Aussie Matt Campbell to end season in Oz

Porsche factory driver Matt Campbell will return to Australia to compete at the final round of the GT World Challenge Australia at the VAILO Adelaide 500.

Campbell has been competing at the very pinnacle of the Porsche Pyramid in the IMSA Sportscar championship, racing the Porsche Penske 963 LMDh hypercar alongside Felipe Nasr, taking a victory at Road America and finishing fifth in a very tight championship. They also took two other podiums at Long Beach and Indianapolis, with Campbell also steering the #7 machine to pole position at Laguna Seca.

And now the Queensland born world beater will once again race on Australian shores on the streets of Adelaide, returning partly to the team he kicked his year off with at the Bathurst 12 Hour, racing in the Yasser Shahin #911 EMA Motorsport Porsche.

Shahin is an outside chance to take the title, third in the pointscore and 22 points off the lead after spending most of the season alongside another Aussie globetrotter in Garnet Patterson.

Campbell will join Shahin on the streets of Adelaide to try and close the 22 points to Liam Talbot in the GT WCA title fight

It was a solid year for Campbell in the states, highlighted with some gutsy performances (particularly at Long Beach) and mechanical difficulties alike in the brilliant but fledgling GTP hypercar category.

“It’s been a busy season, and great to race in Australia to sign off the year, back with EMA Motorsport,” Campbell said.

“The team (EMA Motorsport) has had a great year, and I’m looking forward to helping with the final fight for the GT World challenge Australia title push. 

“We started things off back in February with the podium at Bathurst (Manthey EMA), and looking forward to being back with the team, in the GT3 R, around Adelaide. It’s one of my favourite tracks from growing up, and is a special place to be heading back to.”

Campbell’s first year on the IMSA GTP Hypercar grid in the 963 LMDh machine saw he and Nasr finish fifth in the tight championship. Image: LAT

Shahin, who took out the GT WCA title last season at the final round in Adelaide, says he’s looking forward to sharing the wheel with one of Australia’s most successful overseas racing personalities.

“I’m really looking forward to driving with Matt. His rise within Porsche is the stuff of legend in Australia, and we expect to be right up there for the 500.”

The GT WCA series is headed by Liam Talbot in the #65 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II on 180 points, with Phil Emery only 7 points behind in the #75 Audi.

The sixth and final round of the season hits the streets of Adelaide on November 23-26.

For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION or subscribe HERE

On this week’s Auto Action RevLimiter, we ramble on about Supercars. Why the finances don’t need a boost! What’s wrong with the calendar! Plus more!