Justin McMillan/Dean Koutsoumidis    KTM X-Bow    50:29.568
DNF    Gap Solutions/SEKTOR    John Goodacre    MARC Focus V8    08:45.816
DNS    Safe-T-Stop    Richard Gartner    Lamborghini Gallardo LP600

Race 2 Results
Pos    Competitor/Team    Driver    Vehicle    Time
1    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rod Salmon    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    51:21.393
2    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rob Smith    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    51:22.313
3    Fiorano Motorsport    Scott Hookey    Ferrari 458 Challenge    51:57.714
4    Mack Bros Roofing Products    Wayne Mack    Ferrari 458 GT3    51:58.193
5    JJA Consulting Group    Jan Jinadasa    Lamborghini Gallardo LP560    52:00.865
6    MARC Cars Australia    Jake Camilleri    MARC Mazda V8    52:09.743
7    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Steve McLaughlan    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    52:13.303
8    MARC Cars Australia    Keith Kassulke    MARC Focus V8    52:22.774
9    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rick Mensa    Audi R8 LMS    52:29.813
10    Freechoice    Travers Beynon    Audi R8 LMS    51:27.855
11    Safe-T-Stop    Richard Gartner    Lamborghini Gallardo LP600    51:39.263
12    Gap Solutions/SEKTOR    John Goodacre    MARC Focus V8    52:12.698
13    Whitlock Bull Bars    Con Whitlock    Audi R8 LMS    51:51.216
14    M Motorsport Interlloy    Justin McMillan/Dean Koutsoumidis    KTM X-Bow    52:27.530
DNF    MARC Cars Australia    Melinda Price/Liam McLellan    MARC Mazda V8    50:17.138
DNF    Harcourts Epping    Emanuel Mezzasalma    Porsche 997 Cup Car    01:38.528
DNF    Kentucky Fried Chicken    Gary Higgon/Matthew Stoupas    Audi R8 LMS    01:43.466
DNF    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rio Nugara/Jake Fouracre    Audi R8 LMS Ultra

Trophy Class Points Score*
Steve McLaughlan    165
Rod Salmon    161
Jan Jinadasa    155
Rob Smith    153
Wayne Mack    108
Travers Beynon    78
Emanuel Mezzasalma    70
Rick Mensa    65
Con Whitlock    52
Rio Nugara    50
Jake Fouracre    50
Richard Gartner    50
Gary Higgon    32
Matthew Stoupas    32
MARC Class Points Score*
Keith Kassulke    202
Jake Camilleri    190
John Goodacre    85
Melinda Price    81
Liam McLellan    81
*Points score to be officially confirmed

Fouracre set the pace early in the Eat Furniture Audi R8 Ultra, his 1:10.952 beating last year’s pole position marker by a tenth of a second.

Nugara then showed impressive speed when he took the wheel for the second qualifying session, ending the day enthusiastic despite a spin late in the session.

“There was nothing else we could have done today,” Nugara said after he and co-driver Fouracre claimed ther maiden pole position.

“Jake was epic, as always, and now we look forward to tomorrow.”

Second on the grid went to Richard Gartner, who only pulled back the covers on the all-new Safe-T-Stop Lamborghini Gallardo earlier in the week.

The veteran racer though took no time to adapt to his new ride, qualifying second overall and quickest in the afternoon qualifying session to head the points score.

Also on the pace at the front was Steve McLaughlan in the Valvoline Audi R8 Ultra, who was one of three drivers to dip below the 72-second barrier around the Sandown Park circuit.

The Swirk Online Education Audi R8 Ultra of Rod Salmon then heads an incredibly close-knit group, with four cars split by little more than a tenth of a second.

Jan Jinadasa (JJA Consulting Group Lamborghini Gallardo) trailed Salmon by just half a tenth of a second, while the Kentucky Fried Chicken pairing of Gary Higgon and Matthew Stoupas nipped at his heels.

Rob Smith was only three-hundredths further back in the South Star Developments backed Audi, the 2016 Trophy Series winner finding four tenths in the afternoon session.

The battle for pole position in the MARC class was equally ferocious, with Liam McClellan and Melinda Price holding out ahead of Keith Kassulke with John Goodacre (Gap Solutions/SEKTOR) in third by the blink of an eye.

Less than a tenth of a second split the three cars, McLellean’s 1:12.925 just 0.02s faster than Kassulke’s best effort from the first session.

A tough day for Jake Camilleri saw the 2016 MARC Class title winner set just a single lap in the first 20-minute session, the MARC Cars Australia crew setting about changing the engine ahead of tomorrow’s opening race.

Sunday’s two 50-minute races will complete the opening round of the 2017 CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli, with Nugara excited about the competition that awaits.

“It’s my first season in Trophy Series and this year there’s some epic guys, so it’s going to be very competitive.”

The first race gets underway at 10:50, the results of which will set the grid for Race 2 at 14:40.

Both races will be streamed live online via the Shannons Nationals website.

Race 1 Grid
Pos    Competitor/Team    Driver    Vehicle    Best    CPS
1    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rio Nugara/Jake Fouracre    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    1:10.952    51
2    Safe-T-Stop    Richard Gartner    Lamborghini Gallardo LP600    1:11.192    46
3    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Steve McLaughlan    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    1:11.686    46
4    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rod Salmon    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    1:12.034    46
5    JJA Consulting Group    Jan Jinadasa    Lamborghini Gallardo LP560    1:12.095    38
6    Kentucky Fried Chicken    Gary Higgon/Matthew Stoupas    Audi R8 LMS    1:12.136    28
7    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rob Smith    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    1:12.165    28
8    Mack Bros Roofing Products    Wayne Mack    Ferrari 458 GT3    1:12.418    24
9    MARC Cars Australia    Melinda Price/Liam McLellan    MARC Mazda V8    1:12.925    34
10    MARC Cars Australia    Keith Kassulke    MARC Focus V8    1:12.927    30
11    Gap Solutions/SEKTOR    John Goodacre    MARC Focus V8    1:12.995    34
12    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Rick Mensa    Audi R8 LMS    1:13.137    20
13    Freechoice    Travers Beynon    Audi R8 LMS    1:13.188    20
14    Fiorano Motorsport    Scott Hookey    Ferrari 458 Challenge    1:13.680    24
15    Harcourts Epping    Emanuel Mezzasalma    Porsche 997 Cup Car    1:14.014    20
16    MARC Cars Australia    Jake Camilleri    MARC Mazda V8    1:15.573    36
17    Whitlock Bull Bars    Con Whitlock    Audi R8 LMS    1:17.220    20
18    M Motorsport Interlloy    Justin McMillan/Dean Koutsoumidis    KTM X-Bow    1:17.731    32

The 2016 Reiter Young Stars program saw 16 aspiring young drivers compete in eight identical KTM X-Bow GT4s across five major European events including DTM and the Blancpain GT Championship as part of the European GT4 Series.

Last year’s program saw drivers chosen by Reiter Engineering through an intensive selection process, before a pre-season test day to acclimatize them with the impressive turbo two-litre powered X-Bow GT4. A lottery then determined driver pairings, with teams judged not on overall results, but consistency, speed, media and a range of other aspects to find the leading male and female drivers at seasons end to go through to a fully-paid drive in a Reiter-prepared GT3 in the 2017 Blancpain Sprint Series.

The project also saw commercial partners and university engineering and marketing students come together in each team to build an opportunity not just for the drivers, but as an entire operation, all under the watchful eye of Reiter Engineering staff including their experienced driver coach, Tomas Enge.

Season 2016 saw young Australian talent Caitlin Wood emerge as the leading female driver, whilst young Finnish driver Marko Helistekangas was the leading male competitor, the two not slated to drive together in a Reiter prepared and run Gallardo R-EX in the 2017 Blancpain Sprint Series which begins on the first weekend in April.

For 2017 and beyond, Reiter Engineering – through M-Motorsport in Australia – are offering aspiring young Australian drivers the opportunity to be a part of future RYS programs, but to ‘sweeten’ the deal, Reiter will also commit funds for any successful Australian applicant to compete in the Bathurst 12-Hour behind the wheel of a Reiter Engineering/M-Motorsport prepared KTM GT4.

For 2017 the driver pairing process will change slightly, whilst the two best drivers overall will be awarded a drive in the Blancpain Sprint Series in 2018.

“We have a great association with Reiter Engineering, having delivered a number of Gallardo’s into the Australian market over recent years,” M-Motorsport’s Justin McMillan confirmed.

“This year we added the KTM X-Bow GT4 to the stable, debuting it at the 12-Hour with support from Interlloy and Wilson Storage, and were comfortably leading the class up until the final 90-minutes before a teething issue stopped progress. Ultimately the heat saw electrics burned out, which was too difficult to fix with the time left in the race, but the car finished without a mark as clearly the fastest GT4 car on the mountain.

“Since then we’ve had a number of test days with the car and impressed a lot of drivers with GT3 experience, some of whom are interested in running the car this year [the KTM is eligible for the Australian GT Trophy class]. We have two GT4s in the country, and are expecting to order more this year, so we have the ability for younger drivers to be a part of the team, but further to that, they can use that opportunity to gain valuable extra miles if they are part of the Young Stars program.”

The Audi Sport Customer Racing driver, who clinched the title in a nail-biting finale at Phillip Island last season, will proudly display the #1 on the door at the head of an 18-strong field which also includes Challenge Class champ Scott Hookey, and Jake Camilleri, winner of the inaugural MARC Class title.

Smith will be face all-new competition in 2017, with Trophy Class boasting a 12-car pack with entries from Audi, Lamborghini and Ferrari.

Australian GT Championship race winners Rod Salmon and Steve McLaughlan will make their respective Trophy Series debuts at Sandown, Salmon piloting the iconic blue and pink Audi R8 Ultra and McLaughlan lining up in the familiar #75 entry.

The Audi challenge doesn’t end there, with Rick Mensa climbing aboard another of the Audi Sport Customer Racing entries.

After competing in the 2016 CAMS Australian Endurance Championship alongside Liam Talbot, young charger Jake Fouracre will join Rio Nugara in what is set to be one of the most exciting combinations on the grid while Whitlock Bull Bars driver Con Whitlock, who competed in the inaugural Trophy Series event at Sandown in 2016, returns in his Audi R8 Ultra.

The monumental eight-car entry for Audi is completed by local racer Gary Higgon and Matthew Stoupas aboard the Kentucky Fried Chicken R8 LMS, and Travers Beynon who will once again take the wheel of the #17 entry.

Fresh from competing in the CAMS Australian GT Championship at Albert Park, Wayne Mack will lead the Ferrari charge in the Mack Brothers Roofing Products 458 GT3.

Jan Jinadasa is poised to return aboard the JJA Consulting Group Lamborghini Gallardo, while Richard Gartner and the Safe-T-Stop crew have switched from Porsche to Lamborghini during the off-season.

Looking to take the fight to 2016 Challenge Class winner Scott Hookey, Emanuel Mezzasalma is set to step up from state level racing for his first taste of Australian GT competition.

The Harcourts Epping Porsche has already seen track action in 2017, though Mezzasalma will have his work cut out against the 2016 class champ in the Fiorano Motorsport Ferrari 458 Challenge.

Four entries from MARC Cars Australia will see Jake Camilleri looking to kick off his 2017 campaign against stiff opposition, including the experienced Keith Kassulke, and John Goodacre (Gap Solutions / SEKTOR), who got his first taste of Trophy Series competition towards the end of 2016.

One final driver is yet to be named in what is already an enthralling lineup for the Australian-built endurance racers.

A sole KTM X-Bow, entered for Justin McMillan and Dean Koutsoumidis, will give the iconic GT4 machine its Australian GT race debut.

When the unique Interlloy M Motorsport X-Bow takes to the circuit at Sandown it will become the first entry after officials last year confirmed GT4-specification vehicles would be a welcome addition to Trophy Series grids for 2017.

An improved live stream is also poised to showcase the CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli action better than ever before with both Sunday’s two 50-minute races set to be shown live, free and in full across the globe via the Shannons Nationals website.

Fans looking to experience the action in person will be able to purchase tickets at the gate for $15 on Saturday, $25 on Sunday, with free entry on Friday.

Track action gets underway on Friday for practice, before two qualifying sessions on Saturday (April 8).

The weekend then concludes on Sunday with two 50-minute races as part of the opening round of the 2017 CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli.

Round 1 Entry List

#    Team    Car    Drivers
1    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    Rob Smith
6    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    Rod Salmon
10    Harcourts Epping    Porsche 997 Cup Car    Emanuel Mezzasalma
17    Freechoice    Audi R8 LMS    Travers Beynon
22    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Audi R8 LMS    Rick Mensa
23    Kentucky Fried Chicken    Audi R8 LMS    Gary Higgon/Matthew Stoupas
33    Fiorano Motorsport    Ferrari 458 Challenge    Scott Hookey
48    M Motorsport Interlloy    KTM X-Bow    Justin McMillan/Dean Koutsoumidis
66    Gap Solutions/SEKTOR    MARC Focus V8    John Goodacre
69    Safe-T-Stop    Lamborghini Gallardo LP600    Richard Gartner
72    Whitlock Bull Bars    Audi R8 LMS    Con Whitlock
75    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    Steve McLaughlan
77    JJA Consulting Group    Lamborghini Gallardo LP560    Jan Jinadasa
88    Audi Sport Customer Racing    Audi R8 LMS Ultra    Rio Nugara/Jake Fouracre
91    MARC Cars Australia    MARC Focus V8    Keith Kassulke
93    MARC Cars Australia    MARC Mazda V8    Jake Camilleri
94    MARC Cars Australia    MARC Mazda V8    TBC
147    Mack Bros Roofing Products    Ferrari 458 GT3    Wayne Mack

Track Schedule
Friday, April 7
14:05 – Practice (30 minutes)
Saturday, April 8
10:05 – Practice (30 minutes)
12:40 – Qualifying 1 (20 minutes)
14:00 – Qualifying 2 (20 minutes)
Sunday, April 9
10:50 – Race 1 (50 minutes)
14:40 – Race 2 (50 minutes)

A string of consistent performances set up Talbot’s across the event’s opening three days, while clever use of his Pirelli tyres paid dividends in the final race of the weekend.

Having started fourth, Talbot made his play for the lead midway around the third lap with an brilliant move on pole sitter Roger Lago.

Gaining good traction through Turn 9, Talbot had the momentum to draw alongside, racing side by side through Turn 11 before Lago was finally forced to ceded the position.

The door to door action wasn’t over there, with Max Twigg then launching an attack on Lago as they raced into Turn 13, taking the position.

The result marked Talbot’s second Australian GT victory, his first as a solo driver, and his first since 2013.

“I knew that we had the pace,” Talbot beamed. “We saved everything for the last race because of the big points.

“I don’t really know what happened on that restart,” he added. “Roger struggled and I had a massive opportunity with Max Twigg. We were then mowing down Roger, and I was just wondering where we could get him.

“Roger has done a great job all weekend, and all year, so I knew I was in for a challenge. Ultimately our tyre selection was the crucial difference there.”

An incident on the opening lap saw Fraser Ross drop down the order, before a strong recovery drive meant the Tekno Autosports McLaren 650S GT3 climbed back to 15th in the eight lap encounter.

Two corners later, the congested 28-car field saw Peter Major run out of room, dropping a wheel off the circuit which  and saw him make contact with the luckless Hector Lester. with the incident drawing the first safety car of the weekend.

In the early exchanges Pirelli/Trofeo Motorsport driver Ryan Millier made great strides forward to sit four after starting ninth,only for a mechanical issue forced the Lamborghini to skate off track at turn one, drawing the safety car for a second time.

Race 2 pole sitter Max Twigg (Australian Engineered Flooring Mercedes-AMG GT3) claimed second place behind Talbot and netting victory in the Gold Driver Cup for the weekend.

Geoff Emery rounded out the podium in the Valvoline Audi R8 LMS, he and co-driver Kelvin van der Linde taking out the round courtesy of strong results in all four races.

The points haul sees the duo move into fourth in the Australian GT Championship, which is now led by Lago in the JBS Australia Lamborghini R-EX.

Lago and co-driver David Russell were strong contenders across all four races, their weekend’s efforts rewarded with Lago leaping to the top of the Championship standings, and second overall for the weekend.

Victory for Talbot in the finale saw the Walkinshaw GT3 driver take third for the round, a mighty effort for the solo racer, and record the team’s first Australian GT race win.

“To stand on my own two feet without a Pro driver in this format, which is very tough, I couldn’t thank the team enough,” said Talbot. “They did a great job; it’s a real team effort.”

The Invitational Class was dominated by Wayne Mack aboard the Mack Roofing Products Ferrari 458 ahead of Matthew Turnbull (Fire Rating Solutions Lamborghini Gallardo) and Michael O’Donnell (Shoal/Thomson Geer Lawyers Porsche GT3 Cup Car).

The CAMS Australian GT Championship now moves on to Barbagallo (May 5 – 7) for its fourth round, while Australian GT will be back in action with the opening round of the 2017 CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli at Sandown in two weeks (April 7 – 9).

Race 4 Results
Pos    Competitor/Team    Driver    Vehicle    Time
1    MEGA Racing    Liam Talbot    Porsche 911 GT3-R    28:29.980
2    Australian Engineered Flooring    Max Twigg    Mercedes-AMG GT3    28:31.599
3    Valvoline    Geoff Emery/Kelvin van der Linde    Audi R8 LMS    28:33.360
4    JBS Australia    Roger Lago/David Russell    Lamborghini R-EX    28:34.196
5    Interlloy M Motorsport    Yasser Shahin/Glen Wood    Lamborghini R-EX    28:34.821
6    Supabarn Supermarkets    James Koundouris/Ash Walsh    Audi R8 LMS    28:35.473
7    Objective Racing    Tony Walls    McLaren 650S GT3    28:36.579
8    Moveitnet/AFS    Tony Bates    Mercedes-AMG GT3    28:37.808
9    Hallmarc Construction    Marc Cini/Dean Fiore    Audi R8 LMS    28:38.596
10    Valvoline    Tim Miles    Audi R8 LMS    28:38.889
11    Hog’s Breath Café/Griffith Corporation    Mark Griffith/Jake Camilleri    Mercedes-AMG GT3    28:40.697
12    BMW Team SRM    Steve Richards/James Bergmuller    BMW M6 GT3    28:41.387
13    Maranello Motorsport    Peter Edwards    Ferrari 488 GT3    28:41.933
14    Industrie Clothing    Nick Kelly    Audi R8 Ultra    28:42.023
15    Tekno Autosports    Fraser Ross/Lewis Williamson    McLaren 650S GT3    28:42.097
16    HHH Triffid Racing    Michael Hovey    Lamborghini R-EX    28:45.619
17    Darrell Lea    Tony Quinn    McLaren 650S GT3    28:48.754
18    AMAC Motorsport    Andrew Macpherson    Lamborghini Huracan GT3    28:49.606
19    Mack Roofing Products    Wayne Mack    Ferrari 458 GT3    28:50.067
20    Timken Zagame Motorsport    Adrian Deitz/Cameron McConville    Lamborghini Huracan GT3    28:51.141
21    Scott Taylor Motorsport    Scott Taylor    Mercedes-AMG GT3    28:53.228
22    Fire Rating Solutions    Mathew Turnbull    Lamborghini Gallardo GT3    28:55.417
23    KFC    Gary Higgon/Daniel Gaunt    Audi R8 LMS    28:55.822
24    Shoal/Thomson Geer Lawyers    Michael O’Donnell    Porsche GT3 Cup Car    28:58.083
DNF    Pirelli/Trofeo Motorsport    Ryan Millier/Ivan Capelli    Lamborghini Huracan GT3    16:20.375
DNF    DJS Racing    Danny Stuttered    BMW M6 GT3    14:25.312
DNF    PM Motorsport    Peter Major    Lamborghini R-EX
DNF    Rosso Verde Racing    Hector Lester/Benny Simonsen    Ferrari 458 GT3

Having qualified second, Lago made a strong start to head the field into the first turn in the JBS Australia Lamborghini R-EX, providing him the clear track he used to extend the lead in the early stages.

“I knew that if I stayed with Max that I was probably going to jump him at the start,” said Lago.

“Luckily we got through turn one without any incidents, which is always nice, and then just pressed on because I wanted to get a gap early.”

Lago’s final winning margin was more than four seconds over Fraser Ross, the duo trading fastest times throughout the race.

After starting on pole, his first since Eastern Creek in 2010, Max Twigg tucked into second in the Australian Engineered Flooring Mercedes-AMG GT3.

A blinding start from Fraser Ross saw the Tekno Autosports entry move from sixth to third, shadowing the leaders.

Twigg and Ross then circulated in close proximity for much of the 25-minute race, with Peter Major (PM Motorsport Lamborghini R-EX) making it a three-way battle for the podium.

For lap after lap the battle continued, Twigg positioning the Mercedes perfectly to keep Ross at bay.

Eventually however the McLaren driver found a way through, and set off in pursuit of Lago who had built a commanding lead at the head of the race.

On the final lap, Major also found a way beyond Twigg, taking the inside line into the fast turn 11/12 chicane, though a five-second penalty for a starting infringement saw the Lamborghini classified fifth.

After a strong weekend at the opening round this year, which netted the Lamborghini driver three second places across the weekend, Lago was please to record his first victory of the year.

“I was pretty happy with a four second win,” Lago said. “Sometimes it goes your way!

“We’ve been improving the car all weekend from Quali 1, and a big thanks to Dave Russell, who’s driven this model probably more than anyone, so he’s got a good understanding of where we have to take it as a package.

“We’re improving every session,” he added. “In Adelaide, it would have been nice to win but to finish every race is important if you want to put it together at the end of the year.”

Russell will now step back into the JBS Australia entry for tomorrow’s third race, which will be broadcast live on Channel Ten across Australia at 12:05.

Race 2 Results
Pos    Competitor/Team    Driver    Vehicle    Time
1    JBS Australia    Roger Lago/David Russell    Lamborghini R-EX    25:40.862
2    Tekno Autosports    Fraser Ross/Lewis Williamson    McLaren 650S GT3    25:45.137
3    Australian Engineered Flooring    Max Twigg    Mercedes-AMG GT3    25:51.089
4    MEGA Racing    Liam Talbot    Porsche 911 GT3-R    25:51.973
5    PM Motorsport    Peter Major    Lamborghini R-EX    25:55.046
6    Supabarn Supermarkets    James Koundouris/Ash Walsh    Audi R8 LMS    26:02.314
7    Scott Taylor Motorsport    Scott Taylor    Mercedes-AMG GT3    26:05.330
8    Valvoline    Geoff Emery/Kelvin van der Linde    Audi R8 LMS    26:08.600
9    Pirelli/Trofeo Motorsport    Ryan Millier/Ivan Capelli    Lamborghini Huracan GT3    26:11.731
10    Industrie Clothing    Nick Kelly    Audi R8 Ultra    26:17.356
11    Objective Racing    Tony Walls    McLaren 650S GT3    26:20.426
12    Interlloy M Motorsport    Yasser Shahin/Glen Wood    Lamborghini R-EX    26:26.028
13    DJS Racing    Danny Stuttered    BMW M6 GT3    26:27.719
14    Hog’s Breath Café/Griffith Corporation    Mark Griffith/Jake Camilleri    Mercedes-AMG GT3    26:30.779
15    Rosso Verde Racing    Hector Lester/Benny Simonsen    Ferrari 458 GT3    26:32.213
16    Hallmarc Construction    Marc Cini/Dean Fiore    Audi R8 LMS    26:32.811
17    BMW Team SRM    Steve Richards/James Bergmuller    BMW M6 GT3    26:36.465
18    HHH Triffid Racing    Michael Hovey    Lamborghini R-EX    26:38.608
19    Maranello Motorsport    Peter Edwards    Ferrari 488 GT3    26:49.539
20    Mack Roofing Products    Wayne Mack    Ferrari 458 GT3    26:50.038
21    Darrell Lea    Tony Quinn    McLaren 650S GT3    27:04.073
22    AMAC Motorsport    Andrew Macpherson    Lamborghini Huracan GT3    27:07.728
23    Moveitnet/AFS    Tony Bates    Mercedes-AMG GT3    27:11.146
24    Fire Rating Solutions    Mathew Turnbull    Lamborghini Gallardo GT3    27:17.844
25    KFC    Gary Higgon/Daniel Gaunt    Audi R8 LMS    27:18.763
26    Timken Zagame Motorsport    Adrian Deitz/Cameron McConville    Lamborghini Huracan GT3    27:18.905
27    Valvoline    Tim Miles    Audi R8 LMS    27:24.781
28    Shoal/Thomson Geer Lawyers    Michael O’Donnell    Porsche GT3 Cup Car    27:33.249

When he lined up on the grid for Race 2 at Albert Park he became the dirst driver to reach triple digits in an Australian GT career that began at Sandown 2008.

Since then, Quinn has enjoyed a successful career with 11 race wins and 38 podium positions.

He sits seventh on the all-time winners list, while only Australian GT Championship winners Klark Quinn, David Wall and Bryce Washington have claimed more podium positions.

“The highlight for me was when we came to the Grand Prix and I set the lap record in the Aston,” Quinn said.
PR
“It stood for five years because we didn’t come back here for fives years! That was good because I was up on the podium and everything. Bathurst was a highlight too.

“I’m nine years older,” he smiled when asked about the changes he’d seen during his nine years in the category, “and it makes a big difference!

“Everybody needs to be on warning that when you’re 55 you my as well forget about Ron Dennis giving you a call, because he’s not gunna!”

Quinn’s first win came at Bathurst in 2010, taking out both races across the weekend before backing up that effort next time out at Sandown.

In 2013 he finished second to Richard Muscat in the Champioship race.

Quinn purchased Australian GT in 2011 and has overseen its rapid expansion to also include the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship and CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli.

The second round of the 2017 Championship boasts a 30-car field with representation from seven of the world’s leading brands including Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes who will take to the 5.3-kilometre circuit in front of their Formula 1 counterparts.

Adding to the F1 flavour, the Australian GT field will ex-Ferrari star Ivan Capelli, who will drive the Pirelli/Trofeo Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 alongside Jim Manolios.

The Italian veteran last competed in Australian GT at the inaugural event at Highlands Motorsport Park in 2013; next weekend marking his debut at the Albert Park circuit.

Two more Lamborghini Huracans will also take to the circuit, with Adrian Deitz and Cam McConville set to debut the Timken Zagame Motorsport entry, and Andrew Macpherson poised to give the AMAC Motorsport its first taste of race action.

Five more entries from the Italian marque will see Lamborghini boast an impressive eight cars, with Roger Lago and David Russell sharing the JBS Australia entry, and Clipsal race winner Peter Major competing in the PM Motorsport Lamborghini R-EX.

Audi is also set to feature eight cars, with Victorian racer Gary Higgon set to make his Australian GT debut aboard the KFC Audi R8 LMS.

Geoff Emery and Kelvin van der Linde again combine forces in the #74 Valvoline entry and stablemate James Koundouris, who was a winner at Albert Park in 2016, is again joined by Ash Walsh in the Supabarn Supermarkets Audi R8 LMS.

Making only his fourth Australian GT appearance, and his first since 2007, Dean Fiore will join Marc Cini in the Hallmarc Constructions Audi R8 while Tim Miles will switch into the #75 Valvoline Audi R8 LMS in place of Steve McLaughlan for the weekend.

Fresh from success in Adelaide, Championship leader Tony Bates will race solo aboard the Moveitnet/AFS Mercedes-AMG GT3 as part of a four-pronged assault from the German marque.

Mark Griffith will be joined by 2016 CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli MARC Class winner Jake Camilleri in the Hog’s Breath Café/Griffith Corporation entry while Scott Taylor Motorsport has again entered two cars.

Winners last year, Scott Taylor and Craig Baird will be looking to repeat that success this time around, while Max Twigg, a former round winner at Albert Park, will build on his first outing with the team in Adelaide in the Australian Engineered Flooring entry.

A change in co-driver for Fraser Ross will see the Tekno Autosports driver joined by McLaren factory star Lewis Williamson.

The 27-year-old Scot cut his teeth in single seaters, winning the 2009 BRDC Rising Star award and last year competed in the World Endurance Championship with Strakka Racing in the LMP2 class.

Together, Ross and Williamson make a formidable pairing for Tekno Autosports, which last year claimed a race win courtesy of Nathan Morcom.

Twelve months ago McLaren took out the weekend thanks to Klark Quinn, with the Darrell Lea McLaren 650S GT3 this year set to be driven by Tony Quinn, while the Objective Racing entry will again be steered by street circuit expert Tony Walls.

Having made its global competition debut at the Grand Prix twelve months ago, Peter Edwards will pilot the Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3, while international racers Hector Lester (an Albert Park race winner in 2008) and Benny Simonsen will share the Rosso Verde Racing Ferrari 458 GT3.

A third Ferrari has been entered for Wayne Mack, who will steer the Mack Roofing Products Ferrari 458 GT3 across the weekend’s four races as one of three Invitational Trophy entries.

Expanding its operation to two cars, BMW Team SRM earlier this week welcomed Danny Stuttered to the team.

An experienced racer, Stuttered will take charge of the DJS Racing BMW M6 GT3 which will run alongside the sister car driven by Steve Richards and James Bergmuller.

The format has been tweaked from 2016, and will this year see the higher rated driver take part in the opening qualifying session, with the second driver stepping into the car for the second 20-minute qualifying session.

The four 25-minute races follow the same pattern, with the higher rated driver set to compete in races one and three, and the team’s second driver in races two and four with no pit stops or time added post-race.

Teams electing to enter a single driver will take part in all sessions.

The points structure for the weekend has also been refined, with an emphasis placed on the final race of the weekend where victory is worth 80 points, while the opening race of the weekend will net the winner 25 points.

Together with points for qualifying it makes the weekend equal in value to all other CAMS Australian GT Championship weekends, with a maximum of 220 points on offer.

The packed 30-car field will battle it out on track starting with two qualifying sessions and the opening race on Thursday (March 23).

Fans can experience the CAMS Australian GT Championship on track every day of the event, or catch the action on live free-to-air television across Australia, with Race 3 to be broadcast on Channel Ten.

Australian GT Championship – Round 2 Schedule
Thursday, 23 March
11:50 – Qualifying 1 (Driver 1)
14:05 – Qualifying 2 (Driver 2)
15:40 – Race 1 (Driver 1)
Friday, 24 March
10:45 – Race 2 (Driver 2)
Saturday, 25 March
12:05 – Race 3 (Driver 1) – LIVE on Channel Ten
Sunday, 26 March
11:30 – Race 4 (Driver 2)

Round 2 Entry List
#    Team    Car    Drivers
3    Ah Apartments    Audi R8 LMS    Ash Samadi
5    GT Motorsport    Audi R8 LMS    Greg Taylor
6    Timken Zagame Motorsport    Lamborghini Huracan GT3    Adrian Deitz/Cameron McConville
7    Darrell Lea    McLaren 650S GT3    Tony Quinn
8    Australian Engineered Flooring    Mercedes-AMG GT3    Max Twigg
9    Hallmarc Construction    Audi R8 LMS    Marc Cini/Dean Fiore
11    Objective Racing    McLaren 650S GT3    Tony Walls
14    PM Motorsport    Lamborghini R-EX    Peter Major
19    Hog’s Breath Café/Griffith Corporation    Mercedes-AMG GT3    Mark Griffith/Jake Camilleri
23    JBS Australia    Lamborghini R-EX    Roger Lago/David Russell
24    Moveitnet/AFS    Mercedes-AMG GT3    Tony Bates
29    Pirelli/Trofeo Motorsport    Lamborghini Huracan GT3    Jim Manolios/Ivan Capelli
44    Supabarn Supermarkets    Audi R8 LMS    James Koundouris/Ash Walsh
48    Interlloy M Motorsport    Lamborghini R-EX    Yasser Shahin/Glen Wood
51    AMAC Motorsport    Lamborghini Huracan GT3    Andrew Macpherson
59    Tekno Autosports    McLaren 650S GT3    Fraser Ross/Lewis Williamson
73    HHH Triffid Racing    Lamborghini R-EX    Michael Hovey
74    Valvoline    Audi R8 LMS    Geoff Emery/Kelvin van der Linde
75    Valvoline    Audi R8 LMS    Tim Miles
88    Maranello Motorsport    Ferrari 488 GT3    Peter Edwards
100    BMW Team SRM    BMW M6 GT3    Steve Richards/James Bergmuller
101    DJS Racing    BMW M6 GT3    Danny Stuttered
124    KFC    Audi R8 LMS    Gary Higgon
199    Industrie Clothing    Audi R8 Ultra    Nick Kelly/Barton Mawer
222    Scott Taylor Motorsport    Mercedes-AMG GT3    Scott Taylor/Craig Baird
911    MEGA Racing    Porsche 911 GT3-R    Liam Talbot
21    Rosso Verde Racing    Ferrari 458 GT3    Hector Lester/Benny Simonsen
68    Shoal/Thomson Geer Lawyers    Porsche GT3 Cup Car    Michael O’Donnell
99    Fire Rating Solutions    Lamborghini Gallardo GT3    Mathew Turnbull
147    Mack Roofing Products    Ferrari 458 GT3    Wayne Mack

After the first Australian GT meeting, Tony Bates is leading the championship standings with 9 points from the second-placed driver. Next to Bates, three further Mercedes-AMG GT3 raced in Adelaide and scored further top ten results: Scott Taylor Motorsport ran a pair of cars with starting number 8 for Max Twigg (P21, P9, P5) and starting number 222 for duo Craig Baird / Scott Taylor (P10, P15, P18). Mark Griffith raced the Griffith Corporation Mercedes-AMG GT3 #19 (P7, P8, P8).

Tony Bates, Eggleston Motorsport, Mercedes-AMG GT3 #24: “I can hardly find words to describe this weekend and now, I really will enjoy the party. Having such a perfect race weekend really is a rare occasion. After qualifying, I knew that we were in with a chance of scoring a good result, but with such strong competitors, I also knew that I had to put in a perfect performance. Throughout the event, Eggleston Motorsport has provided me with a sensational car that is the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and our strategy worked perfectly.”

Involvement in North America accelerates further

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport already having made a successful debut in North America with third place in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener, the Daytona 24 Hours, the 2017 season now also gets underway in the Pirelli World Challenge from 10-12 March. Three Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be making their debut in the sprint race series at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Florida, where two races of 50 minutes each are scheduled. In the field of 43 cars, Ryan Dalziel will be racing for championship points with Customer Racing Team CRP Racing in the car with starting number 2. Tim Pappas will be driving the #54 Black Swan Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Pablo Perez Companc will be racing with starting number 69 for Champ1 Motorsports in the GTA class.

Moreover, further teams are to compete during the Pirelli World Challenge SprintX races. The SprintX races will be held during the Pirelli World Challenge Headliner events and will crown their own champion. Like in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, teams in the Pirelli World Challenge have the full Mercedes-AMG Motorsport service portfolio with an on-site service and spare parts truck at the circuit at their disposal. Heart of the operations for the involvement in North America is the new technical and logistics centre in Mooresville, North Carolina.

Ryan Dalziel, CRP Racing, Mercedes-AMG GT3 #2: “It is my goal to be a contender for the GT championship title. The GT class is very strong and competition is really close. That is also reflected by the fact that, in the past two years, the battle for the championship was only decided in the final race. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is a very good car and is definitely competitive. The CRP Racing Team is doing an outstanding job and we already had some good tests at Sebring.”

Having claimed third place on debut in Race 1, Major raced his way to the front in the closing stages of the second 40-minute encounter of the weekend, putting a strong move on Roger Lago at the Turn 9 hairpin.

“I set some expectations of myself to try and make it in the top ten, but to get a podium in the first race and then a win has just blown me away,” Major said after his breakthrough victory.

“The team at Zagame Motorsport have put the car together in no time at all,” he added.

“It’s all just happened so quickly, it’s just been amazing. I’ve got to thank Cam McConville and Zagame Motorsport for making it happen.”

Major and Lago had been locked in battle during the first part of the race, with Major hoping he’d done enough to take the lead following the pit sequence.

“I was hoping to pop out of the pits in front of Roger, but it didn’t happen and we had to work for it,” Major explained.

“He’s obviously very experienced in that car and gets off the corners well; he’s fast where he needed to be and that made it difficult for me, so I knew I was going to have to have a big lunge somewhere.

“I got a good run through Turn 8 and had enough pace to make the pass happen at Turn 9.”

An early safety car once again compressed the field when Ash Samadi’s Ah Apartments Audi R8 LMS ground to a halt with a mechanical issue.

At the same time, James Bergmuller also rolled to a halt, though was able to get the BMW Team SRM GT3 back to pit lane.

The stranded cars triggered the deployment of the safety car, whose emergence came soon after Come Ledogar had found his way to the front in the McLaren 650S GT3.

At the restart, the Tekno Autosports driver pushed hard in an effort to extend his advantage, coming within touching distance of the lap record in the process.

However, with little time between the safety car releasing the field and the pit stop window Ledogar would fall back through the field as he handed the car to Fraser Ross.

Ross spent the remainder of the race battling his way forwards, crossing the line seventh after dicing with Ash Walsh (Supabarn Supermarkets), who became the first man to lap the Adelaide Parklands circuit in under 80-seconds.

Following the pit stop cycle, Tim Miles rocketed up the order courtesy of the compressed field and solid pace in the middle part of the race.

The Hungry Jacks backed Lamborghini R-EX claimed a strong fifth place, one spot back from Mega Racing’s Liam Talbot.

Opting to stop at the last possible moment before the pit window closed, Lago emerged at the head of the race despite having a longer stationary time than second placed Major.

What followed was a thrilling battle for the lead between the two Lamborghini R-EXs as Major harried the back of Lago’s JBS Australia entry.

A good run out of Turn 8 on lap 23 saw the PM Motorsport car make the decisive move up the inside of Lago at the Turn 9 hairpin.

Refusing to give up without a fight, Lago remained in contact with Major until the final lap, Major gaining a small but crucial lead to take the chequered flag for his first Australian GT race win.

Tony Bates ended the day in third place, the Race 1 winner gaining more valuable championship pints in the Moveitnet/AFS Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The result marked the first Lamborghini 1-2 in Australian GT competition since John Bowe and Mark Eddy took the top two spots at Phillip Island in 2008.

Major will now line up on pole position for tomorrow’s final race of the weekend, which is set to get underway at 9.55, the race broadcast live on Fox Sports, channel 506.

Race Results
Pos    Competitor/Team    Driver    Vehicle    Laps    Time
1    PM Motorsport    Peter Major    Lamborghini R-EX    26    40:42.933
2    JBS Australia    Roger Lago    Lamborghini R-EX    26    40:44.823
3    Moveitnet/AFS    Tony Bates    Mercedes-AMG GT3    26    40:52.849
4    Mega Racing    Liam Talbot    Porsche 911 GT3-R    26    41:11.194
5    Hungry Jacks    Tim Miles    Lamborghini R-EX    26    41:12.741
6    Supabarn Supermarkets    James Koundouris/Ash Walsh    Audi R8 LMS    26    41:15.980
7    Tekno Autosports    Fraser Ross/Come Ledogar    McLaren 650S GT3    26    41:16.814
8    Hogs Breath Café/Griffith Corporation    Mark Griffith    Mercedes-AMG GT3    26    41:20.026
9    Australian Engineered Flooring    Max Twigg    Mercedes-AMG GT3    26    41:22.757
10    GT Motorsport    Greg Taylor/Nathan Antunes    Audi R8 LMS    26    41:27.453
11    Pirelli/Trofeo Motorsport    Jim Manolios/Dean Canto    Lamborghini Huracan GT3    26    41:39.893
12    Valvoline    Geoff Emery/Kelvin van der Linde    Audi R8 LMS    26    41:47.320
13    Objective Racing    Tony Walls    McLaren 650S GT3    26    41:54.223
14    Bank SA    Brenton Griguol/Tim Macrow    Lamborghini R-EX    26    42:06.715
15    Scott Taylor Motorsport    Scott Taylor/Craig Baird    Mercedes-AMG GT3    25    40:52.565
16    Shoal/Thomson Geer Lawyers    Michael O’Donnell    Porsche GT3 Cup Car    25    41:10.978
17    Veloce Motorsport/ULX110    Keith Wong/Michael Almond    Porsche GT3 Cup Car    25    41:31.135
18    Triffid.Bar.Venue    Michael Hovey/Daniel Jilesen    Lamborghini R-EX    24    41:29.040
19    Interlloy M Motorsport    Justin McMillan/Glen Wood    Lamborghini R-EX    22    36:11.254
20    BMW Team SRM    Steve Richards/James Bergmuller    BMW M6 GT3    9    41:32.730
DNF    Ah Apartments    Ash Samadi    Audi R8 LMS    1    01:37.387
DNF    Hallmarc Construction    Marc Cini    Audi R8 LMS
EXC    AMAC Motorsport    Andrew Macpherson    Porsche 997 GT3-R

The pair claimed the top spot in the first of two 20-minute qualifying sessions, van der Linde stopping the clock with a 1:20.452s.

That marker then stood the test of time in the second session, backing up the pace the car had shown in opening practice and laying down a gauntlet to the rest of the field as the weekend gets under way.

“We were hoping to qualify in the top five in practice one, the car went really well,” van der Linde said. “The car felt really good straight out the box. In Qualifying 1 I had clear track, I was able to get in a good rhythm and in the end it was enough. “I’m really proud of the Jamec Pem team. I only met them two days ago but everything has just gelled.”

“Kelvin did an awesome job out there,” added Emery. “I jumped in and tried to settle in for the second session in and get my head around it.  “I just built on my times and it just started coming with me.”

Audi locked out the front row courtesy of Ash Walsh and James Koundouris, who recorded the second fastest time in the Supabarn Supermarkets Audi R8 LMS.

Stable-mates Greg Taylor and Nathan Antunes, who share the GT Motorsports entry, will start third.

Fraser Ross and Come Ledogar marked the first non-Audi entry, the Tekno Autosports McLaren 650S GT3 setting a best time of 1:21.190 in the second session.

Driving solo, Roger Lago improved his time in second qualifying aboard the JBS Australia entry, ending the 20-minute session fastest.

Hustling the car around the Adelaide Parklands circuit, Lago’s effort of 1:21.460 ultimately proved good enough for seventh on the grid for the first race of the season.

A spin from Tony Quinn in the opening practice session saw the Darrell Lea entry miss the opening qualifying session, though the team had the McLaren 650S GT3 back on track for Qualifying 2.

Local driver Yasser Shahin became the first victim of the unforgiving street circuit, damaging the rear suspension on The Bend Motorsport Complex entry and forcing the Lamborghini R-EX out of the weekend.

It proved an eventful day, the dusty circuit also catching out Dean Canto, who escaped a wild moment at the first chicane.

Bouncing the Pirelli/Trofeo Motorsport entry over the kerbs, Canto did well to keep the Lamborghini Huracan away from the imposing walls en route to fifth place on the grid for he and co-driver Jim Manolios.

Pole position on the 25-car grid, courtesy of van der Linde and Emery, sees Audi extend its string of pole positions.

Beginning at the final round of the 2015 season, it stands as the longest run of consecutive pole positions in the Australian GT Championship history.

The first of the weekend’s three 40-minute CAMS Australian GT Championship races gets underway at 10:55 (March 3) tomorrow morning.

Races on Saturday and Sunday will follow, with all events broadcast live on Fox Sports, channel 506.   

Qualifying Results

1 Valvoline K.van der Linde/G.Emery Audi R8 LMS 1:20.452

2 Supabarn Supermarkets J.Koundouris/A.Walsh Audi R8 LMS 1:20.804

3 GT Motorsport G.Taylor/N.Antunes Audi R8 LMS 1:21.074

4 Tekno Autosports Come Ledogar (FRA) McLaren 650S GT3 1:21.190

5 Pirelli/Trofeo Motorsport J.Manolios/D.Canto Lamborghini Huracan 1:21.442

6 Scott Taylor Motorsport S.Taylor/C.Baird Mercedes-AMG GT3 1:21.454

7 JBS Australia Roger Lago (Qld) Lamborghini R-EX 1:21.460

8 Bank SA B.Griguol/T.Macrow Lamborghini R-EX 1:21.561

9 Moveitnet/AFS Tony Bates (VIC) Mercedes-AMG GT3 1:21.914

10 PM Motorsport Peter Major (WA) Lamborghini R-EX 1:21.934

11 BMW Team SRM S.Richards/J.Bergmuller BMW M6 GT3 1:22.073

12 Mega Racing Liam Talbot (Qld) Porsche 911 GT3-R 1:22.282

13 Interlloy M Motorsport J.McMillan/G.Wood Lamborghini R-EX 1:22.506

14 HHH Triffid Racing M.Hovey/D.Jilesen Lamborghini R-EX 1:22.833

15 Ah Apartments Ash Samadi (VIC) Audi R8 LMS 1:22.932

16 Valvoline Steven McLaughlan (Vic) Audi R8 LMS 1:23.089

17 Objective Racing Tony Walls (NSW) McLaren 650S GT3 1:23.185

18 Hogs Breath Cafe/Griffith Co Mark Griffith (Qld) Mercedes-AMG GT3 1:23.628

19 Australian Engineered Flooring Max Twigg (Vic) Mercedes-AMG GT3 1:23.737

20 Hallmarc Constructions Marc Cini (Vic) Audi R8 LMS 1:24.057

21 Hungry Jacks Tim Miles (NSW) Lamborghini R-EX 1:24.280

22 Darrell Lea Tony Quinn (Qld) McLaren 650s GT3 1:24.668

23 AMAC Motorsport Andrew MacPherson (NSW) Porsche 997 GT3-R 1:27.010

24 The Bend Motorsport Park Yasser Shahin (SA) Lamborghini R-EX 1:27.240

25 Veloce Motorsport – ULX110 Keith Wong (SA) Porsche GT3 Cup 1:28.065

26 Shoal/Thomson Geer Lawyers Michael O’Donnell (SA) Porsche GT3 Cup 1:28.523

Three Australian racing series and a single aim: Audi’s customers intend to be title candidates again this year. In 2011 and 2015, the overall classifications in the Australian GT Championship went to Audi campaigners. This year, up to seven Audi R8 LMS cars will be battling for overall victory. Between March and September, the race calendar lists five events, the second race weekend on March 23 being regarded as the season’s pinnacle event. That is when the Australian GT Championship will be held as part of the supporting program of the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Melbourne.

The Australian Endurance Championship is another attractive series. Between May and November, it will feature four races – three in Australia, plus the finale in New Zealand. Currently, four customer racing teams are planning to compete in the Audi R8 LMS.

The GT Trophy is the third Australian racing series with entry opportunities available to privateer teams. The regulations exclusively permit older-specification racing cars such as the first generation of the Audi R8 LMS. Up to eight Audi drivers will be on the grid this season, battling for the fourth consecutive title for an Audi driver in this classification. In 2014, Rod Salmon won the classification, followed by Greg Taylor in 2015 and Rob Smith in 2016. These three Australian title winners have remained loyal to Audi this year.

They are not the only title winners sporting the banner of the four rings. The South African Kelvin van der Linde in 2014 won the ADAC GT Masters in Germany in an Audi and is now looking forward to his first season in Australia. Steven McLaughlan is another Audi driver with a championship title under his belt. Last year, he won a regional Australian racing series in the state of Victoria in an Audi R8 LMS.

Most of the Audi campaigners in the three Australian GT racing series are relying on the Melbourne Performance Centre (MPC) as their race team again this year. MPC is the official contractual partner of Audi Sport’s customer racing program in the Pacific region. “We are delighted to see Australia continuing to be one of our strongest markets this year,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “We wish our drivers, teams and customers a lot of success in this fierce competition.”

The Audi teams in the Australian GT Championship

#3 Ash Samadi

#5 Greg Taylor/Nathan Antunes

#9 Marc Cini

#24 Daniel Gaunt/Gary Higgon

#44 James Koundouris/Ash Walsh

#74 Geoff Emery/Kelvin van der Linde

#75 Steven McLaughlan

The Audi teams in the Australian Endurance Championship

#3 Ash Samadi

#5 Greg Taylor/Nathan Antunes

#44 James Koundouris/Ash Walsh

#74 Geoff Emery/Kelvin van der Linde

The Audi teams in the Australian GT Trophy

#1 Rob Smith

#6 Rod Salmon

#17 Travers Beynon

#22 Rick Mensa

#25 Ryan How

#72 Con Whitlock

#75 Steven McLaughlan

#88 Rio Nugara

It marks the tenth time the CAMS Australian GT Championship has visited the city of churches, with eight of the world’s leading automotive marques represented for the occasion.

The event will provide fans their first chance to see new teams, drivers and combinations on track with three races across the weekend, plus practice and two qualifying sessions on Thursday (March 2).

Joining the local names on track are international factory drivers Côme Ledogar and Kelvin van der Linde.

Part of McLaren’s 2016 Blancpain Endurance Series winning team, Ledogar made his Australian GT debut at Highlands at the end of 2016, making an immediate impact.

Ledogar will join Fraser Ross at the wheel of a McLaren 650S GT3, run by reigning CAMS Australian Endurance Championship winning team Tekno Autosport.

Meanwhile 20-year-old van der Linde will share duties with Geoff Emery in the #74 Jamec Pem Audi R8 LMS.

Despite his youth, van der Linde has already notched up a host of championship successes, including the ADAC GT Masters in 2015 – Germany’s equivalent of the CAMS Australian GT Championship.

They’ll go door-to-door with familiar names such as Craig Baird and Scott Taylor, who will share one of Scott Taylor Motorsport’s two Mercedes-AMG GT3s.

Max Twigg will pilot the team’s second entry, rekindling a relationship with Mercedes that began in 2015.

Former Bathurst 1000 winner Steve Richards will share the duties in the BMW Team SRM M6 GT3 with James Bergmuller, who will make his Australian GT debut in Adelaide.

Bentley returns to Australian GT courtesy of Heretic Autosport, with motorsport legend John Bowe joined by former Bathurst 1000 racer Melinda Price.

Lamborghini will enjoy strong representation on track with a staggering eight entries.

Jim Manolios and Dean Canto will share the Trofeo Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 in what will be the iconic car’s first competitive outing around the Adelaide Parklands circuit.

The seven other entries, all Lamborghini R-EXs, see Tim Miles and youngster Jaxon Evans will compete in McElrea Racing entry, while the race winning duo of Roger Lago and David Russell will join forces once again.

Peter Major will make his Australian GT debut, the former Western Australian Formula Ford champ will look to tame his own raging bull while Justin McMillan and Glen Wood return in their own example of the Reiter Engineering built car.

Local racer Yasser Shahin will look to match the pace he showed on route to victory at Phillip Island last year as former Gold Star winner Tim Macrow climbs aboard a Lamborghini in the Invitational Trophy, sharing the car with Brenton Griguol, the duo having previously competed in a Ferrari F430.

Rounding out the Lamborghini stampede is Michael Hovey, who will take the wheel solo for the course of the weekend.

Audi is well represented with six entries, with Greg Taylor and Nathan Antunes continuing their successful partnership aboard the GT Motorsports Audi R8 LMS.

Ash Samadi and Marc Cini will take control of their own cars while James Koundouris will be joined by former Supercars racer Ash Walsh in the Supabarn Supermarkets entry.

With Emery and van der Linde in the lead car, Steve McLaughlan will pilot the second Jamec Pem entry.

McLaren will field two cars; the Ross/Ledogar entry and the McElrea Racing run Objective Racing 650S GT3 for Tony Walls, who has fond memories of Adelaide after claiming his maiden Australian GT victory there twelve months ago.

Two Aston Martins will also take to the 3.219-kilometre circuit, with Tony Quinn driving the Darrell Lea entry and Tony Bates at the wheel of the sole Miedecke Stone Motorsport car.

Liam Talbot will make his second Australian GT appearance in the Walkinshaw GT3 Porsche 911-GT3 R, while Andrew Macpherson and Brad Shiels will steer the AMAC Motorsport entered Porsche.

The rear-engined contingent is completed by Keith Wong, who will partner with 2016 Highlands race winner Michael Almond, and Michael O’Donnell who will compete for the Invitational Trophy.

The Clipsal 500 marks the start of the five round 2017 CAMS Australian GT Championship, with three races across the weekend.

Drivers and teams will be on track from Thursday morning (March 2), with practice and two qualifying sessions over the course of the day.

All sessions will be broadcast live on Fox Sports, with Network Ten set to broadcast a post-produced package following the event.

Clipsal 500 – On-track Schedule

Thursday, March 2
10:45 – Practice 1
13:40 – Qualifying 1
16:45 – Qualifying 2
Friday, March 3
10:35 – Race 1
Saturday, March 4
09:10 – Race 2
Sunday, March 5
09:55 – Race 3

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Entry List
#    Team    Car    Drivers
3    Bondi Wholefoods    Audi R8 LMS    Ash Samadi
4    McElrea Racing    Lamborghini R-EX    Tim Miles/Jaxon Evans
5    GT Motorsport    Audi R8 LMS    Greg Taylor/Nathan Antunes
7    Darrell Lea    Aston Martin Vantage V12    Tony Quinn
8    Scott Taylor Motorsport    Mercedes-AMG GT3    Max Twigg
9    Hallmarc Constrictios    Audi R8 LMS    Marc Cini
11    Objective Racing    McLaren 650S GT3    Tony Walls
14    Peter Major    Lamborghini R-EX    Peter Major
18    Heretic Autosport    Bentley Continental GT3    John Bowe/Melinda Price
19    Hogs Breath Café/Griffith Corporation    Mercedes-AMG GT3    Mark Griffith
23    JBS Australia    Lamborghini R-EX    Roger Lago/David Russell
24    Miedecke Stone Motorsport    Aston Martin Vantage V12    Tony Bates
29    Pirelli/Trofeo Motorsport    Lamborghini Huracan GT3    Jim Manolios/Dean Canto
44    Supabarn Supermarkets    Audi R8 LMS    James Koundouris/Ash Walsh
48    Interlloy M Motorsport    Lamborghini R-EX    Justin McMillan/Glen Wood
51    AMAC Motorsport    Porsche 997 GT3-R    Andrew Macpherson/Brad Shiels
59    Tekno Autosports    McLaren 650S GT3    Fraser Ross/Côme Ledogar
73    Triffid.Bar.Venue    Lamborghini R-EX    Michael Hovey
74    Jamec Pem Racing    Audi R8 LMS    Geoff Emery/Kelvin van der Linde
75    Jamec Pem Racing    Audi R8 LMS    Steve McLaughlan
100    BMW Team SRM    BMW M6 GT3    Steve Richards/James Bergmuller
222    Scott Taylor Motorsport    Mercedes-AMG GT3    Scott Taylor/Craig Baird
777    The Bend Motorsport Park    Lamborghini R-EX    Yasser Shahin
911    Walkinshaw GT3    Porsche 911 GT3-R    Liam Talbot
15    Veloce Motorsport – ULX110    Porsche GT3 Cup Car    Keith Wong/Michael Almond
68    Michael O’Donnell    Porsche GT3 Cup Car    Michael O’Donnell
69    Koala Motorsport    Lamborghini R-EX    Brenton Griguol/Tim Macrow

Emery will steer the #74 Jamec Pem Audi R8 LMS, rejoining the team with which he competed the opening three events of 2016.

The Victorian watched the second half of the 2016 season from the sidelines following a crash during the third round of the championship at Barbagallo, and is excited to get back on track after a nearly 10-month break.

“This is the longest stint I’ve had out of a car in probably 20 years,” Emery said.

“It’s been pretty frustrating watching all the racing going and have just been focused on my rehab.

“I’ve been doing a lot of personal training sessions, Pilates and pushbike riding five or six days a week. It’s been a hard road.”

Sharing the car last year with Christopher Mies and Marco Bonanomi, Emery recorded three successive pole positions to become just the fourth driver in the category’s history to do so.

“I had so much momentum going last year until my accident,” Emery recalled.

“We had good pace in the first three rounds and it’s such a shame that it came to an abrupt end like that. I’m looking forward to getting back on and carrying on with that.

“I’m not going back to putt around, I’m going back to get serious about it and have a fairly good crack.

“The Audi’s such a great car to drive, it’s a competitive car, and the Melbourne Performance Centre crew is one of the best in pit lane – it’s an honour to be back with them.

“I believe with the right team-mate we can get some really good results.”

A test session for the Jamec Pem team next week will see Emery sample the car before heading to Adelaide for the opening round of the 2017 CAMS Australian GT Championship at the Clipsal 500 (March 2-5).

Emery is also set to remain in the car for the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship, with the first of its four round season beginning at Phillip Island in May (26-28).

The move sees Twigg rekindle his relationship with Mercedes, having competed in an Erebus run SLS GT3 alongside Geoff Emery in 2015.

Last year Twigg partnered Steve Richards aboard the BMW Team SRM M6 GT3, but has elected to drive solo for the 2017 season.

“The BMW was a great car but I think driving solo is the way to go,” Twigg explained.

“After seeing what Klark Quinn did last year, he got more track time than those sharing drives, and I think that is important.

“With my driver rating I think I’m a chance to win races and score podiums, and Klark showed that’s possible.”

Twigg’s decision to join Scott Taylor Motorsport will see him step into a current-spec Mercedes-AMG GT3, a challenge he’s looking forward to.

“The Mercedes is probably the best all-round car on the grid; it’s strong everywhere,” Twigg reasoned.

“It’s not too bad on the twisty circuits, and it really comes into its own at the more open tracks.”

“Scott Taylor is absolutely meticulous about what he does,” he continued.

“He likes everything to be done right, and I think they’re going to be the number one team in Australian GT.”

Scott Taylor Motorsport has not only expanded to two cars, but also taken preparations in-house for 2017.

“We’ve always had the capacity to do that and it’s just now time for us,” team boss Scott Taylor said.

“The workshop is now complete, so we’re in a position now to have both the staff and the facilities to run our own cars.”

Twigg’s first outing aboard the Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be the opening round of the 2017 CAMS Australian GT Championship in Adelaide (March 2-5).

The event will boast a grid packed with current-spec GT3 machines from the world’s leading automotive brands, and witness the debut for a number of teams and drivers.

Fraser Ross has announced he’ll join the Australian GT field ahead of the 2017 season.

Ross is set to combine forces with the Australian Endurance Championship winning Tekno Autosport outfit at the wheel of a McLaren 650S GT3.

The 26-year-old has previously plied his trade in Porsche Carrera Cup, graduating to the class having won the 2014 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge – taking eight wins during the course of his victorious campaign.

A move into Australian GT is the next logical step for Ross, with the category organising two of Australia’s four championship level motorsport competitions.

“I’am very excited to be joining a professional outfit like Tekno Autosports and to be driving a McLaren 650S GT3 in the Australian GT Championship,” Ross enthused.

“This season will bring whole new challenges and I am determined to be fighting at the front from the get-go.

“It’s an amazing feeling to have the support of a renowned global brand such as Total.

“What they represent in the automotive industry is massive and for them to put their faith in me is huge.”

Ross joins a growing list of drivers to fresh faces and teams among the Australian GT ranks, with new entries from Zagame Motorposrt, Heretic Autosport and drivers such as Melinda Price.

Ross will line up for his first Australian GT event when the 2017 CAMS Australian GT Championship gets underway at the Clipsal 500 next month (March 2-5).

A revised CAMS Australian GT Championship will see an increased presence at Supercars events with the first of five rounds kicking off at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

Round two sees Australian GT once again appearing at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix before heading west to Barbagallo in May before turning north for the popular Townsville 400.

The season will then wrap up at the Sandown 500 for the fifth and final round of the Championship.

“We have accepted the requests of the competitors and worked with Supercars to ensure our racing formats are accommodated,” explained Australian GT manager Ken Collier of the revised calendar, which provides an exciting blend of events and circuits across Australia.

The CAMS Australian Endurance Championship will start its season off at Phillip Island as the first leg of the CAMS AEC Australian 1001, the second leg of which will be held at Sydney Motorsport Park as part of the Red Rooster Sydney SuperSprint.

Venturing across the Tasman to New Zealand for rounds three and four, the Championship will take in Hampton Downs and Highlands Park to form the CAMS AEC New Zealand 1001.

After a hugely successful inaugural season in 2016, the CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series schedule has also been finalised, with Sandown set to host the first round of the 2017 campaign in April.

With a new wave of cars eligible for the year ahead it promises to be another enthralling season which will see competitors heading to Winton, Queensland Raceway, and Phillip Island before ending the season at Wakefield Park.

All events will be held in conjunction with the CAMS Shannons Motor Racing Nationals with each round boasting two 50-minute races.

2017 CAMS Australian GT Championship calendar

1. Clipsal 500, Adelaide (March 2-5)
2. Rolex Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne (March 23-26)
3. Perth SuperSprint, Barbagallo (May 5-7)
4. Townsville 400, Townsville (July 7-9)
5. Sandown 500, Sandown, (September 15-17)

2017 CAMS Endurance Championship calender

1. AEC Phillip Island 500, Phillip Island (May 26-28)
2. AEC 501 Sydney, Sydney Motorsport Park (August 18-20)
3. Hampton Downs 500, Hampton Downs (October 27-29)
4. Highlands 501, Highlands Motorsport Park (November 10-12)

2017 CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series calendar

1. Sandown Raceway (April 8-9)
2. Winton Motor Raceway (June 10-11)
3. Queensland Raceway (August 5-6)
4. Phillip Island (September 9-10)
5. Wakefield Park (November 18-19)

The FIA GT Commission oversees GT racing globally, reporting to the FIA World Motorsport Council, and is responsible for the worldwide stewardship of the rapidly growing category.

Under the management of Mr Collier and category owner Tony Quinn, Australian GT has been the world’s fastest growing GT category in recent seasons.

From the single Australian GT Championship in 2015, the category now boasts three competitions and for 2017 will receive top billing for the majority of its 13-event, 14-race schedule, which kicks off in Adelaide in early March.

Mr Collier’s appointment to the FIA GT Commission comes after being nominated for the role by CAMS General Manager of Motor Sport, Michael Smith.

“To say I am honoured is an understatement and I am very grateful that CAMS have nominated me to the FIA,” said Mr Collier, who will join the FIA GT Commission alongside other global GT category administrations and stake holders.

“I have been involved in motor sport for 20 years in various capacities including voluntary administration with the VORRA, as a national off-road competitor, five years as a volunteer administrator with Carrera Cup and Cup Challenge and now as Championship Manager of Australian GT since 2012.

“This appointment to the FIA GT Commission is certainly a great responsibility which I will thrive on. It is another voluntary role but one that I will thoroughly enjoy.

“The FIA have various commissions which all work with the World Motor Sport Council to continually improve motor sport in general,” Mr Collier added.

“I will represent the Australian GT competitors in the FIA’s global organisation and at the same time learn everything I can from both the FIA and other GT Commission members and bring the ideas back to CAMS and Australian GT.”

About FIA GT Commission

The FIA GT Commission is headed by president Chistian Schacht and is charged with overseeing GT racing internationally, reporting to the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

The GT Commission has overseen the homologation of ten new GT3 specification cars, with a total of fourteen homologated models and more than 1200 cars competing globally, the largest single category under the FIA umbrella.

The new initiative will see Australian GT award $100,000 to the winner of the newly created Australian GT Overall Competitor Award, with the balance of the prize money distributed down to fifth place.

“This new award is an enhancement of the CAMS Australian GT Championship and CAMS Australian Endurance Championship,” Mr Collier announced.

“When we were given the opportunity to conduct both championships in 2016 we were unsure how many teams would enter either one or both championships.

“The registration process was priced so that competitors who supported both championships received a reasonable incentive,” Mr Collier continued.

“The outcome was that, with only a few exceptions, all of the competitors registered for both championships – even if they did not intend to be at every round.

“For 2017 we will continue with the combined championship entry incentive but also add this enormous Australian GT Overall Competitor Award for all eligible combined championship competitors.

“The $200,000 cash prize pool is in addition to the increased investment in media and activation opportunities for manufacturer and team sponsors in hospitality and event interaction.

“Having Australian GT as the premier category at most of our 2017 events allows us the flexibility to manage the events so we have the best outcome for Australian GT teams.”

The announcement also follows a string of other initiatives for 2017, which will see the introduction of GT4 spec cars in the CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series and an exciting new event at Symmons Plains in what will be Australian GT’s first ever visit to Tasmania.

With close ties to a host of the world’s leading manufacturers, Zagame has built a business out of the prestige end of the automotive market, and from 2017 will take that expertise into the motorsport arena.

“This has come about through a meeting with Bobby Zagame back in September,” McConville explained. “He’d been contemplating doing this for a while so the timing worked well for both of us.

“It’s going to take time to get it where we want it to be, but we’re playing the long game and it’s great to have Adrian on-board to kick things off.”

McConville will play an integral role overseeing the Zagame Motorsport operation, backed by accomplished team manager Rob Crawford.

“Rob and I go back to the HRT days and we’ve kept in touch,” McConville explained. “I actually went to Macau to meet with Lamborghini and Rob was there as part of FFF Racing.

“We got talking and I think it’s a real coupe to have Rob on-board because he’s team managed FFF Racing which has run two Lamborghinis.”

The team’s first car, the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 which is set to arrive in Australia in mid-January, will be an all-new challenge for Deitz and McConville, but one they believe has a number of factors working in its favour.

“The Lamborghini has good straight line speed, and with so many turbo-charged cars it’s one of the few normally aspirated engines too,” Deitz said.

“We thought that gave us a known quantity, which we hope will be an advantage. It’s also got good aerodynamics.”

Initially, the team plans to focus on learning the car and, for Deitz, getting comfortable in his new office.

“We want to get some laps in it, to learn and understand the car, and our focus will be on the endurance championship. It’s what I as a driver enjoy most.”

“I’ve been very fortunate and I can’t speak highly enough of Adrian,” McConville added. “His driving has come a long way and he’s been very loyal to me.

“As part of this deal he asked if I could still drive, which Bobby has agreed to, so we get him into a new car and I get to be his side-kick again, which is great!

“We finished seventh at Highlands but we never qualify inside the top ten but we tend to race in the ten. What we’re hoping with this new car is we can qualify in the ten and race in the top five!”

“Australian GT now has a lot of depth,” Deitz agreed. “If you look at some of the GT championships internationally they’ve only got ten or twelve GT3 cars, with the rest of GT4s.

“In Australia we’ve got a grid of GT3 cars, and almost every one of them is the latest spec. It’s a real testament to the strength of Australian GT.”

After taking delivery of its car next month, Zagame Motorsport has targeted the second round of the CAMS Australian GT Championship at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix as its debut event on March 23-26.

Managing Director of the Laser Group, Steve Keil said “the Australian GT Championship is riding the crest of a wave as the GT3 category is now represented globally in every developed region.  For us being a trans-Tasman company, the inclusion of two races in New Zealand in the Australian GT Championship race calendar provided an opportunity that was too good to ignore.”

“With the Laser Group having a strong reputation for innovation and as an industry leader, joining forces with the new BMW M6 GT3 enables us to deliver a new look proposition to Laser Members across Australia and New Zealand.”

After a successful six-year partnership resulting in 51 podium finishes and the 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup Championship title, Steve Richards Motorsport and Laser Plumbing & Electrical have announced their continued partnership as Steve ends his stint in the Carrera Cup Australia to focus on growing its BMW GT program.

As Australia’s largest Plumbing and Electrical network, the Laser Group moved into the sponsorship program with the Bathurst Champion when he left Ford Performance racing after 15 years as a full-time driver in the Australian V8 Championship to start his own team in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australian Championship.

Utilising the partnership to build their client engagement program, Laser Plumbing & Electrical along with Steve Richards have built the program with individual plumbing and electrical businesses who are part of the Laser Group.  As well as hosting guests to experience hot laps with the racing legend, the client engagement program has also enabled Members involved to use the partnership to support local charities and organisations, host client events featuring the Bathurst champ, experience races at part of the Steve Richards Motorsport pit crew as well as benefit from specific programs available through the relationship with Porsche.

The six year relationship between Laser Group and Steve Richards hasn’t just been a success off the track.  Beginning their race for the Australian Championship title in 2011, Steve collected 12 podium results, finishing 4th in the championship in their first year.  In 2012 after a tough first two rounds, Steve climbed from 25th to 5th by the end of the season, claiming another 10 podium finishes.  2013 saw more success for the team as Steve finished 4th in the championship, winning the last race of the year.

After the Porsche Carrera Cup Australian Championship moved to the technologically advanced 991 model 911 for 2014, the partnership launched their new look entry, changing the Laser Plumbing & Electrical Porsche to a sleek blue and yellow livery which has continued to stand out during television coverage of events.  2014 proved to be a great year for Steve and the team culminating in claiming the 2014 title of Porsche Carrera Cup Australian Champion.

“I’d have to rate the 2014 year as a standout in my career to date” said Richards.  “The satisfaction of bringing our SRM team forward through the highs and the lows to achieve the No 1 Championship position in the Porsche Carrera Cup Championship Australia was awesome.”

The Laser Group continued their partnership with Steve Richards Motorsport in 2015 and 2016, finishing 4th and 5th respectively as they looked forward to how they could take the relationship to a new level.

The partnership and camaraderie between Steve Richards Motorsport and Laser Plumbing & Electrical continues to grow with Richards effusive about the support received. “I’m absolutely blown away by the support that Laser Plumbing & Electrical have given our team over the past 6 years.  We work very hard on achieving the high standards of value we provide for all of our team partners.”

Steve Keil is equally grateful for the successful partnership adding, “to have a legend of the sport associated with our brand brings value that you can’t give an amount to.  The relationships built with our Members, clients and staff because of the partnership has brought much success to our team and is something we look forward to continuing.”

“After an enormously successful season in 2016 we’re looking forward to next season already,” said category manager Ken Collier.

“We think our calendar provides a great mix for competitors and fans, and we’re excited to be heading to Tasmania for the first time.

“The success of the Hampton Downs 101 this year made it a great addition and one we were keen to keep for next seaon, and adds to the marquee events on the schedule.”

The new-look calendar will see Australian GT become the flagship category of the CAMS National Racing Championships with eight events held as part of the Shannons Nationals schedule.

The CAMS Australian GT Championship will once again feature at the Clipsal 500 around the parkland streets of Adelaide’s CBD with three 40-minute races.

Competitors will then head across the border to Victoria as the Championship returns to Albert Park in support of the 2017 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix with four 25-minute races.

A twilight race at Queensland Raceway will add an all-new spectacle to the racing as the Championship reaches Queensland with its standard two 60-minute encounters before venturing across Bass Straight to the challenging Symmons Plains circuit in early September.

The 15-race Australian GT Championship reaches its conclusion once again at Highlands Motorsport Park in New Zealand on November 10-11 in a massive double-header weekend of action that will also see the culmination of the 2017 CAMS Australian Endurance Championship.

After a hugely successful 2016, the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship maintains a four-event programme, taking in Phillip Island, Sydney Motorsport Park, Hampton Downs and Highlands Motorsport Park.

The 101 format will receive a tweak however, with races increased to over 500-kilometres while Hampton Downs will again feature an exciting Top 10 Shootout on Saturday afternoon.

After the 2016 CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli was settled only in the final race of the season, the competition returns bigger and better for 2017.

A new wave of GT3 machines will be eligible for the Series, including the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 while a class specifically catering to GT4 machines will be welcomed into the fold.

The Trophy Series will once again take to the historic Sandown circuit in April before back-to-back visits to Winton Motor Raceway in June and August.

Competition then heads south to the flowing Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit before wrapping up around Wakefield Park in New South Wales.

It makes for a 13 packed weekends of Australian GT action, with more than 18 hours of racing spread across the CAMS Australian GT Championship and CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli, with a further 486 laps of competition as part of the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship.

2017 Australian GT combined calendar

Date    Competition    Location
March 2-5    CAMS Australian GT Championship    Adelaide Parklands
March 23-26    CAMS Australian GT Championship    Albert Park
April 7-9    CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series    Sandown
May 26-28    CAMS Australian Endurance Championship    Phillip Island
June 9-11    CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series    Winton
July 7-9    CAMS Australian Endurance Championship    Sydney Motorsport Park
August 4-6    CAMS Australian GT Championship    Queensland Raceway
August 19-20    CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series    Winton
September 1-3    CAMS Australian GT Championship    Symmons Plains
September 8-10    CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series    Phillip Island
October 27-29    CAMS Australian Endurance Championship    Hampton Downs
November 4-5    CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series    Wakefield Park
November 10-11    CAMS Australian GT Championship    Highlands Motorsport Park
November 10-12    CAMS Australian Endurance Championship    Highlands Motorsport Park

Topping the standings heading into the race, an overheating issue on the McLaren saw the car fall into limp mode midway through the race.

Morcom and Denyer then nursed the car to the flag, holding on to eighth place to secure the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship.

For Denyer it was his first championship since he won a state go-karting championship in 1997.

“The car was in limp mode all day and we were two seconds a lap off the racing pace,” said Denyer.

“We were a shot duck and all we were doing was try to get it to the finish. We did it and it’s bloody amazing!”

Baird and Almond combined to claim pole position before Baird raced off into an early lead before handing the car over to Almond at the first round of stops.

A stirring performance from the debutante, who hadn’t driven the Mercedes-AMG GT3 before the weekend, saw Almond extend their advantage ahead of a nail-biting finale which saw Baird and Greg Murphy battling it out in the final laps.

The victory came two years after Baird lost victory in the same event, almost in sight of the flag when the Erebus run Mercedes he shared with Richard Muscat ran out of fuel on the final lap.

“It’s nice to be able to win this one for Erebus,” Baird beamed post-race.

“We had a good start, a good strategy and the team worked really well together.

“The main thing for me is we picked up a couple of trophies for (team owner) Scott Taylor.

“It’s just fantastic for him after injuring his leg at the Gold Coast.”

In second place was Murphy and Tony Quinn, the Aston Martin Vantage demonstrating enormous pace in the hands of both drivers.

Quinn started the race before handing the car over to Murphy after 55 laps, the veteran racer then setting about chasing down the leading Mercedes.

Though he closed the gap to just a handful of seconds, race leader Baird was able to lift his own pace and react to see the two cars split by 3.2-seconds at the flag.

The all-Miedecke Aston Martin of father-and-son combination Andrew and George rounded out the podium in a strong fight back from the team following a crash which had ruled them out of the CAMS Australian GT Championship on Saturday.

The Miedecke Stone Group entry proved a contender throughout, qualifying well to start third with Andrew Miedecke behind the wheel before son George took over for the run home.

Klark Quinn’s race ended early when the Darrell Lea entry began overheating and spent a long period on pit lane which ultimately saw the car running but unclassified at the flag.

Victory for Baird and Almond made them the fourth different winner across the four round CAMS Australian Endurance Championship, and ends a massive double-header weekend of racing at the spectacular Highlands Motorsport Park which saw the pairing also win the CAMS Australian GT Championship round on Saturday.

The Highlands 101 was the final event of the 2016 Australian GT season, the largest in the category’s history as it expanded to three separate competitions across 13 race weekends and two countries.

Teams and drivers will now head back to Australia to recharge ahead of a 2017 season that is already shaping up to be bigger and better yet.

Highlands 101 Race Result

Pos    Competitor    Total time    Diff    Laps
1    M.Almond / C.Baird    2:50:58.059         101
2    T.Quinn / G.Murphy    2:51:01.305    3.246    101
3    A.Miedecke / G.Miedecke    2:51:09.512    11.453    101
4    S.McLaughlan / G.Tander    2:51:12.290    14.231    101
5    P.Hackett / D.Storey    2:51:16.474    18.415    101
6    J.McMillan / G.Wood    2:51:51.806    53.747    101
7    A.Deitz / C.McConville    2:51:52.093    1 lap    100
8    G.Denyer / N.Morcom    2:51:03.924    2 laps    99
9    S.Fillmore / D.Stutterd    2:51:31.943    2 laps    99
10    A.Macpherson / B.Shiels    2:51:44.685    2 laps    99
11    P.Edwards / J.Bowe    2:52:24.795    2 laps    99
12    A.Samadi / T.D’Alberto    2:52:10.643    3 laps    98
13    G.Taylor / N.Antunes    2:51:21.064    5 laps    96
14    N. Chester / G.Smith    2:52:14.665    5 laps    96
15    L.Talbot / J.Fouracre    2:52:29.639    12 laps    89
DNF    T.Koundouris / M.Marshall    2:45:30.591         97
DNF    C.Proctor / A.Porter    2:20:15.446         79
DNF    M.Griffith / S. Davies    2:11:48.204         76
DNF    K.Quinn / M.Whiddett    2:12:36.427         36
DNF    C.Ledogar / M.Kingsley    1:01:13.866         35
DNF    C.Mies / T.Bates    0:59:26.642         33
DNF    S.Ellinghham / T.Miles    1:04:32.233         31
DNF    M.Hovey / J. Evans    0:45:08.087         27

The Darrell Lea McLaren 650S GT3 driver bounced back following a final lap clash in the opening race to claim third in Race 2, which proved enough to hold out Nathan Morcom and seal the title victory.

“This one is certainly the most special,” Quinn said after the race. “The in Australian GT standard is so high now and every year it just goes u and up.

“Nathan (Morcom) was giving it everything and he did a great job to drive through the field from last to first. I was just trying to keep up with him.

“I saw he did a bit of damage to his car and that gave us the opportunity to get ahead of him when he came into the pits (in race two).

“I knew I just had to stay ahead of him and do nothing silly to win the championship but those last ten minutes were intense.”

“It’s been a day of highs and lows but I’m so happy with how it’s turned out.”

Quinn and Morcom battled it out for supremacy at the head of the first race before contact between the two left Quinn beached in the gravel at Lakeside on the final lap.

Morcom carried on to take the flag but would be penalised post-race and sent to the rear of the grid for the Race 2.

As a result the win went to Craig Baird and Michael Almond, ahead of the Greg Murphy/Tony Quinn RJ’s Aston Martin Vantage and the McLaren pairing of Grant Denyer and Frenchman Come Ledogar.

In Race 2 an aggressive start saw Morcom race his way to third place after just twelve laps, though damage to the rear of the Direct Plasterboard Outlet McLaren hurt his outright pace.

Roger Lago emerged at the head of the race after the pit stop window closed, but soon came under pressure from Quinn who seized the initiative.

A late-race safety car played into the hands of Morcom, who’d lost ground during the pit stop sequence, but soon found himself swamped by Christopher Mies and Garth Tander in the two JAMEC PEM Audi R8 LMS entries.

With one hand on the championship trophy, Quinn didn’t fight too hard when Nathan Antunes launched an attack in the final laps, while Craig Baird managed to navigate by the Scott Taylor Motorsport entry beyond the Darrell Lea McLaren.

Quinn though held in third place, crossing the line ahead of team-mate Greg Murphy who co-drove with Tony Quinn in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3.

Morcom ended the race seventh place, a result which crowned Quinn as Australian GT Champion for the third time.

Race 1 Results

Pos    Competitor    Total time    Diff    Laps
1    C.Baird / M.Almond    1:01:04.277         37
2    G.Murphy / T.Quinn    1:01:13.441    9.164    37
3    C.Ledogar / G.Denyer    1:01:29.640    25.363    37
4    M.Marshall / J.Koundouris    1:01:48.774    44.497    37
5    J.Evans / M.Hovey    1:01:53.601    49.324    37
6    N.Antunes / E.Barbour    1:01:53.828    49.551    37
7    S.Richards / M.Twigg    1:01:54.624    50.347    37
8    G.Tander / S.McLaughlan    1:01:56.181    51.904    37
9    C. Mies / T.Bates    1:01:56.741    52.464    37
10    R.Lago    1:02:02.686    58.409    37
11    S.Davies / M.Griffith    1:02:04.758    01:00.5    37
12    D.Canto / A.Taplin    1:00:38.206    1 lap    36
13    P.Edwards    1:01:00.096    1 lap    36
14    G. Wood / J.McMillan    1:01:09.642    1 lap    36
15    C.McConville / A.Deitz    1:01:09.921    1 lap    36
16    G.Taylor    1:01:14.680    1 lap    36
17    A.Porter / C.Proctor    1:01:39.371    1 lap    36
18    A.Samadi    1:02:04.395    1 lap    36
19    N. Chester / G.Smith    1:01:44.680    2 laps    35
20    S.Fillmore / D.Stuttard    1:02:14.498    2 laps    35
DNF    K.Quinn    0:58:59.478         36
DNF    J.Martin / L.Talbot    0:22:50.733         14
DNF    B.Shiels / A.Macpherson    0:09:22.396         5
DNS    S.Ellinghham / T.Miles              0
DQ    Nathan Morcom    1:00:37.019         37
Race 2 Results

Pos    Competitor    Total time    Diff    Laps
1    N.Antunes / E.Barbour    1.01:23.871         36
2    C.Baird / M.Almond    1.01:24.568    0.697    36
3    K.Quinn / M.Widdett    1.01:33.047    9.176    36
4    G.Murphy / T.Quinn    1.01:33.497    9.626    36
5    C. Mies / T.Bates    1.01:33.663    9.792    36
6    G.Tander / S.McLaughlan    1.01:34.333    10.462    36
7    Nathan Morcom    1.01:35.447    11.576    36
8    J.Evans / M.Hovey    1.01:35.801    11.93    36
9    S.Davies / M.Griffith    1.01:38.345    14.474    36
10    G. Wood / J.McMillan    1.01:41.442    17.571    36
11    D.Canto / A.Taplin    1.01:52.031    28.16    36
12    P.Edwards    1.02:01.731    37.86    36
13    S.Fillmore / D.Stuttard    1.02:04.262    40.391    36
14    R.Lago    1.02:04.902    41.031    36
15    A.Porter / C.Proctor    1.02:06.332    42.461    36
16    C.Ledogar / G.Denyer    1.01:37.912    1 lap    35
17    S.Ellinghham / T.Miles    1.02:05.392    1 lap    35
18    G.Taylor    1.02:07.190    1 lap    35
19    N. Chester / G.Smith    1.02:22.112    1 lap    35
20    M.Marshall / J.Koundouris    1.02:55.904    3 laps    33
DNF    S.Richards / M.Twigg    0.45:00.721         27
DNF    J.Martin / L.Talbot    0.45:02.095         27
DNF    C.McConville / A.Deitz    0.48:03.854         23
DNF    B.Shiels / A.Macpherson    0.25:09.128         15
DNF    A.Samadi    0.25:51.821         15

The German lapped the picturesque 4.1-kilometre circuit in 1m 31,272s to edge out Grant Denyer and Come Ledogar in the Just Cuts McLaren 650S GT3 who also improved late in the day to secure a spot on the front row of the grid.

Pole position for the Mies/Bates combination ensured Audi of an unbeaten string of pole positions throughout the 2016 CAMS Australian GT Championship season, a sequence that stretches back to the Highlands Motorsport Park at the end of 2015.

For Mies, it was a stirring recovery after an incident for Tony Bates in the opening qualifying session after he brushed the wall at the exit of the final turn.

Fast work from the Audi Sport Customer Racing team got the back on track for Qualifying 2, the German besting Craig Baird’s fastest as the session built to its exciting climax.

Bates wasn’t alone in brushing the wall as Andrew Miedecke also came unstuck at the tricky right hander leading back on to the front straight.

Indeed, the tough Highlands Motorsport Park took no prisoners throughout the day as both Tony Walls’ Objective Racing McLaren 650S GT3 and the Nissan GT Academy Team Kelly entry of Matt Simmons and Michael Caruso were forced out with damage to their cars in separate incidents.

Championship leader Klark Quinn set the best time in opening qualifying, holding a seven tenth advantage over the field before the pack chased down and bettered his benchmark in the second session.

Quinn lowered his own best but will start seventh as his rivals also found time, points-rival Nathan Morcom will take the flag two spots up the grid in the Direct Plasterboards Outlet McLaren 650S GT3.

In championship terms, it leaves the pair as they were heading into qualifying, having both scored 13-points across the two sessions.

Conditions in the second session saw much of the field improve their times with the top eight cars on the grid all under Quinn’s opening session best.

Garth Tander was another of those to make late gains, #2 JAMEC PEM Audi R8 LMS with Steve McLaughlan who has stepped back into the car this weekend.

Making a stunning debut in the Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3, Michael Almond was immediately on the pace before handing over the co-driver Craig Baird.

The veteran Kiwi then quickly snared pole position in the second qualifying session, holding top spot confidently throughout until being pipped in the final minutes.

Audi’s run of consecutive pole positions now stands at seven, two clear of Lamborghini and Mercedes who share second place on the all-time leader board.

Five different manufacturers are represented in the top ten, with the top eleven cars split by less than a second across a hugely competitive field of GT3 machinery

Tomorrow’s on-track action kicks off with a 20-minute warm-up session two 60-minute races to complete the CAMS Australian GT Championship, the result of which will see the crowning of the 2016 champion.

Qualifying Results
Pos    Driver(s)    Time
1    C. Mies / T.Bates    1:31.272
2    C.Ledogar / G.Denyer    1:31.376
3    G.Tander / S.McLaughlan    1:31.494
4    C.Baird / M.Almond    1:31.495
5    Nathan Morcom    1:31.677
6    N.Antunes / E.Barbour    1:31.762
7     K.Quinn    1:31.808
8    G.Murphy / T.Quinn    1:31.822
9    J.Martin / L. Talbot    1:31.881
10    M.Marshall / J.Koundouris    1:32.027
11    G. Wood J.McMillan    1:32.090
12    S.Davies / M.Griffith    1:32.431
13    S.Richards / M.Twigg    1:32.492
14    J.Evans / M.Hovey    1:32.541
15    C.McConville / A.Deitz    1:32.572
16    R.Lago    1:32.754
17    D.Canto / A.Taplin    1:32.910
18    B.Shiels / A.Macpherson    1:33.494
19    S.Ellinghham / T.Miles    1:33.757
20    A.Miedecke    1:33.878
21    G.Taylor    1:34.063
22    D.Stutterd / S.Fillmore    1:34.622
23    A.Samadi    1:34.851
24    A.Porter / C.Proctor    1:35.800
25    P.Edwards    1:36.156
26    Glenn Smith / N.Chester    1:37.872

Mr Ratel heads the SRO Motorsport Group, the organising body which manages the Blancpain GT Series, the British GT Championship and the Intercontinental GT Challenge which takes in events across the globe, including the Bathurst 12 Hour.

Australian GT enjoys a strong relationship both with Mr Ratel and the SRO Motorsport Group, with organisers delighted the Frenchman accepted their invitation to witness one of the category’s blue riband weekends.

“We’re delighted that Stephane’s accepted our invitation and taken time out of his busy schedule to experience the exceptional Highlands Motorsport Park this weekend,” said Australian GT manager Ken Collier.

“Stephane invited Tony Quinn and I over to the Nurburgring last year and it was a fantastic experience.

“While we were there we extended an invitation to one of our rounds, so it’s great that he’ll be with this weekend.”

Strong growth in GT racing globally has seen a dramatic rise in the Blancpain GT Series in recent years, which has been underscored with the recent announcement of the Blancpain GT Series Asia from 2017.

Interest in GT racing in Australia has been equally strong, and saw the category expand from a single competition in 2015 to three competitions in 2016, with the addition of the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship and CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli.

Each of the three competitions offers a unique style of racing, specifically catered to GT spec machinery from the world’s leading automotive brands.

Australian GT employs the SRO Balance of Performance to manage the competitive side of the CAMS Australian GT Championship, CAMS Australian Endurance Championship and CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli.

The growth of the category continues next season with the recent announcement that GT4 cars will be welcomed into the CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series, which will also allow a new wave of older-spec GT3 machines to join the fold.

Mr Ratel’s visit coincides with the now traditional Australian GT finale at Highlands Motorsport Park in New Zealand.

The picturesque circuit, located 45 minutes from Queenstown, has fast become one of the world’s most iconic and popular circuits and this weekend will witness the crowning of both the CAMS Australian GT Championship and CAMS Australian Endurance Championship.

The CAMS Australian GT Championship will compete in two races on Saturday (November 12) before the fourth and final round of the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship on Sunday (November 13).

To date Australian GT racing has focussed on GT3 and invitational entries, though from next season the burgeoning GT4 class will be an exciting new addition to Australian circuits.

“We expect that the number of GT4 cars will increase significantly over the next few years as the manufacturers offer very good race packages including reasonably priced cars which have longer major service intervals and overall lower running costs,” said Australian GT manager Ken Collier.

“The existing GT4 cars in Australia are already eligible and we will add the new GT4 cars to the list,” Collier added.

The continuing growth in GT racing globally has seen increased demand from competitors and interest from manufacturers, resulting in a range of world class cars with an increasing range of GT4 specification options.

“We already have GT4s from Aston Martin, McLaren, KTM, Porsche, Lotus and Ginetta either in Australia or known to be coming in,” said Mr Collier.

“I have a tip that at least one of the recently announced Mustang GT4s will be ordered and there is talk about a couple of BMWs also being involved.”

The new GT4 class will be open to any car which has homologation and an SRO Balance of Performance, adding to the incredible diversity Australian GT racing boasts.

The CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series is just the starting point too, with Mr Collier predicting a bright future for GT4 racing in Australia.

“When the GT4 competitor numbers are enough we will look to include them into the Championship races, in their own class,” he said.

“It is possible that this could be as early as 2017 for the Australian Endurance Championship and 2018 for the Australian GT Championship.”

GT4 racing has been designed as an alternative way to go GT racing with a lower entry point.

Cars more closely resemble their production models from which they are based, with world leading automotive manufacturers having already produced an array of eligible cars.

The CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series enjoyed an enormously successful debut season in 2016, holding five rounds in conjunction with the Shannons Nationals.

Audi R8 Ultra driver Rob Smith won the title in his Southern Star Developments entry, while Scott Hookey claimed Challenge class in the Exotic Track Days Ferrari 458 Challenge.

Jake Camilleri wrapped up the MARC Class title too in a dominant performance that saw him crowned at the penultimate round at Queensland Raceway.

Heading into 2017 the addition of the all-new GT4 class, plus the introduction of a new wave of GT3 machinery, will see the CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series take another decisive step forward, adding ever increasing depth and variety.

The Hampton Downs 101 is the third round of the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship, and marks the first time Australian GT has visited New Zealand’s north island.

The even event also heralds the maiden event using the recently completed extension at the world class Hampton Downs circuit.

Spearheading the charge are current championship leaders Grant Denyer and Nathan Morcom in the Tekno Autosports McLaren 650S GT3.

Following victory at the opening round of the championship at Phillip Island, Denyer and Morcom head the standings over Klark Quinn in a similar Darrell Lea entered McLaren.

A former two-time Australian GT Championship winner, Quinn will be joined by New Zealand superstar ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett, who will make his highly anticipated transition from drifting to circuit racing for the first time.

After a stunning performance at Sydney Motorsport Park for the second round of the Championship, father and son duo Andrew and George Miedecke are also set to make the journey across the Tasman.

Their burgeoning Miedecke Motor Group team will boast a second car for former Bathurst 1000 and Australian Super Touring champion Tony Longhurst, who will be joined in the Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3 by Richard Moore.

Fellow Bathurst winner Steve Richards will once again be joined by Max Twigg aboard the BMW M6 GT3 while local favourite Greg Murphy will step back into a race car as he joins Tony Quinn for the first time in the Darrell Lea Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3.

The Hampton Downs 101 will mark Murphy’s first appearance in the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship and the first time since the 2013 Highlands 101, when he shared a McLaren with Neil Crompton, that he’s competed in an Australian GT event.

Having shown strong pace at Phillip Island at the opening round of the year, Garth Tander is poised to be reunited with Australian GT Championship race winner Steve McLaughlan in the JAMEC PEM Racing Audi R8 LMS, one of six cars being prepared by the Audi Sport Customer Racing crew.

Rejoining their ranks will be reigning Australian GT Champion Christopher Mies who will slot in alongside Tony Bates, while Ash Samadi will again be joined by Tony D’Alberto with the class winning Bathurst 12 Hour combo of Greg Taylor and Nathan Antunes poised to share the duties in the GT Motorsport entry.

Brothers Theo and James Koundouris will pilot the Supabarn Supermarkets backed Audi R8 LMS while newly crowned Blancpain Endurance Series Am Champion Liam Talbot will steer the Skwirk Online Education R8 Ultra with Jake Fouracre.

Making their CAMS Australian Endurance Championship debut, Michael Caruso and Matt Simmons lead the Japanese charge aboard a Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, one of two examples of the modern day ‘Godzilla’ in the field along with local aces Clark Proctor and Andrew Porter.

Local fans will be able to cheer on local heroes including Hall of Fame member Craig Baird who will drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Scott Taylor, Simon Ellingham and ex-pat New Zealander Tim Miles will be at the wheel of the Fastway Couriers Audi R8 Ultra.

Following a podium position at the opening round of the year, and a solid result at Sydney Motorsport Park, Auckland-born hotshot Dominic Storey will partner with Peter Hackett in another Mercedes-AMG GT3, the duo currently fourth in the points standings.

A number of other local entries will also duke it out against the world class field in the 101-lap race, covering a distance of more than 400-kilometres.

With ten manufacturers represented, the diverse entries will take to the track for the first time next Friday (October 28) for opening practice ahead of qualifying on Saturday, including a unique Top 10 Shootout, and the epic 101-lap endurance race on Sunday.

Tickets are now on sale, with a three day pass starting from NZ$89 including parking and free entry for children under 16.

Fans across New Zealand will be able to catch all the action on television, starting with qualifying on Saturday afternoon starting at 4pm on TV3.

The action then heats up on Sunday with the Hampton Downs 101 race broadcast live on TV3 in New Zealand and Fox Sports in Australia.

A live stream will be available internationally to fans outside of New Zealand across both qualifying and the race via the internet.

Hampton Downs 101 Entry List
Car    Team    Drivers    Car
1    JAMEC PEM Racing    Christopher Mies/Tony Bates    Audi R8 LMS
2    JAMEC PEM Racing    Stephen McLaughlan/Garth Tander    Audi R8 LMS
3    Bondi Wholefoods    Ash Samadi/Tony D’Alberto    Audi R8 LMS
4    Supabarn Supermarkets    James Koundouris/Theo Koundouris    Audi R8 LMS
5    GT Motorsport    Greg Taylor/Nathan Antunes    Audi R8 LMS
6    Skwirk Online Education    Liam Talbot/Jake Fouracre    Audi R8 Ultra
7    Darrell Lea    Tony Quinn/Greg Murphy    Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3
8    Maranello Motorsport    Adrian Deitz/Cam McConville    Ferrari 458 GT3
19    Hog’s Breath Café/Griffith Corporation    Mark Griffith/TBC    Mercedes-AMG GT3
23    JBS Australia    Roger Lago/David Russelll    Lamborghini R-EX
27    Trass Family Motorsport    Sam Fillmore/Danny Stutterd    Ferrari 458 GT3
30    Porter Group/RJ’s/Logical Storage    Clark Proctor/Andrew Porter    Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3
33    Fastway Couriers    Simon Ellingham/Tim Miles    Audi R8 Ultra
35    Nissan GT Academy Team Kelly    Mathew Simmons/Michael Caruso    Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3
37    Darrell Lea    Klark Quinn/Mike Whiddett    McLaren 650S GT3
51    AMAC Motorsport    Andrew Macpherson/Brad Shiels    Porsche 997 GT3-R
59    Tekno / YNA Holdings    Grant Denyer/Nathan Morcom    McLaren 650S GT3
63    Eggleston Motorsport    Peter Hackett/Dominic Storey    Mercedes-AMG GT3
88    Maranello Motorsport    Peter Edwards/Graham Smythe    Ferrari 458 GT3
95    Miedecke Motor Group    Andrew Miedecke/George Miedecke    Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3
96    Miedecke Motor Group    Richard Moore/Tony Longhurst    Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3
100    BMW Team SRM    Steve Richards/Max Twigg    BMW M6 GT3
123    ELF Lubrivants/Chester’s Plumbing Supplies    TBC/TBC    Chevrolet Camaro GT3
222    Scott Taylor Motorsport    Scott Taylor/Craig Baird    Mercedes-AMG GT3
911    Walkinshaw GT3    John Martin/Duvashen Padayachee    Porsche 911 GT3-R

Fox Sports will broadcast the event live in Australia, while TV3 will beam the race into homes across New Zealand.

Complementing the live television broadcast will be an online stream which will be available to fans globally, providing the most extensive coverage for an Australian GT event in the category’s history.

Fans will also be able to enjoy post-produced coverage of the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship finale from Highlands Motorsport Park via a highlights package, set to be broadcast on November 24.

Highlands Motorsport Park is also set to host the final round of the 2016 CAMS Australian GT Championship where this year’s Champion and winner of the Gold Driver Cup will be crowned, with a separate highlights package covering the exciting final broadcast on Fox Sports on December 1.

“It’s fantastic to have the Hampton Downs 101 broadcast live in Australia with Fox Sports,” said Australian GT manager Ken Collier.

“We know fans have been asking how they’ll be able to watch, so it’s great to be able to answer their questions and confirm coverage for the event.

“It’s particularly exciting to have live coverage across New Zealand for the Hampton Downs 101 round of the Australian Endurance Championship and we look forward to putting on a great race.”

The inaugural Hampton Downs 101 (October 28-30) is the first event to be held at the newly redeveloped circuit, and marks the penultimate round of the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship before the competition heads to Highlands Motorsport Park for the final event of the year two weeks later (November 11-13).

Nathan Morcom and Grant Denyer currently head the title fight after the first two events, with Klark Quinn, father and son duo Andrew and George Meidecke and former championship runner-up Peter Hacket and co-driver Dominic Storey nipping at their heels.

The battle for the CAMS Australian GT Championship is also balanced on a knife-edge, with former two-time champ Klark Quinn holding a slender advantage over Nathan Morcom with just one round remaining.

Roger Lago, who sits third in the championship standings, heads the Gold Driver Cup competition with Tony Walls the only man who can challenge him.