Evans and Schutte smash it under lights

Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte were shooting stars, dominating the GT World Challenge Australia night race at Sydney Motorsport Park.

On election night it was the Arise Racing pairing that won seat on offer at the top step of the podium by a landslide, being a convincing 15s up the road from the battling Thomas Randle and Jayden Ojeda.

The decision to not change tyres and utilise warm rubber on the cold track was a masterstroke from Adam de Borre.

After Schutte won a fight for the lead with Renae Gracie and Brad Schumacher in the opening laps, the strategy call ensured Evans emerged from the pit cycle with a mighty 20s lead and enjoy an untroubled journey to the chequered flag in the Ferrari 296.

The fight for second was much more interesting with GT World Challenge Australia rookie Thomas Randle fending off a fast-finishing Jayden Ojeda.

Ojeda was as low as eighth, but was the only driver to lap in the 1m26s window to surge to third.

However, Randle held him off to give he and Marcel Zalloua a special podium in their first drive together.

Broc Feeney and Schumacher secured fourth ahead of George King and Sergio Pires.

Elliott Schutte takes the lead from Renae Gracie at the rolling start. Image: Peter Norton

When the field was released Schutte won a side by side battle over Gracie for the lead.

Behind them Schumacher’s attempt to nail down third was a disaster, running wide at the second corner.

Meanwhile, Zalloua, who started on the second row, could not get away whatsoever and slumped down to eighth with a load of wheel spin.

There was big drama at Turn 4 where contenders Tim Miles and Liam Talbot came together and spun to the outfield.

Whilst there was no replay provided, Talbot’s co-driver Declan Fraser suggested the Kiwi was to blame.

“To get turned around on lap one of an hour long race, there is no need for it. But it has only added extra fire in our stomachs and we have our heads down,” Fraser said as he watched Talbot try to fight back into the top 10.

Despite the drama, attention quickly returned to the front where the #888 Audi had not only snared second from Gracie, but also challenged for the lead.

Schumacher squeezed his way down the inside of Schutte and into the lead on the inside of Turn 2.

However, Schutte fought back with a stunning counterattack around the outside at the top end of the circuit.

After a wild opening two laps, Schumacher was eventually forced to concede for second and dropped a second adrift after seven laps.

Gracie had cemented herself in an impressive third ahead of Pires and Rosser, while Zalloua and Brooks kept themselves in touch.

There was more pain to come for Miles as he lost a front left tyre after a hard hit with Wyatt at Turn 6.

Gracie first of the leaders to box at the halfway mark from third, whilst the rest all pitted as soon as the Pro Am window opened on Lap 18.

There was heartbreak for Rosser in the #268.

Having held fourth throughout, he lost it and and spun on the exit of Turn 4 on the very last lap of his stint.

Evans easily retained the lead by a huge 20s over King, who jumped the #888 Audi with Feeney behind the wheel in the lane to snare second.

Randle settled into fourth and had Gracie on his tail, but the #181 Audi soon slumped to sixth as the Pros put on some outstanding racing.

Randle, Feeney and Peroni all exchanged stints in third on a thrilling series of laps to begin their stint.

In the end Randle won the contest hands down and started hunting down King.

However, the driver that had the most pace was Ojeda as he was lapping more than a second faster than his rivals and started reeling them in.

After snatching seventh from Wood, Ojeda caught the battling pack in a handful of laps.

He hit the top five with a quarter of an hour remaining and with only 10 minutes left, a mistake from Feeney brought the #888 into his sights.

Ojeda chose Turn 2 as his attacking point, but Feeney hung tough and won with the inside line at the following right hander.

A lap later it was second time lucky for Ojeda as he picked off the Triple Eight star at the same point of the track.

With the #68 Mercedes on the charge, Randle finally made a move for second after many laps shadowing King.

Randle flew past at Corporate Hill as King could do little as Ojeda and Feeney also blazed by.

All eyes were now on Randle and Ojeda as they battled for second across the final five minutes, however, the Mercedes driver could not quite get close enough to challenge the Tickford star.

Tom Hayman and Max Geoghegan were victorious in GT4. Image: Peter Norton

In GT4 Australia, championship leaders Tom Hayman and Max Geoghegan continued their dominance.

They extended their lead in convincing style by taking a convincing 4s win over Jarrod Hughes and Summer Rintoule in the Triple Eight Mercedes.

Rintoule gave herself the pleasing birthday present of a maiden GT4 podium and it was extremely hard fought.

She managed to keep the likes of Jake Camilleri and Zoe Woods/Nash Morris behinds with the trio separated by less than 2s.

Completing the top five was the George Miedecke and Rylan Gray Ford Mustang.

After Hughes took pole and led the field, Hayman hit back by the end of the opening lap, snaring track position and never losing it throughout the 33-lap affair.

Images: Peter Norton Epic Sports Photography

Buy the new issue of Auto Action Premium HERE

Read the new issue of Auto Action Digital HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here or you can purchase a copy of the latest issue from one of our outlets here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine