Gilchrist & Targett to continue Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge title fight at Queensland Raceway

THE FIGHT for Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia supremacy enters the second half of a compelling 2024 season this weekend at Queensland Raceway.

Round 4 of the series returns a 23-strong field to the Shannons SpeedSeries Race Queensland event at the Ipswich circuit, the track long a staple of the series and home base to a large number of its teams and drivers.

The title battle is well poised following three rounds with Oscar Targett and Brock Gilchrist split by just 26 points out in front, while a chasing pack including Hamish Fitzsimmons, Aron Shields, Clay Osborne, Caleb Sumich and Tyler Greenbury all covered by just 65 points in the fight for third through seventh in the standings.

The unpredictable nature of the 2024 series has seen the nine races contested deliver five different winners so far, while no driver has managed to finish in the top five in every race.

The Queensland grid includes the return of Ryan Suhle to the series, the Queenslander set for his first Sprint Challenge start since the 2021 season.

Suhle is a three-time Sprint Challenge race winner and will return to racing this weekend following a year out of the sport. Suhle, who will be supported by Ray White North Lakes this weekend, will race Brett Boulton’s McElrea Racing-prepared car with the Pro-Am contender away for this event.

As well as Scott Taylor’s return in the Pro-Am class, Ramu Farrell is likely to be a contender aboard his Jones Motorsport-entered #888 entry – having qualified 10th outright on his debut in the category twelve months ago.

Rob Woods returns for his second start of the 2024 season aboard his TekworkX Motorsport entry, while Queenslander Mark Darling will make his debut aboard the #272 SPM Motorsport entry.

The 2023 round was notable for producing the closest qualifying session in Sprint Challenge history, the top 5 cars on the grid covered by 0.0874s and the top-10 just 0.39.

The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia field will complete a condensed schedule this weekend, competing across Friday and Saturday only at the Shannons SpeedSeries Race Queensland event.

Practice, Qualifying and Race 1 will be held on Friday with two races Saturday – including the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy race – to be shown live on 7plus on Saturday.

The Queensland event kicks off a busy period for the Sprint Challenge field, with the paddock to pack up on Sunday ahead of a trip to Tasmania for the next round in just two weeks time.

ENTRY LIST – Round 4, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge – Queensland Raceway