Ford win not enough to topple McLaren

A strong finish for Rylan Gray and George Miedecke was not enough to topple Marcos Flack and Tom Hayman in the tight race for the 2024 GT4 Australia title.

Flack and Hayman won the year-long McLaren v Ford battle for outright Silver championship honours against George Miedecke and Rylan Gray.

The Method Motorsport duo entered the finale with a 25-point advantage, but that was trimmed to just 10 after the opening race.

Although the McLaren got the job done, the Ford Mustang was the fastest car throughout the weekend at Mount Panorama.

Lochie Dalton had taken pole and led the early laps of race 1, while Miedecke jumped fellow Mustang Aaron Seton for second, while Flack sat fourth.

But things changed in the stops where Miedecke/Gray had 10s standing time in the lane, while Cody Burcher and Tim Leahey did not have any, allowing their BMW to shot to the outright lead.

After disposing of Newman, Burcher and Gray appeared set for a thrilling run to the flag, but the race was interrupted by a big crash on Lap 19 of 24.

Contact between Lawrence and Griffith at McPhillamy Park led to the #19 Mercedes nearly riding the bonnet of the Randall Racing BMW.

The Method Motorsport team celebrate GT4 Australia glory. Image: RACE PROJECT

It meant Am honours went to Peter Lawrence, whose Pro Am was taken by Seton and Gomersall after an exciting multi-car fight.

Gray and Miedecke did everything they could to snatch the GT4 Australia title on the final day.

The Mustang was mighty, dominating the last race of the year, which had a delayed start due to the rebuilt Randall Racing BMW of Lawrence failing to launch during the reconnaissance lap.

Gray led away from pole, but Hayman ensured he would not get too far away, placing his McLaren exactly where he and the team needed it to be.

However, Method Motorsport hit back by snatching the lead in the lane.

Miedecke Motorsport tried to overcome its extra compensation time by performing a four-lap undercut, but it did not work.

Flack found himself in the lead, but not for long as a determined Miedkecke stormed past almost instantly down Mountain Straight.

To make matters worse for Flack, he also could not keep a charging Jake Camilleri at bay.

Camilleri charged past to steal second inside the final five laps, but there were no panic stations at Method Motorsport.

Although Miedecke/Gray blitzed the field and won by 11s, third place was enough for Flack and Hayman to be the Silver class stars.

Also driving for Method Motorsport, Lachlan Mineeff and Shane Smollen were the Pro-Am champions as Dalton and Ben Newman charged to class victory.

Fittingly, John Bowe and Jacob Lawrence took the final win of the season in Am Cup.

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