Talbot/Mies Audi overcomes Porsche in GT sprint

Liam Talbot and Chris Mies overcame the EMA Porsche in a tense race-long battle in the penultimate race of the GT World Challenge season in Adelaide.

Matt Campbell sharing the #1 with Yasser Shahin led from pole, but they lost the lead to Talbot in the pits.

Despite a late challenge from Shahin, Talbot was able to hold on by just three tenths of a second.

It was a blistering two-horse race with the leaders 19s up the road of third placed Geoff Emery and Max Hofer, while the rest of the field were at least a minute off the pace.

The back of the grid was scrambled as the rolling start took place after Brad Schumacher and Axle Donaldson both spun at the left-handed turn 11 on the formation lap. 

After the strange incident, Campbell stormed off the line to ensure the Porsche led a sea of Audis with Stokell and Mies behind.

After 9 minutes of racing Campbell had already opened a 3s lead as Mies snatched second from Stokell at the final corner.

Ojeda and Hofer exchanged some paint in the staircase battling for fourth before the #34 Mercedes lost out.

At the halfway mark Campbell was in complete control, keeping his gap around the 4s mark as Mies pulled a further 7s on Hofer, who survived a scary moment at the chicane.

But as the final 15 minutes approached, Mies had cut the deficit down to just 2s which would prove decisive as the pits neared.

Both leaders boxed on the same lap and performed driver changes with Shahin replacing Campbell in the Porsche and Talbot switching with Mies in the Audi.

After the long wait Talbot rejoined right in front of Shahin’s Porsche and with the leaders nose to tail, it set up a thrilling final 11 minutes.

To add an extra element to the fight, lapped traffic was a major factor allowing Shahin to close in on Talbot.

Despite the close calls the Audi was able to stay in front and open 7 tenths with 8 minutes to go.

As the final 2 minutes dawned, Talbot made his move making the gap grow  out to a second despite battling traffic.

This hot pace to the chequered flag ensured the Audi was untouchable and Talbot and Mies claimed an important win.

It means the fight for the GT World Challenge Australia title will go down to the final race at 09.50 AEDT on Sunday.

GT World Challenge race 2 results

Image: RACE PROJECT

Download the full Supercars VAILO Adelaide 500 Round 12 Event Guide with track stats and facts and a full event schedule, plus extensive driver profiles here

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