Michael Almond will join 2018 Bathurst 1000 champion Steve Richards at Hampton Downs this weekend, as BMW Team SRM looks to win its first Australian GT title.
The factory-backed squad heads into the final round of the season, the Laser Plumbing & Electrical Hampton Downs 500 in New Zealand, in contention for two different titles.
Richards, who won a fifth Bathurst crown alongside Craig Lowndes last weekend, sits third in the Australian GT standings, just 35 points behind leader Fraser Ross. He can win the title this weekend.
Additionally, both Richards and Almond are right in the hunt for the Australian Endurance Championship title, the pair sitting second in the long-distance standings with a 36-point deficit to Tony D’Alberto and Max Twigg.
With titles on the line, BMW Team SRM has secured Almond for a third outing alongside Richards in the BMW M6 GT3.
“It’s great to have Michael back in the team for the final round of the season,” said Richards.
“He’s been a big part of the great results we’ve had so far this year, so if things go our way and we can win a title on the weekend it will be great to have him right there with us. He deserves to be a part of the celebrations.
I can’t wait for the weekend. There’s a lot to play out, but it would be an absolute fairy-tale if we can come away with the championship from Hampton Downs. It would be amazing for everyone who has been involved in this programme.
“It would be one of my career-defining moments.”
Track action kicks off this Friday with a one-hour practice session, before two pre-qualifying hit-outs and a 30-lap qualifying race on Saturday.
The Australian GT titles will then be decided with the 101-lap Hampton Downs 500, starting at 2:05pm local time on Sunday.
