News
GT Endurance title to be decided at Supercheap Auto Bathurst International
Some new names will join the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS field for the finale of its endurance component at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International.
Supercars driver Jack Smith will make his GT racing debut as he’ll join leading Porsche Am driver Tim Miles in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II supported by SCT and Miles Advisory.
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Smith has conducted two test sessions in the Audi R8 – a solo run at The Bend Motorsport Park and a shared day with the experienced AM pilot Miles at Phillip Island recently.
The event will mark’s Smith’s debut in GT racing having contested the Supercars Championship for the past three years.
The final round of the Motorsport Australia Endurance Championship features a battle between Prince Jefri Ibrahim and Bathurst local Brad Schumacher following the opening event at the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour.
After taking a victory at The Bend Motorsport Park single sprint race, Ibrahim will be partnered again by Broc Feeney in the Triple Eight Race Engineering Mercedes-AMG GT3 and will face stiff competition throughout the field.
Ibrahim’s brother Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim will once again partner with Jamie Whincup making for a strong team at Bathurst in the second Triple Eight Race Engineering Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Schumacher recently updated his previous GT Trophy specification Audi to the latest Evo II enabling to fight for outright honours and has also installed the experienced Tim Slade as his co-driver.
Also joining the Pro-Am fight is Marc Cini, who made his return to the category at Sandown will partner with Supercheap Auto TCR Australia ace Michael Caruso in his Hallmarc Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II.
Harrolds Rosso Volante Racing’s Ross Poulakis will be joined by international GT ace Jordan Love in his Mercedes-AMG. Love has competed in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS this year with Haupt Racing squad ensuring he’s an experienced hand to the Mercedes-AMG.
Wall Racing’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 owned and driven by Adrian Deitz will be partnered by David Wall as regular co-driver Tony D’Alberto focuses on his Supercheap Auto TCR Australia commitments.
Spearheading the Pro-Am Class is the RAM Motorsport/GWR Australia Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Michael Sheargold and Garth Walden, who will be up against the brother Koundouris as James and Theo team in their Supabarn Audi.
The sole-GT Trophy entry entered is the Valmont Racing/Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Marcel Zalloua and Sergio Peris following a successful debut at The Bend.
An interesting battle is set to continue is the one in GT4, with Turtle Wax Trans Am Series frontrunner Nash Morris returning to partner Mark Griffith in the Daimler Trucks Brisbane Mercedes-AMG GT4.
Key title rivals all season continue their pursuit in the form of Christos Batzios and Sam Brabham in the Harrolds Volante Rosso Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT4.
Also making a comeback after racing at Sandown is the M Motorsport/Vantage Freight KTM X-Bow GT2 shared by David Crampton and Trent Harrison.
Joining the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS at the inaugural Supercheap Auto Bathurst International is the season finale for the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters, Turtle Wax Trans Am, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, Australian Production Car Series brought to you by LIQUI MOLY and the Bathurst Sportscar Challenge.
Catch the leading GT cars and stars at the Circuit to City event before on-track action begins on Thursday at 4pm in Bathurst.
Practice occurs on Friday ahead of qualifying on Saturday and the three-hour race on Sunday.
Tickets are available at http://bathurst.international
If you can’t make it to Mount Panorama, broadcast can be seen live and ad-break free on Stan Sport on Saturday and Sunday. Sign up now for your free 7-day trial >> http://www.stan.com.au/motorsport
The Nine Network will also offer live free-to-air coverage on Saturday afternoon, 3-5pm.
International viewers can watch on http://motorsport.tv
Also pick up the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International program HERE.
QUOTES
Jack Smith
Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II
“It’s definitely unlike anything that I’ve ever driven before,” said Smith.
“I knew they have a lot of grip and are aero dependant, but I was surprised by the performance. The cars also have ABS and traction control which was new to me, but I found them pretty easy to come to grip with and certainly a lot of fun to drive.
“GT racing is something that I’ve been wanting to do for a while now. A lot of options have been presented, but for different reasons didn’t work. This opportunity with Tim had came up and I grabbed it. We tested together really well at Phillip Island, he is a great guy and I’m looking forward to working with him.
“You can never have enough laps around Bathurst. You get better everytime you go there. But I’m not putting any expectation on results. I’ll need to adapt to the car as quickly as you can and find the best way to make time, which will be different to a Supercar.”
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Entry list, Round 2 Motorsport Australia Endurance Championship, The Bend Motorsport Park
| Car # | Class | Sponsor/Team | Driver | Co-Driver | Model |
| 4 | Pro-Am | SCT/Miles Advisory | Tim Miles | Jack Smith | Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II |
| 6 | Pro-Am | Wall Racing | Adrian Deitz | David Wall | Lamborghini Huracan GT3 |
| 9 | Pro-Am | Hallmarc | Marc Cini | Michael Caruso | Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II |
| 19 | GT4 | Daimler Trucks Australia | Mark Griffith | Nash Morris | Mercedes-AMG GT4 |
| 44 | GT Trophy | Valmont Racing | Marcel Zalloua | Sergio Pires | Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
| 45 | Am | RAM Motorsport/GWR Australia | Michael Sheargold | Garth Walden | Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
| 47 | Am | Supabarn Supermarkets | James Koundouris | Theo Koundouris | Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II |
| 50 | Inv | M Motorsport/Vantage Freight | David Crampton | Trent Harrison | KTM X-Bow GT2 |
| 55 | Pro-Am | Schumacher Motorsport | Brad Schumacher | Tim Slade | Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II |
| 88 | Pro-Am | Triple Eight Race Engineering – JMR | Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim | Jamie Whincup | Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
| 101 | Am | Harrolds Volante Rosso Motorsport | Ross Poulakis | Jordan Love | Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
| 102 | GT4 | Harrolds Volante Rosso Motorsport | Christos Batios | Sam Brabham | Mercedes-AMG GT4 |
| 888 | Pro-Am | Triple Eight Race Engineering – JMR | Prince Jefri Ibrahim | Broc Feeney | Mercedes-AMG GT3 |