Kobi Williams has made a big leap forward to clinching the 2026 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia title with victory in the opening race of the weekend at Sandown International Raceway.
Williams started the 25-minute race from pole and would lead the field through turn one despite a challenge from Xavier Avramides.
The win for Williams means he now leads the outright championship by 82 points over Lincoln Taylor with two races to go.
If Taylor wins race two, Williams will need to finish 3rd or better to claim the outright championship with a race to go.
Avramides kept the pressure on Williams throughout the entire race, although he was lucky to hold onto second on the final lap.
The Sonic Motor Racing Services driver battled to stop the car into turn nine as teammate Hayden Haikal almost snuck past.
The second place for Avramides moves him into third in the outright standings, keeping his slim title chances alive.
Haikal crossed the line third ahead of Taylor in fourth while Hunter Robb completed the top-five.
Pro-Am went in favour of Anthony Gilbertson for the 14th time this season.
Tim Farrell wouldn’t let Gilbertson get too far away, finishing just over two seconds away in second.
Dean Wanless was third after an early race battle with Stephen Moylan.
Kent Leicester moved his way forward late in the race to finish in fourth, while Moylan rounded out the top-five.
The second race of the weekend – the Jim Richards Enduro Trophy race, will start at 8:30 AEDT on Saturday, while the final race of the season is scheduled for 13:25 AEDT.
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