PORSCHE GT3 CUP CHALLENGE TITLE TO BE DECIDED IN SYDNEY

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge title to be decided at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend – Photo: InSyde Media

The 2018 Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia title will be decided this weekend as part of the Shannons Nationals at Sydney Motorsport Park.

This year’s series has been the most competitive to date, with both Pro and Pro-Am classes featuring multiple winners throughout the year with numerous records broken.

A season-high 26 cars will line up for the Sydney finale, concluding a season that has featured unprecedented depth of young driver talent and the introduction of the first-generation 991-series Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car.

The tremendous season-long battle between Cooper Murray and Simon Fallon has seen the duo enter the Sydney finale a mere 11 points apart in the outright standings and 24 points separating the duo in the Pro class points.

With two round wins apiece, Fallon and Murray have set the pace for the majority of the season, with momentum on the side of Murray, who secured the penultimate round win at Winton Motor Raceway along with victory in the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy.

“I’m looking forward to Sydney where I’ll just try to get as many points as I can,” said Murray.

“I’d like to be a little bit further ahead in the standings at this point, but unfortunately a DNF at Queensland Raceway really cost us a lot of points and we’ve had to work twice as hard after that to be in this position.”

Max Vidau looks set to secure third in the Pro standings; though Jimmy Vernon mathematically remains in the hunt for a top-three season finish.

Danny Stutterd leads the Pro-Am standing – Photo: InSyde Media

Danny Stutterd enters the final round with one hand on the Pro-Am class trophy, entering the New South Wales event with an 82-point lead in the class standings over Brett Boulton.

The competitive class has been the best represented of the series throughout 2018, with an incredible five different drivers taking Pro-Am round wins from the season’s five rounds, including round one winner and Carrera Cup racer Sam Shahin, who returns for the final round.

Currently third, Michael Hovey has secured a top-three season finish in the Pro-Am class and is mathematically able to pip Boulton for second for the season.

Christian Pancione wrapped up the Class B title at Winton – Photo: InSyde Media

Meanwhile, with the Class B crown secured by young gun Christian Pancione at the penultimate round at Winton Motor Raceway, the battle for second place continues between Phil Morriss and reigning Class B champion David Greig, the duo sit just 25 points apart entering the final round.

Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Australia will hold two practice sessions on Friday, with qualifying and its final two races of the season on Saturday.

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