After a 16-month break, twenty Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge 91 GT3 Cup cars lined-up for Race 1 of the 2021 season t Phillip Island, Victoria, Ausralia. Kiwi Callum Hedge, driving for Earl Bamber Motorsport, finished fifth and went on to win the second rain-affected race of the day. With the third race of the weekend red-flagged and called off by officials, Hedge now sits second overall on the points table.
Overcast, breezy conditions had replaced the sunshine and blue skies of Friday’s qualifying. While the asphalt for Saturday’s opening sprint race would be dry, a huge rain front was on the weather radar for later in the day.
Pole sitter Ryan Suhle made clean start to lead the Mobil Pro field into the first turn, followed by debutants Bayley Hall and Courtney Prince in close attendance. Callum Hedge struggled to get his Team Porsche New Zealand 911 GT3 Cup car off-the-line dropping three places to fifth, where he would finish.
As predicted, a huge rain front hit the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit around midday, forcing the officials to declare a wet race for the second sprint race. The sodden conditions saw the field start behind the pace car as a precaution. Suhle would jump the field at the restart and pull out a 2.5 sec lead by the end of the first lap. The McElrea Racing driver then set the fastest lap of the race – nearly 4 seconds faster than his nearest rival at that point- until spinning under brakes at the turn 3 hairpin.
Starting on the second row of the grid, Hedge managed to stay on track and eventually making his way into the lead in the late stages of the race.
Fellow Kiwi Madeline Stewart finished 16th in Race 1 and 17th in Race 2.
The second round of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge 91 GT3 Cup takes place at Sydney Motorsport Park 1-2 May 2021.
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