30 CARS FOR AUSTRALIAN GT OPENER AT THE MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX
30 cars for Australian GT opener at Albert Park – Photo: Supplied
The Australian GT season will kick off with a 30-car field representing eleven of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers at Albert Park on Thursday.
The field features a diverse blend of exotic GT3 and GT4 machinery, with the GT4 Class making its first ever appearance in Australian championship competition.
Ginetta, BMW and Aston Martin are all set to make their GT4 debuts, while the iconic and popular Chevrolet Camaro makes a welcome return to Australian GT on the GT3 side of the ledger in Trophy Class.
Adding to the spectacle is a world class roster of drivers with Australian GT Champion Geoff Emery and Australian Endurance Champions Peter Hackett and Dominic Storey both on the grid.
Emery is joined by three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Marcel Fassler, with the international flavour continuing courtesy of ex-Ferrari Formula 1 driver, and three-time grand prix winner, Giancarlo Fisichella alongside Peter Edwards.
Local stars have also come out in force, with household names like Tony D’Alberto, Dean Canto, and Craig Baird set to go to battle against a field brimming with talent and experience.
Four sprint races across the weekend will provide fans with thrilling lights to flag racing on every day of the event, with Thursday also boasting two qualifying sessions.
Free to air television coverage on Network Ten of Race 3 on Saturday will allow fans at home to enjoy the spectacle.
Action gets underway on Thursday with two qualifying sessions and the opening race of the weekend, followed by one race each of the remaining three days of the program.
Entry List: Round 1, 2018 Australian GT Championship, Albert Park
| No. | Team | Driver/s | Car | Class |
| 1 | Valvoline | Geoff Emery Marcel Fassler |
Audi R8 LMS | Championship |
| 3 | Ah Apartments | Ash Samadi | Audi R8 LMS | Championship |
| 7 | Byron Bay Beef Jerky | Tony Quinn | McLaren 650S | Championship |
| 8 | WM Waste Management | Max Twigg Tony D’Alberto |
Mercedes-AMG | Championship |
| 24 | Movienet/AFS | Tony Bates Daniel Gaunt |
Audi R8 LMS | Championship |
| 29 | Haemokinesis | Jim Manolios Dean Canto |
Lamborghini Huracan | Championship |
| 59 | YNA Autosport | Fraser Ross | McLaren 650S | Championship |
| 63 | Eggleston Motorsport | Peter Hackett Dominic Storey |
Mercedes-AMG | Championship |
| 88 | Maranello Motorsport | Peter Edwards Giancarlo Fisichella |
Ferrari 488 | Championship |
| 98 | Aussie Driver Search | Jaie Robson | Mercedes-AMG | Championship |
| 100 | BMW Team SRM | Steve Richards Dean Grant |
BMW M6 | Championship |
| 222 | Scott Taylor Motorsport | Scott Taylor Craig Baird |
Mercedes-AMG | Championship |
| 911 | Walkinshaw GT3 | Liam Talbot John Martin |
Porsche 911 GT3-R | Championship |
| 10 | Hallmarc | Michael Loccisano | Porsche 991 GT3 Cup | Trophy |
| 12 | Seidler Group | Chris Seidler Luke Seidler |
Porsche 991 GT3 Cup | Trophy |
| 21 | Melbourne Orthopaedic Group | Shane Barwood | Porsche 991 GT3 Cup | Trophy |
| 23 | Kentucky Fried Chicken | Matthew Stoupas | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | Trophy |
| 31 | The Porsche Broker | Sam Fillmore | Porsche 991 GT3 Cup | Trophy |
| 32 | The Porsche Broker | Daniel Stuttered | Porsche 991 GT3 Cup | Trophy |
| 34 | Motorsport Leading | John Morriss | Porsche 911 GT3-R | Trophy |
| 47 | Mack Bros Roofing Products | Wayne Mack | Ferrari 458 | Trophy |
| 64 | Aaron Laboratories | Joseph Ensabella | Porsche 997 GT3 Cup | Trophy |
| 71 | Dale Paterson Motorsports | Dale Paterson | Chevrolet Camaro | Trophy |
| 77 | JJA Consulting Group | Jan Jinadasa | Lamborghini Gallardo | Trophy |
| 188 | EAT Furniture | Rio Nugara | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | Trophy |
| 199 | Industrie | Nick Kelly | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | Trophy |
| 4 | BMW Team SRM | Xavier West | BMW M4 | GT4 |
| 19 | Hogs Breath Café | Mark Griffith | Ginetta G55 | GT4 |
| 48 | Interlloy M Motorsport | Justin McMillan | KTM X-Bow | GT4 |
| 67 | JMG/Bilstein | Jeremy Gray | Aston Martin Vantage | GT4 |
Australian GT Championship Track Schedule
Thursday, March 22
11:50 – Qualifying 1, Driver 1 (20mins)
15:20 – Qualifying 2, Driver 2 (20mins)
18:00 – Race 1, Driver 1 (11 laps)
Friday, March 23
10:45 – Race 2, Driver 2 (10 laps)
Saturday, March 24
12:00 – Race 3, Driver 1 (11 laps)
Sunday, March 25
12:00 – Race 4, Driver 2 (11 laps)
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