2021 GT World Challenge Australia

The 2021 Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS was an Australian motor sport competition for GT cars. The series incorporated the "Motorsport Australia GT Championship", the "Motorsport Australia Endurance Championship", the "GT3 Trophy Series" and the "GT4 Cup",[1] however the Endurance Championship could not be contested due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The Motorsport Australia GT Championship was the 25th running of an Australian GT Championship. This was the first season of the championship being jointly managed by Australian Racing Group (ARG) and SRO Motorsports Group.[3]

Calendar

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The provisional six-race calendar was released on 16 December 2020 with all rounds taking place in Australia.[4] The first round at Phillip Island was postponed to 13–14 March from its original 20–21 February date, after a snap lockdown was enacted in response to an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Melbourne.[5][6][7] The round at Sandown and the two Endurance Championship races at Tailem Bend and Bathurst were cancelled and replaced by one round at Bathurst due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Round Circuit Date
1   Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Victoria 13–14 March
2   Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, NSW 3–4 April
3   The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA 8–9 May
4   Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, NSW 2–3 December

Entry list

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Team Car No. Drivers Class Rounds
Car Driver
  OK Communication[8][N 1]
Hallmarc[9][N 1]
KFC Racing[10][N 1]
Bostik Racing[11][N 1]
Perfect Auto Body[10][N 1]
Forum Group[8][N 1]
CoinSpot[12][N 1]
Supabarn[13][N 1]
Forum[10][N 1]
Canon Foods[10][N 1]
The Bend Motorsport Park[14][N 1]
Audi R8 LMS Evo[8] 3   Eric Constantinidis[8] GT3 Am 3
9   Marc Cini[9] GT3 Am 2, 4
Audi R8 LMS (2015)[10] 23   Matt Stoupas[10] TPH 1, 3
  Max Twigg[15] 2
Audi R8 LMS Evo[11] 24   Tony Bates[11] GT3 PA 1–3
  Chaz Mostert[11] 1–2
  Dylan O'Keeffe[16] 3
Audi R8 LMS (2015)[10] 33   Vince Muriti[10] TPH 1–2
Audi R8 LMS Evo[12] 65   Fraser Ross[12] GT3 PA 4
  Liam Talbot[12]
67   Bill Papadimitriou[8] GT3 Am 3
69   James Koundouris[13] GT3 Am 4
  Theo Koundouris[13]
Audi R8 LMS ultra[10] 77   Vince Tesoriero[10] TPH 1, 3
  Bill Papadimitriou[10] 1
Audi R8 LMS Evo[10] 91   Arthur Abrahams[10] GT3 Am 1–3
Audi R8 LMS (2015)[10] 124   Gary Higgon[10] TPH 1–3
  Paul Stokell[10]
Audi R8 LMS Evo[14]   Gary Higgon[13] GT3 Am 4
  Paul Stokell[13]
777   Yasser Shahin[14] GT3 PA All
  Garth Tander[14] 1–3
  Christopher Mies[17] 4
  Grove Motorsport[18] Porsche 911 GT3 R[18] 4   Brenton Grove[18] GT3 PA All
  Stephen Grove[18]
  Arris Property Developments[10] Audi R8 LMS ultra[10] 5   Greg Taylor[10] TPH 1–3
  Wall Racing[9] Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo[9] 6   Adrian Deitz[9] GT3 PA 2
  David Wall[9]
  Keltic Racing[10] Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3[10] 7   Tony Quinn[10] GT3 Am 1–3
  What do you Meme?[8] Audi R8 LMS ultra[8] 17   Mark Rosser[8] TPH 3
Audi R8 LMS Evo[19]   Roberto Merhi[13] GT3 PA 4
  Mark Rosser[19]
  Daimler Trucks Brisbane[10] Mercedes-AMG GT4[10] 19   Mark Griffith[10] GT4 1–2, 4
  Perfect Auto Body[8] Mercedes-AMG GT3[8] 33   Vince Muriti[8] TPH 3
  KMB Motorsport[10] Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3[10][N 2] 38   Michael Bailey[10] TPH All
  RAM Motorsport[21][N 3]
Hobson Motorsport[10][N 3]
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo[21] 45   Mike Sheargold[21] GT3 Am 4
  Garth Walden[21]
Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 (2015)[10] 96   Brett Hobson[10] TPH All
  Mack Brothers Racing[10] Ferrari 458 Italia GT3[10] 47   Wayne Mack[10] TPH 1
  AMAC Motorsport[10] Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo[10] 51   Andrew Macpherson[10] GT3 Am 1–3
  Ben Porter[10]
Porsche 911 GT3 R (2017)[13]   Andrew Macpherson[13] 4
  Ben Porter[13]
  Schumacher Motorsport[10] Audi R8 LMS ultra[10] 55   Brad Schumacher[10] TPH 1–3
Audi R8 LMS (2015)[22] 4
  Dale Paterson Motorsport[10] Chevrolet Camaro SS GT3[10] 71   Dale Paterson[10] TPH 1
  Maranello Motorsport[10] Ferrari 488 GT3[10] 88   Adrian Deitz[10] GT3 Am 1
  Peter Edwards[10]
  Industrie[10] Audi R8 LMS ultra[10] 99   Nick Kelly[10] TPH 1
Mercedes-AMG GT3[9] 2–3
  Ashley Seward Motorsport[23] Porsche 911 GT3 R (997)[23] 222   Scott Taylor[23] TPH 4
  Triple Eight Race Engineering[24] Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo[24] 888   Prince Jefri Ibrahim[24] GT3 PA All
  Jamie Whincup[25] 1
  Shane van Gisbergen[24] 2
  Broc Feeney[26] 3
  Peter Hackett[27] 4
Icon Class
Car
GT3 GT3
TPH GT3 Trophy
GT4 GT4
Drivers
PA Pro-Am Cup
Am Am Cup

Race results

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Bold indicates overall winner

Round Circuit Pole position Pro-Am winners Am winners Trophy winners GT4 winners Ref.
1 R1   Phillip Island   No. 24 Bostik Racing   No. 777 The Bend Motorsport Park   No. 7 Keltic Racing   No. 23 KFC Racing No Starters [28]
  Tony Bates
  Chaz Mostert
  Yasser Shahin
  Garth Tander
  Tony Quinn   Matt Stoupas
R2   No. 777 The Bend Motorsport Park   No. 777 The Bend Motorsport Park   No. 91 Canon Foods   No. 96 Hobson Motorsport
  Yasser Shahin
  Garth Tander
  Yasser Shahin
  Garth Tander
  Arthur Abrahams   Brett Hobson
2 R1   Bathurst   No. 777 The Bend Motorsport Park   No. 888 Triple Eight Race Engineering   No. 7 Keltic Racing   No. 55 Schumacher Motorsport   No. 19 Daimler Trucks Brisbane
  Yasser Shahin
  Garth Tander
  Shane van Gisbergen
  Prince Jefri Ibrahim
  Tony Quinn   Brad Schumacher   Mark Griffith
R2   No. 888 Triple Eight Race Engineering   No. 777 The Bend Motorsport Park   No. 7 Keltic Racing   No. 55 Schumacher Motorsport   No. 19 Daimler Trucks Brisbane
  Shane van Gisbergen
  Prince Jefri Ibrahim
  Yasser Shahin
  Garth Tander
  Tony Quinn   Brad Schumacher   Mark Griffith
3 R1   Tailem Bend   No. 777 The Bend Motorsport Park   No. 777 The Bend Motorsport Park   No. 51 AMAC Motorsport   No. 96 Hobson Motorsport No Entries [29]
  Yasser Shahin
  Garth Tander
  Yasser Shahin
  Garth Tander
  Andrew Macpherson
  Ben Porter
  Brett Hobson
R2   No. 888 Triple Eight Race Engineering   No. 777 The Bend Motorsport Park   No. 51 AMAC Motorsport   No. 55 Schumacher Motorsport
  Broc Feeney
  Prince Jefri Ibrahim
  Yasser Shahin
  Garth Tander
  Andrew Macpherson
  Ben Porter
  Brad Schumacher
4 R1   Bathurst   No. 65 CoinSpot   No. 777 The Bend Motorsport Park   No. 124 KFC Racing   No. 96 Hobson Motorsport   No. 19 Daimler Trucks Brisbane
  Fraser Ross
  Liam Talbot
  Christopher Mies
  Yasser Shahin
  Gary Higgon
  Paul Stokell
  Brett Hobson   Mark Griffith
R2   No. 4 Grove Motorsport   No. 65 CoinSpot   No. 9 Hallmarc   No. 96 Hobson Motorsport   No. 19 Daimler Trucks Brisbane
  Brenton Grove
  Stephen Grove
  Fraser Ross
  Liam Talbot
  Marc Cini   Brett Hobson   Mark Griffith

Championship standings

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Scoring system
Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th 
Points 25 18 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 1
Pos. Driver Team PHI
 
BAT
 
BEN
 
BAT
 
Points
GT Pro-Am
1   Yasser Shahin   The Bend Motorsport Park 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 3 186
2   Garth Tander   The Bend Motorsport Park 1 1 2 1 2 1 143
3   Prince Jefri Ibrahim   Triple Eight Race Engineering 2 3 1 2 6 3 4 Ret 121
4   Brenton Grove
  Stephen Grove
  Grove Motorsport 6 2 5 4 12 2 7 4 111
5   Tony Bates   Bostik Racing 3 5 3 3 3 5 87
6   Chaz Mostert   Bostik Racing 3 5 3 3 57
7   Shane van Gisbergen   Triple Eight Race Engineering 1 2 43
8   Christopher Mies   The Bend Motorsport Park 1 3 43
9   Fraser Ross
  Liam Talbot
  CoinSpot 2 1 43
10   Jamie Whincup   Triple Eight Race Engineering 2 3 33
11   Dylan O'Keeffe   Bostik Racing 3 5 30
12   Broc Feeney   Triple Eight Race Engineering 6 3 30
13   Adrian Deitz
  David Wall
  Wall Racing 6 10 20
14   Peter Hackett   Triple Eight Race Engineering 4 Ret 15
15   Roberto Merhi
  Mark Rosser
  What do you Meme? Ret 5 12
GT Am
1   Andrew Macpherson
  Ben Porter
  AMAC Motorsport 14 10 11 11 7 10 9 Ret 131
2   Tony Quinn   Keltic Racing 8 9 9 6 9 Ret 111
3   Arthur Abrahams   Canon Foods 12 7 13 Ret 13 11 88
4   Marc Cini   Hallmarc 16 13 10 8 64
5   Gary Higgon
  Paul Stokell
  KFC Racing 5 10 40
6   Mike Sheargold
  Garth Walden
  RAM Motorsport 6 9 36
7   Bill Papadimitriou   Forum Group 11 14 27
8   Eric Constantinidis   OK Communication 18 13 25
  James Koundouris
  Theo Koundouris
  Supabarn Ret Ret
  Adrian Deitz
  Peter Edwards
  Maranello Motorsport Ret DNS
GT Trophy
1   Brad Schumacher   Schumacher Motorsport 5 Ret 4 5 8 4 8 7 138
2   Brett Hobson   Hobson Motorsport 7 4 8 DNS 1 Ret 3 2 130
3   Michael Bailey   KMB Motorsport Ret DNS 14 9 17 9 11 6 65
4   Greg Taylor   Arris Property Developments 10 11 10 Ret 4 8 64
5   Nick Kelly   Industrie 9 Ret 12 8 14 6 63
6   Matt Stoupas   KFC Racing 4 DSQ 10 7 50
7   Max Twigg   KFC Racing 7 7 36
8   Gary Higgon
  Paul Stokell
  KFC Racing Ret 8 15 12 16 Ret 35
9   Dale Paterson   Dale Paterson Motorsport 13 6 24
10   Scott Taylor   Ashley Seward Motorsport 12 11 24
11   Vince Muriti   Perfect Auto Body 11 Ret WD WD 15 12 22
12   Vince Tesoriero   Forum 15 12 Ret 15 20
13   Mark Rosser   What do you Meme? 5 Ret 15
14   Bill Papadimitriou   Forum 15 12 14
  Wayne Mack   Mack Brothers Racing Ret DNS
GT4
1   Mark Griffith   Daimler Trucks Brisbane WD WD 17 14 13 12 100
Pos. Driver Team PHI
 
BAT
 
BEN
 
BAT
 
Points
Key
Colour Result
Gold Race winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
Excluded (EX)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Withdrew (WD)
Blank Did not participate

Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest lap

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Car No. 3 entered as OK Communication, car No. 9 entered as Hallmarc, cars No. 23 and 124 entered as KFC Racing, car No. 24 entered as Bostik Racing, car No. 33 entered as Perfect Auto Body, car No. 65 entered as CoinSpot, car No. 67 entered as Forum Group, car No. 69 entered as Supabarn, car No. 77 entered as Forum, car No. 91 entered as Canon Foods and car No. 777 entered as The Bend Motorsport Park. All twelve entries were run by Melbourne Performance Centre.
  2. ^ Michael Bailey initially entered a Bentley Continental GT3 (2017) for the final round at Bathurst,[20] but he wrote that car off in a crash in a practice session. He then switched back to the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 for qualifying and the races.
  3. ^ a b Car No. 45 entered as RAM Motorsport and car No. 96 entered as Hobson Motorsport. Both entries were run by GWR Australia.

References

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  1. ^ GT World Challenge Australia – Sporting Regulations 2021 –Version 2, motorsport.org.au, as archived at web.archive.org
  2. ^ a b "Double Round at The Bend Removed from Racing Calendar". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  3. ^ Goodwin, Graham (19 November 2020). "GT World Challenge Australia Joins SRO Family in 2021". dailysportscar.com. Daily Sports Car. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. ^ Perrins, Slade (16 December 2020). "Six-Event 2021 Calendar Revealed". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  5. ^ Perrins, Slade (12 February 2021). "Victoria Lockdown Forces Phillip Island Postponement". SportsCar365.com. John Dagys Media, LLC. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  6. ^ "New Phillip Island date locked in for March". australianracinggroup.com. Australian Racing Group. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Australian GT gets new calendar, global recognition". 5 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Field set for The Bend". Speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Shane van Gisbergen headlines GT Entry List for Round 2 at Mount Panorama". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay "Strong field set for first-ever Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d Perrins, Slade (14 January 2021). "Mostert to Drive Audi as First Entry Announced". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d "CoinSpot Enters Australian Motorsport with Fraser Ross and Liam Talbot at Bathurst". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i "International Stars Join GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS Finale". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d Perrins, Slade (10 February 2021). "Tander Lands Audi GT3 Drive with Shahin". SportsCar365.com. John Dagys Media, LLC. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  15. ^ "GT World Challenge Australia Mount Panorama results". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. GT World Challenge Australia. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  16. ^ "O'Keefe to replace Mostert in GT for the Bend". Speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Christopher Mies Excited for Bathurst Return". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d "Grove Motorsport announces GT World Challenge Australia campaign in Porsche". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. GT World Challenge Australia. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Mark Rosser Reveals New Livery before Bathurst". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  20. ^ "GT World Challenge Australia Could Welcome Bentley". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  21. ^ a b c d "RAM Motorsport To Make GT World Challenge Australia Debut at Bathurst". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Brad Schumacher Upgrades ahead of Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS Finale". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  23. ^ a b c "Scott Taylor Links Up with Ashley Seward Motorsport for Bathurst". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  24. ^ a b c d Coch, Matt (8 February 2021). "Triple Eight announces GT programme". Speedcafe. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  25. ^ Perrins, Slade (6 March 2021). "Whincup to Sub for Injured Van Gisbergen". SportsCar365.com. John Dagys Media, LLC. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Feeney to replace Van Gisbergen in GT for the Bend". Speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Peter Hackett Joins Triple Eight for Bathurst Finale". gt-world-challenge-australia.com. ARG. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  28. ^ "GT World Challenge Australia Phillip Island results". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  29. ^ "GT World Challenge Australia The Bend results". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
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