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Carrera Cup title race reaches halfway mark at The Bend

By Timothy Neal

Date posted: August 16, 2023

The fourth round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia reaches its halfway mark at The Bend this weekend, with the title race remaining a tight affair on all fronts.

A 30 car GT3 field will take to the SA circuit (now named the Shell V-Power Motorsport Park) as part of the OTR SuperSprint, with both the Pro and Pro Am championship battles tight up at the pointy end.

Returning to the field is Garth Tander in the Grove Racing #87 SP Tools Racing Porsche, whilst Sam Shahin will bring up his 100th Carrera Cup outing on his home turf.

Ryder Quinn also makes his return after sitting out Townsville following his crash in Darwin in the McElrea Racing-prepared 992 GT3 Cup Car.

Shahin will bring up his 100 Carrera Cup race on his home turf at The Bend.

The battle in the Pro field is also shaping the top of the Junior Cup tree, with Jackson Walls holding onto his championship lead over Callum Hedge.

After Wall’s qualifying session saw the young gun enter Race 1 with back against the… in tenth, he fought back for a P5 in the opener, which enabled him to push further up to eventually take a P2 in the finale.

The promising young Kiwi in pursuit – like Walls in the Super Trofeo Asia – has also been going well overseas, dominating in the Formula Regional Americas Championship.

Walls and Hedge are likely to be at it all season long in the Pro and Junior battle. Image: Mark Horsburgh

His form is showing in the Carrera Cup, just 20 points behind the #11 Objective Racing 992 as they also do battle in the Junior stakes which gets decided at Bathurst 1000. 

The junior winner gets to participate in the Porsche Shootout in Germany for a seat in the Mobil 1 Super Cup in 2024, so there’s plenty at stake, and it could shape both title battles.

TekworkX Motorsport’s Max Vidau is third in the standings, 87 points behind Walls, with he too sitting third in the Junior Cup, making it a great season of combative young talent.

Vidau was brilliant in Townsville, taking two victories in Races 1 and 2 over Alex Davison, racing for an outfit that can’t seem to stop winning in the one-make front of late.

Tander will race in the SP Tools backed Porsche 992 at The Bend

The Pro Am  class is also having a tight season up top, with Shahin just 18 points up on Adrian Flack, whilst Rodney Jane is only 49 points back in his full time return to the Carrera Cup field, whilst Dean Cook is close behind in fourth.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship will contest three races at The Bend, with all three and Saturday’s all-important qualifying session to be broadcast live, ad-break free on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports, and Sky Sports NZ.

Turn up the volume and enjoy the Auto Action Rev Limiter podcast

This week Nascar was the focus with SVG and Brodie Kostecki making their way to the Indy road course, while Rodney Jane let some loose on the Thunderdome at Calder, while we also preview The Bend as the Supercars silly season hots up.

Listen to our latest podcast episode on your podcast app of choice or here on Apple Podcasts.

For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

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