Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge fight reaches half way in Queensland

Following two fast and frantic rounds, the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series storms to the half-way mark of the season this weekend at the Shannons SpeedSeries GT Festival Queensland Raceway.

The home to nine of the 21 entrants this weekend, Queensland Raceway is also the local circuit for Queensland teams McElrea Racing, TekworkX, Jones Motorsport and TGR.

A unique, compressed format for round three will see teams practice, qualify and race on Friday before the weekend is completed by early Saturday afternoon – allowing teams to depart and re-load transporters for the upcoming Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia round at Hidden Valley, in Darwin, the following week.

It’s only likely to add to the intensity this weekend following six races so far that have thrilled from start to finish, with no real form guide or outright favourite having yet emerged from the supremely talented crop of young stars amidst this year’s field.

The positively frenetic start to the Sprint Challenge season has seen four different race winners from the six races contested so far while 11 drivers have scored at least one top five finish.

Sonic Motor Racing teenager Xavier Avramides holds a narrow two-point championship lead over Hunter Robb heading to QR, with Kobi Williams climbing to third in the standings.

The latter has won the two longer-distance Jim Richards Enduro Trophy races staged so far this year, while Robb won the first two races of the year and Avramides broke through for his maiden win last time out in South Australia.

Following a solid start to his first campaign on Australian soil at Phillip Island, Malaysian young-gun Hayden Haikal came into his own last time out at The Bend, claiming his first race victory and charging to fourth in the standings in the process.

Kamal Mrad sits fifth in points, just 40 points from the overall lead, with Lincoln Taylor, Daniel Quimby, Ruari Avern, Diesel Thomas and Ben Taylor completing the top-10 in the Pro class.

Returning to the grid this weekend will be Ryan Suhle, a multiple Michelin Sprint Challenge race winner.

The Queenslander, who now focusses on his real estate career, will drive the No. 5 entry for Tyler Greenbury Racing in his first start since the 2024 season finale’ – where he finished on the podium.

Like James Lodge at The Bend, Suhle will be keen to mix with the established young-stars in this year’s Sprint Challenge grid despite his cameo status.

The Pro-Am ranks will be out to chase runaway series leader Anthony Gilbertson, who has claimed five of the six races and both rounds of the season to date.

Heading to his home track, Gilbertson will be looking for more of the same this weekend aboard his McElrea Racing-prepped entry.

Second in class is Stephen Moylan, who has taken over the preparation of his own car this season and prepares it from his Sydney garage – the New South Wales driver having finished second or third in five of the six races so far.

Queenslander Kent Leicester sits third in the standings and heads to home turf fresh off the back of his best result yet achieved last time out at The Bend.

Despite just six corners, the Ipswich circuit has a tradition of producing highly competitive one-make Porsche racing.

Last year’s round at Queensland Raceway saw eventual Pro-Am champion Ramu Farrell score an outright pole position, before converting that to an outright win in race one.

Eventual Pro champion Jake Santalucia claimed races two and three to take the round overall and build his mid-season championship lead, while also re-setting the Sprint Challenge lap record in the process.

Action commences this Friday with practice, qualifying and race one, while a further two races will be held on Saturday as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries event this weekend.

ENTRY LIST
Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, Round 3
Queensland Raceway