A QUICK-FIRE penultimate round of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series could prove make or break for key title protagonists this weekend in South Australia.
A condensed two-day schedule will see a 23-strong field practice, qualify and complete three races across the Friday and Saturday at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park / The Bend this weekend as key title contenders look to position themselves best for the Sandown championship finale’ in November.
Just 50-points separate the top four contenders with 181 up for grabs this weekend meaning it truly remains anyone’s year with six races and two rounds remaining.
Sonic Motor Racing’s Jake Santalucia leads the standings heading to South Australia, his race three non-finish in Townsville not significantly denting his lead following three dominant Pro class wins at Queensland Raceway.
Lockie Bloxsom was a big winner from the series’ street circuit stop in July, the McElrea racer climbing back second in the standings and just 16 behind Santalucia.
Meanwhile, Ryan Casha climbed to third aboard his DNA Racing entry – the Queenslander now having finished either second or third in five of the last six completed races, only outscored by Santalucia who has won four of them.
A non-finish for Team Porsche NZ / EBM racer Tom Bewley dropped him to fourth in the standings following Townsville however it also showed how quickly things have changed in this year’s Sprint Challenge title fight.
All four will be in action this weekend amidst a 12-strong Pro class pack that will include the Michelin Sprint Challenge debut of Diesel Thomas, who steps in for Willie Exton at TekworkX Motorsport for his one-make Porsche debut.
At longer odds to become title contenders and yet too competitive to be ruled out of the hunt, fifth-placed Kamal Mrad and James Lodge in sixth are both likely to be contenders this weekend, while Tyler Greenbury’s strong recent pace has not been represented by results.
The event at The Bend will see the field return to the full, 4.9km International circuit, having raced on the shorter ‘West’ circuit last year.
Remarkably, The Bend’s International circuit has a lap record held by two drivers at the same time.
Kiwi driver Ryan Wood (2022) and Oscar Targett (2023) each set a time of 1m50.4916s to score their respective pole positions – though technically Wood can claim the benchmark given he set it first.
The now Supercars ace holds the race lap record on his own, at 1m51.5419s.
The condensed two-day format this weekend – designed to support teams also tackling the upcoming Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship round at the same circuit next week – will see an extended practice, qualifying and the opening sprint race on Friday this week, followed by a second sprint on Saturday morning and then the longer, Jim Richards Endurance Trophy affair on Saturday afternoon.
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