Australian GT Trophy Series titles to be decided this weekend

Two titles will be decided this weekend (September 9 – 11) as the final round of the 2016 CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli heads to Phillip Island as part of the Shannons Nationals.

The event will draw to a close an exciting and highly competitive debut season for the Series, with both Trophy and Challenge class titles to be settled on the final day of the season.

Rob Smith currently heads the Trophy Class after seizing the points lead from Greg Taylor at Queensland Raceway last time out.

The Southern Star Developments Audi R8 LMS driver claimed his first round win of the season at Ipswich courtesy of a strong second place in class in Race 1 before taking class honours in Race 2.

It saw Smith move to the top of the points standings, 40-points clear of Greg Taylor with a maximum haul of 210-points up for grabs this weekend.

However the two title protagonists won’t have it all their own way, with Mathew Turnbull heading a packed Trophy Class field.

The 4.445km Phillip Island circuit is home turf for Turnbull and the Fire Rating Solutions Lamborghini Gallardo, and he’ll be looking to convert that local knowledge into strong race results over the course of the weekend.

Alongside Turnbull will be two more Gallardos, with Francis Pacentino making his third Australian GT Trophy Series appearance of the season in his Tusk Winsdor entry, and Jan Jinadasa making the voyage down from his Sydney base with the JJA Consulting Lamborghini.

Fresh from his debut weekend at Queensland Raceway, Travers Beynon will again steer an Audi R8 LMS while the Series will welcome two debutants into the fold.

Wayne Mack will ensure there’s a healthy helping of prancing horses on the grid with the Mack Bros Roofing Products Ferrari 458 GT3, while Kane Rose will represent Porsche in the Melbourne’s Cheapest Cars GT3 Cup S entry.

In Challenge Class, a clean sweep at Queensland Raceway saw Scott Hookey move within touching distance of the title.

Hookey drove the Exotic Track Days Ferrari to maximum points in Queensland, leaving him needing 63-points to clinch the class crown this weekend.

Ockert Fourie, the only man standing between Hookey and the title, will once again combine with Brendan Cook in the KPH Racing/OLOF Family Cosmetic Dental Spa Porsche GT3 Cup Car, with Richard Gartner and Adrian Flack in a similar car adding a wild card into the mix.

Having been crowned MARC Class champion at Queensland Raceway, Jake Camilleri heads another competitive field of the Queensland-built endurance racers.

John Goodacre will make his Australian GT Trophy Series debut behind the wheel of a MARC Focus V8, while Keith Kassulke, Mick Benton and Jack Smith will steer a car each.

Jason Busk and Sam Gerrard continue their collaboration aboard another Focus V8.

Track action for the final round of the 2016 CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series presented by Pirelli gets underway with practice at 3:30pm on Friday (September 9).

A second practice session follows at 9:05am on Saturday (September 10) before an all-important 25 minute qualifying session at 1:20pm.

Two races on Sunday will then decide the title winners in both Trophy and Challenges classes, with Race 1 scheduled for 9:50am and Race 2 and 1:40pm.

Both races will be streamed live online via the Australian GT website – www.australiangt.com.au

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