News TRT Media Release July 30, 2024 (Comments off) (170)

Sprint Challenge Primed for QR

THE FIGHT for Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia supremacy enters the second half of a compelling 2024 season this weekend at Queensland Raceway.

Round 4 of the series returns a 23-strong field to the Shannons SpeedSeries Race Queensland event at the Ipswich circuit, the track long a staple of the series and home base to a large number of its teams and drivers.

The title battle is well poised following three rounds with Oscar Targett and Brock Gilchrist split by just 26 points out in front, while a chasing pack including Hamish Fitzsimmons, Aron Shields, Clay Osborne, Caleb Sumich and Tyler Greenbury all covered by just 65 points in the fight for third through seventh in the standings.

The unpredictable nature of the 2024 series has seen the nine races contested deliver five different winners so far, while no driver has managed to finish in the top five in every race.

The Queensland grid includes the return of Ryan Suhle to the series, the Queenslander set for his first Sprint Challenge start since the 2021 season.

Suhle is a three-time Sprint Challenge race winner and will return to racing this weekend following a year out of the sport. Suhle, who will be supported by Ray White North Lakes this weekend, will race Brett Boulton’s McElrea Racing-prepared car with the Pro-Am contender away for this event.

As well as Scott Taylor’s return in the Pro-Am class, Ramu Farrell is likely to be a contender aboard his Jones Motorsport-entered #888 entry – having qualified 10th outright on his debut in the category twelve months ago.

Rob Woods returns for his second start of the 2024 season aboard his TekworkX Motorsport entry, while Queenslander Mark Darling will make his debut aboard the #272 SPM Motorsport entry.

The Pro-Am class is expected to be wide open this weekend with series leader Danny Stutterd not competing this weekend, opening the door for Lachy Harburg, currently second in the championship, to challenge for the lead.

The Class B battle will see Jacque Jarjo, Brad Carr and Stephen Moylan continue their season-long battle.

Oscar Targett scored pole last year at Queensland Raceway, while Nash Morris swept all three races to claim the round win, his then-teammate Hamish Fitzsimmons in close company behind.

The 2023 round was notable for producing the closest qualifying session in Sprint Challenge history, the top 5 cars on the grid covered by 0.0874s and the top-10 just 0.39.

The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia field will complete a condensed schedule this weekend, competing across Friday and Saturday only at the Shannons SpeedSeries Race Queensland event.

Practice, Qualifying and Race 1 will be held on Friday with two races Saturday – including the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy race – to be shown live on 7plus on Saturday.

The Queensland event kicks off a busy period for the Sprint Challenge field, with the paddock to pack up on Sunday ahead of a trip to Tasmania for the next round in just two weeks time.

ENTRY LIST – Round 4, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge – Queensland Raceway

NoCar #SPONSORC/LDRIVERSURNAMESTATEMAKEMODEL
14Grove Racing / EBMProOscarTargettQLDPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
25Jacque Fine JewelleryClass BJacqueJarjoNSWPorscheGT3 Cup Gen I
36Tyler Greenbury RacingProTylerGreenburyVICPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
48Car Mods AustraliaClass BBradleyCarrQLDPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
510Team Porsche NZ / EBMProBrockGilchristQLDPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
611Aera Cloud & Cyber Security GroupPro-AmEricConstantinidisNSWPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
714McElrea RacingProCalebSumichWAPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
815Power and Earth.ComProClayOsborneQLDPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
916TekworkX MotorsportProHamishFitzsimmonsQLDPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
1025auticon / Porsche Centre Melbourne MotorsportProBenTaylorVICPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
1128McElrea RacingProAyrtonHodsonQLDPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
1237Bondi Carpets / Team DNAPro-AmAndrewGeorgiadisNSWPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
1347Effect Buuilding ProjectsClass BStephenMoylanNSWPorscheGT3 Cup Gen I
1484Ray White North LakesProRyanSuhleVICPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
1591The Cover Shop / EBMPro-AmLachlanHarburgQLDPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
1696Entertainment parkPro-AmJohnPapantoniouNSWPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
1799Westcoast Windows / Southern Star WindowsPro-AmRossMcGregorVICPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
18116Astrontech / DNA AutosportProAronShieldsNSWPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
19222Scott Taylor MotorsportPro-AmScottTaylorQLDPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
20272SPM RacingPro-AmMarkDarlingQLDPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
21290TekworkX MotorsportPro-AmRobWoodsQLDPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
22777Sonic / Vision OneProJakeSantaluciaVICPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II
23888Jones Motorsport / Kaldewelg AutoPro-AmRamuFarrellQLDPorscheGT3 Cup Gen II

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