THE PORSCHE Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series will be decided in a six-way fight for the crown this weekend at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne.
A potentially dramatic title decider is in store in the Sprint Challenge Pro class this year between six talented Porsche Michelin Junior rising stars, representing five different teams and split by just 159 points, with 181 up for grabs across qualifying and three races this Friday and Saturday.
It kicks off a busy fortnight for one-make Porsche racing in Australia with titles across Sprint Challenge and Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia up for grabs and to be decided this month.
Melbourne teenager Jake Santalucia will be aiming to give Sonic Motor Racing their sixth Sprint Challenge crown this weekend as he takes a handy 77 point lead into the finale at his home circuit.
It’s been a strong season for the second-year driver who this year has mixed completing year 12 with a Sprint Challenge season that has delivered round wins at Queensland Raceway, Townsville and The Bend and seven race wins.
Santalucia leads Queenslander Ryan Casha, the TCR convert adapting well to his rookie Porsche season with DNA Autosport in a season that while is yet to deliver a win, has been remarkably consistent thanks to seven top three race finishes this year.
Just 30 points further back is Lockie Bloxsom who heads to Sandown with his first real shot at an outright championship this weekend.
After claiming his first one-make Porsche race win earlier this year in Sydney, Bloxsom has been a threat at every circuit this year as he doubles up his Michelin Sprint Challenge campaign with a Carrera Cup season too.
Bloxsom sits 107 points from the series lead but in the midst of a tight battle for second, third, fourth and fifth positions with 52 points separating the four contenders to Santalucia’s lead.
Four points back from the McElrea racer is Team Porsche New Zealand’s Tom Bewley, the Kiwi fourth in the standings following a rollercoaster season of highs and lows.
The Hawkes Bay-based Kiwi is the only multiple outright polesitter this season and has claimed two race wins in his rookie season aboard the Earl Bamber Motorsport-prepared Kiwi entry.
In fifth position, 149 points from the leader, is Ashley Seward Motorsport’s James Lodge – who has spent much of his season working his way back into title calculations after a challenging opening round at Phillip Island.
One of seven different outright race winners (from 14 contested races), Lodge will need the perfect weekend to score the title however remains in contention.
The same could be said for open-wheel graduate Kamal Mrad, who has been another to impress in his rookie season, scoring four top three race finishes to place him 159 points from the leader and still in title calculations.
The maths in the Pro-Am class are somewhat simpler with attention turning to the battle for second position this year – Ramu Farrell electing to sit out the Sandown event having done enough to claim the class title with a round to spare.
Pro-Am competitors can drop their worst round score each season, with five of the six rounds counting towards the title.
The Jones Motorsport driver has enjoyed a stunning season that at several rounds – Queensland Raceway and The Bend, in particular – has seen him contending and even winning races outright against the Pro contenders.
The result stands be a maiden title for Jones Motorsport, the Sunshine Coast-based squad founded by former Sprint Challenge champion Harri Jones.
The battle for the final spots on the podium will, however, be up for grabs with Andrew Georgiadis leading Jacque Jarjo in second and third, respectively, with defending champion Lockie Harburg, who sits fourth, not out of contention for a podium finish either.
While Daniel Quimby long ago sealed the Class B championship, the prestigious Jim Richards Enduro Trophy will be up for grabs in race two of the weekend, Santalucia leading Casha by just 28 points, with 60 up for grabs.
A 24-car field will tackle the final round of the 2025 championship headlined by those fighting for the title.
After making his debut at The Bend recently, Diesel Thomas will return for a second start in a TekworkX-prepared TFH Hire entry while his brother, Josh, will make his Sprint Challenge debut in a car entered by Ashley Seward Motorsport.
This weekend marks the first visit to Sandown for the Sprint Challenge field since the 2022 season. That weekend, current Walkinshaw Andretti United Supercars star Ryan Wood claimed pole and race one, while eventual champion Tom Sargent claimed the final race and the round overall.
A condensed, two-day format will see the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge field on track early on Friday morning for a 45-minute practice session ahead of qualifying and the first race on Fridat afternoon.
Saturday will see the Enduro cup race commence at 10:50am local time before the final race of the season at 2:10pm.
All three races will be broadcast live this weekend on Fox Sports, Kayo and Sky Sport NZ.
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