Townsville joins 2024 Porsche Sprint Challenge

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: November 16, 2023

A maiden trip to Townsville headlines the 2024 Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia calendar which will be contested across six rounds.

The season will once again state at Phillip Island in April before wrapping up with the finale at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Whilst the series remains on the supports card at the Tasmania Supercars event, the trip to Townsville will be the highlight.

The category has never raced at the North Queensland hybrid street circuit and will take it on for the first time at the Townsville 500 on July 5-7.

The move ensures there will still be Porsches seen at Townsville in 2024 with the track having dropped off the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia calendar.

Marco Giltrap won the 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge crown, pictured at Sydney.

It provides a good chance for the young drivers at the start of the Porsche pyramid to get a taste of racing on a street circuit.

The Townsville and Tasmania rounds will be the highlights of the season being the two rounds shining in the Supercars spotlight.

The rest will be run as part of the SpeedSeries starting with Phillip Island in April which is the season opener for a second time running.

The series stays south when it races at The Bend Motorsport Park at the start of June.

A move north to warmer weather follows for the anticipated Townsville round followed by a SpeedSeries battle around Queensland Raceway a month later.

Porsche Sprint Challenge is southbound once again for a return to the Tasmania SuperSprint Supercars which is the penultimate round of the season having been the second in 2023.

Ronan Murphy leads the Porsche Sprint Challenge field into the opening left hander at Symmons Plains.

Almost three months later the fight for the 2024 crown wraps up at Sydney Motorsport Park in November.

Having shared the night lights with Supercars at Eastern Creek this year, the Sydney finale will be a SpeedSeries affair.

The 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge season wrapped up at Bathurst last weekend with Marco Giltrap being victorious.

The Tasmania SuperSprint will be broadcast on Fox Sports, while the Townsville 500 will feature on both free-to-air on Channel 7 and on the Fox platforms.

Porsche Motorsport Australia Motorsport Manager Barry Hay said it is the “best calendar yet” for the second-tier championship.

“The Porsche Sprint Challenge takes another step forward in 2024 with what we think is the best calendar yet for the series,” he said.

“It mixes incredible permanent circuits, high profile events and the first opportunity for the Sprint Challenge field to go street circuit racing in Townsville.

Nash Morris leads the pack at the recent Supercheap Auto Bathurst International.

“It’s a great opportunity for the series on a major national stage and one of the larger motorsport events on the calendar.

“We’re looking forward to returning to Symmons Plains with the Supercars, and to returning to the SpeedSeries show with what is looking to be a massive year on that program.

“Sprint Challenge has been incredible this year and we’re incredibly proud of the series and everyone who competes in it.

“There is no doubt 2024 is shaping up to be even better.”

2024 Porsche Sprint Challenge calendar

Round 1 – April 12-14: Phillip Island

Round 2 – May 31-June 2: Bend Motorsport Park

Round 3 – July 5-7: Townsville Street Circuit

Round 4 – August 2-4: Queensland Raceway

Round 5 – August 16-18: Symmons Plains

Round 6 – November 1-3: Sydney Motorsport Park

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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!

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