Miles to be honoured at Sandown

Popular racer Tim Miles will be honoured by his GT World Challenge Australia rivals as the SpeedSeries resumes for the first time since his tragic passing at Sandown.

Longtime driver Miles sadly passed away after a tragic cycling accident in Sydney at just 58 on July 6.

The founder of Miles Advisory Partners, which has also made a big impact on the motor racing scene, was farewelled during an emotional life celebration led by Greg Rust and Roland Dane at Sydney last week.

Miles and fellow Kiwi Brendon Leitch sat fourth in the GT World Challenge Australia championship standings after finishing a strong second in Miles’ last start at Queensland Raceway.

But due to Miles’ tragic passing, Leitch’s Audi will not go racing this weekend.

However, the unmistakable silver Melbourne Performance Centre #7 Dayle ITM Audi will still be at Sandown as part of a series of memorial tributes that are planned to take place during the weekend.

The Tim Miles Audi. Image: RACE PROJECT

There will still be five Team MPC Audis on track however, with veteran Lee Holdsworth making a category debut alongside familiar Bathurst 12 Hour partner Marc Cini.

“I’ve done the Bathurst 12 Hour every year since 2016 with Marc Cini and Dean Fiore in the Audi, so I’m familiar with the car, but it’s my first appearance in the GT World Challenge Australia and I’ve never raced a GT car at Sandown, so I am excited,” said Holdsworth.

“I really enjoy being with the MPC team and driving with Marc. I love the car – it’s amazing to drive and Sandown is a great track for it.

“It’s always a bit of a process getting used to the Audi – especially since I haven’t been in it since February. It takes a little bit to adapt to the seat being on the opposite side, but hopefully muscle memory kicks in from earlier in the year.

“I’m just going out to have a bit of fun and enjoy the weekend being back in a race car. Hopefully we have a clean run and bring home a decent result.

“Looking forward to getting on track with Marc and MPC. It will be a great weekend together and we’ll do our best to bring home a trophy and also sharpen up in the lead-up to the Supercars enduros.”

The 2025 GT World Challenge Australia and GT4 Australia seasons head into the second half with the title race closing up.

After a hot start to the season, Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte were well clear, but their advantage has closed to 22 points with Schumacher and Feeney carrying momentum after the Ferrari finally dropped off the podium in the sixth and most recent race at Queensland Raceway.

Will Brown was scheduled the drive the #888 Audi alongside Schumacher, but Feeney will return for a fourth straight event.

There is a change in the #1 Vantage AMR GT3 with Declan Fraser being replaced by Aston Martin junior Brit Jamie Day to steer alongside Liam Talbot.

A 14-car field will headline the SpeedSeries event.

GT Festival Sandown schedule

Friday July 25
Practice 1: 10:00 – 11:00
Practice 2: 13:05 – 14:05
Pre-Qualifying: 16:25 – 17:25

Saturday July 26
Qualifying 1: 11:15 – 11:30
Qualifying 2: 11:40 – 11:55
Race 1: 15:05 – 16:05

Sunday July 27
Grid Walk: 13:20 – 13:40
Race 2: 14:05 – 15:05

GT World Challenge Australia entry list

Rylan Gray and George Miedecke aim for more wins in GT4 Silver. Image: GT4

A solid 28-car field is set to tackle GT4 Australia where the familiar McLaren v Mustang battle will resume in the outright Silver class.

Just six points split leaders Max Geoghegan and Tom Hayman in the Method Motorsport McLaren and Rylan Gray and George Miedecke in the Mustang.

Gray and Miedecke have been on the charge with two wins in the last three races.

Cody Burcher and Tim Leahey also impressied by winning at the “Paperclip” while the likes of Nash Morris/Zoe Woods, Jarrod Hughes/Summer Rintoule and Daniel Price/Blake Purdie are all regular podium contenders.

In Silver Am Jay Murray will make his debut in a McElrea Racing BMW M4 GT4 G82 EVO alongside brother Nathan.

Race winner Matthew McCutcheon will reunite with Tony Quinn in the Supra.

But the big news surrounds Multispares Racing, which has done a spectacular to rebuild its Mustang after a sickening crash at Queensland Raceway with Aaron Cameron and Ryan Hansford searching for redemption.

Ryan Hansford careers into the pit wall at Queensland Raceway. Image: 7Plus

Another driver making a comeback from an incident is John Nikolovski in the Am class.

A 24-car field will take on Trans Am with Todd Hazelwood again the man to catch. 

The defending champion enjoyes a handy 74-point lead over Nathan Herne and more than 100 points to James Moffat.

GRM will be a strong presence on the grid with no less than six cars led by the returning James Golding, who missed the last round due to  a Supercars clash.

“It’s obviously been a little while since I last drove the Trans Am Mustang, but it’s a car that really suits my driving style,” Golding said. 

“I’m coming off a strong performance at Bathurst, and the last time I raced at Sandown in the Trans Am we were competitive, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting back in the car.”

GT Festival Sandown schedule

Friday 25 July
Practice 1: 11:30 – 12:10
Pre-Qualifying: 14:45 – 15:25

Saturday 26 July
Qualifying 1: 09:50 – 10:05
Qualifying 2: 10:15 – 10:30
Race 1: 13:20 – 14:20

Sunday 27 July
Grid Walk: 11:00 – 11:20
Race 2: 11:30 – 12:30

GT4 Australia entry list

James Golding is returning to Trans Am. Image: Trans Am

Clay Richards, son of Bathurst winner Steven Richards and grandson of touring car legend Jim Richards, will make his Trans Am debut this weekend in the ex Mark Crutcher Ford Mustang.

“The level of competition in Trans Am really drew me in, it’s a growing category with some top drivers,” he said. 

“I got a taste of the cars at the GRM Combine a few years back and loved how raw and race-focused they are. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel at Sandown this weekend.

“The biggest challenge for me will be the preparation.”

On-track action begins on Friday with practice and qualifying before racing takes centre stage over the weekend.

Trans am schedule

FRIDAY 

Practice 1 – 9:10am (20 mins)

Practice 2 – 12:15pm (20 mins)

Qualifying – 4:00pm (20mins)

SATURDAY 

Race 1 – 12:05pm (20 mins)

Race 2 – 5:05pm (25 mins)

SUNDAY

Race 3 – 4:10pm (45 mins)

TRAMS AM ENTRY LIST 

#1 Todd Hazelwood, TFH Racing, Ford Mustang

#2 Adam Garwood, Garwood Motorsport, Ford Mustang

#3 Ben Grice, All American Drivelines, Ford Mustang

#5 Blake Tracey, Auto Openers Garage Door Openers, Ford Mustang

#8 Lachlan Evennett, CAMM Racing/GRM, Ford Mustang

#9 Cameron Laws, Castle Railing, Ford Mustang

#12 Mark Bailey, Jax Tyres & Auto, Chevrolet Camaro

#19 Cody Maynes-Rutty, The Racing Academy, Ford Mustang

#23 John Holinger, Holinger Racing, Chevrolet Camaro

#29 Nathan Herne, BlueGold Industries, Ford Mustang

#31 James Golding, CTE – Custom Transport Equipment/GRM, Ford Mustang

#33 Jordan Cox, Schaeffler/GRM, Ford Mustang

#34 James Moffatt, LMCT+/GRM, Ford Mustang

#38 Elliott Cleary, LMCT+/GRM, Ford Mustang

#42 Tom Davies, Tom Davies Racing/GRM, Ford Mustang

#44 Clay Richards, RPM Hire, Ford Mustang

#45 Aaron Love, Marcos Ambrose Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro

#63 Des Collier, TFH Racing, Ford Mustang

#69 Josh Thomas, TFH Racing, Ford Mustang

#71 Domain Ramsay, C&H Trucking, Chevrolet Camaro

#75 Elliot Barbour, AlphaTheta & Pioneer DJ Racing, Chevrolet Camaro

#77 Chase Hoy, Dicandilo Steel City/Holinger Racing, Chevrolet Camaro

#97 Ben Bargwanna, Hangcha Racing, Ford Mustang

#111 Jack Smith, SCT Logistics/TFH Racing, Ford Mustang

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