New names in Sydney GT field

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: 29 April 2025

Thomas Randle has swapped the microphone for the helmet as he will join the GT World Challenge Australia field as one of numerous new names to the SpeedSeries at SMP this weekend.

After being present at the SpeedSeries opener at Phillip Island as a commentator, Randle will be racing when the GTs return at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The Tickford Supercars driver will drive a Tigani Motorsport Mercedes alongside Marcel Zalloua in Pro Am.

He is the big addition to a 15-car field, which again sadly does not contain the Valentino Astuti Bentley after coming close to competing in the Phillip Island opener.

Other Supercars drivers include Declan Fraser, Jaxon Evans, Jayden Ojeda, Ryan Wood, Tony D’Alberto and Broc Feeney.

Two one-hour races will be again on show with Saturday night to be a highlight taking place under lights.

There are also some changes to look out for in GT4 Australia where 31 cars will go racing with new and returning names.

Reinging Pro Am Cup champion Shane Smollen returns to the grid for a cameo appearance in the #1 Porsche 718 Cayman RS CS prepared by Method Motorsport.

Other new additions to the field include a second TekworkX Motorsport Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS for Josh and Diesel Thomas in the Silver class.

The number of Ford Mustang GT4s on show are further bolstered by 99motorsport featuring its team owner Marcus LaDelle and Jarrod Keyte.

“Jarrod came to me last year wanting to get into circuit racing, so we started him in the Scholarship Series where he ran consistently inside the top 20, which was fantastic for someone with little circuit experience,” LaDelle said.

“Although the series was great for his development, he was ready to take it seriously and it was clear that he wanted to be in a car with someone who knew what they were doing and in a GT car.

“There were a few options, with one of them being a Porsche, but his heart was set on a Mustang.

“GT4 has always been a long-term goal for me – especially after Karl Begg first brought the category here, and I saw its potential. In Europe, GT4 is huge, and it’s exciting to finally race something competitive. I’m looking forward to being back in a proper car and seeing what we can do.”

Recently crowned New Zealand Toyota GR86 champion Hugo Allan will also join the field.

The drive has been set up by the Tony Quinn Foundation and he will even drive alongside Quinn himself in a Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.

“It’s not my first time racing in Australia, but this time it feels like it has more purpose as there is a genuine pathway for drivers like me that don’t have a lot of funds to go further,” said Allan.

“I’m just super excited and thankful to Quinny for giving me the opportunity to do this based of my performances in the Toyota 86 Series in New Zealand.

“I feel really ready for it. I’m just excited and I feel like I’ve got the ability to put on a great show, plus a solid performance. I’ll just work with Quinny and the team to try to get the Supra quick, which it will be, while I’ve also completed work in the sim.

“It’s going to be really cool to compete against drivers such as Cameron Crick and Aaron Seton, so it makes it a good proving ground for us.”

GT4 Australia also enjoys a pair of 60-minute races with Radical Cup Australia, Ferrari Challenge and Porsche Sprint Challenge again all on display.

Image: Race Project

GT World Challenge Australia SMP entry list

#1 D. Fraser/L. Talbot Aston Martin Pro Am

#7 B. Leitch/T. Miles Audi Pro Am

#10 B. Schoots/S. Woodman Mercedes Am

#24 M. Stoupas/G. Higgon Audi Trophy

#26 J. Evans/E. Schutte Ferrari Pro Am

#44 T. Randle/M. Zalloua Mercedes Pro Am

#47 J. Koundouris/T. Koundouris Audi Am

#55 G. King/S. Pires Mercedes Pro Am

#66 J. Ojeda/P. Lucchitti Mercedes Pro Am

#77 J. Love/S. Wyatt Ferrari Pro Am

#88 R. Wood/S. Brooks Audi Pro Am

#93 T. D’Alberto/A. Deitz Lamborghini Pro Am

#181 R. Gracie Audi Am

#268 A. Peroni/M. Rosser Audi Pro Am

#888 B. Feeney/B. Schumacher Audi Pro Am

GT4 Australia SMP entry list

#1 S. Smollen Porsche Am

#3 R. Quinn/S. Jakic BMW Silver Am

#4 A. Soole/G. Denyer McLaren Am

#5 N. Murray BMW Am

#9 D. Frougas/T. Berryman Toyota Silver Am

#12 J. Nikolovski Mercedes Am

#14 G. Walker BMW Am

#17 B. Love/R. Love Mercedes Am

#18 J. Thomas/D. Thomas Porsche Silver

#19 M. Griffith Mercedes Am

#20 J. Arratoon Mercedes Am

#21 M. LaDelle/J. Keyte Ford Am

#22 C. Burcher/T. Leahey BMW Silver

#23 L. Dalton/B. Newman Mercedes silver Am

#24 N. Morcom/L. Hennock McLaren Silver

#25 T. Hayman/M. Geoghegan McLaren Silver

#29 L. Mineeff//R. Rubis Ginetta Silver Am

#32 J. Lawrence BMW Am

#33 J. Augustine/P. Lawrence BMW Am

#36 J. Camilleri Mercedes Silver

#48 B. Purdie/D. Price Audi Silver

#56 TBC Ginetta Silver

#66 S. Palermo/L. Palermo BMW Am

#71 A. Seton/J. Gomersall Ford Silver Am

#75 Z. Soutar/G. Nirwan McLaren Silver Am

#87 S. Rintoule/J. Hughes Mercedes Silver

#100 G. Miedecke/R. Gray Ford Silver

#101 H. Allen/T. Quinn Toyota Am

#118 C. Crick/D. Campbell Ford Silver Am

#210 N. Morris/Z. Woods Porsche Silver

#777 C. Lillis/N. Callaghan Porsche Am