GT World Challenge Australia Season Finale: Championship Drama at Hampton Downs
The GT World Challenge Australia culminated at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, where the Pro-Am championship reached a thrilling conclusion. The #26 Arise Racing Ferrari duo of Jaxon Evans and Elliot Schutte entered the weekend with a 30-point lead over the #888 Kelso Electrical Racing Audi team of Brad Schumacher and Broc Feeney.
Key Weekend Highlights
Qualifying Results:
- Qualifying 1: Broc Feeney secured pole with a time of 1:29.748, narrowly edging out Evans.
- Qualifying 2: Brad Schumacher claimed pole with a time of 1:30.305, eight-tenths ahead of Liam Talbot in the #1 Aston Martin. Schutte qualified third for the Ferrari.
After qualifying, the gap between the two championship contenders narrowed to 28 points.
Race 1 Summary
In Race 1, Schumacher initially led but soon lost the front position to Talbot, who capitalized on a mistake in the “Double B” section. While Feeney faced a challenge from the field, he rallied and caught up to Talbot, ultimately securing first place after a strong performance featuring consistent laps.
- Race 1 Results:
- 1st: Broc Feeney (#888 Audi)
- 2nd: Liam Talbot (#1 Aston Martin)
- 3rd: Ryan Wood/Steve Brooks (#88 Audi)
Jaxon Evans managed a fourth-place finish for the #26 Ferrari, reducing their championship advantage to 15 points.
Race 2 Summary
Race 2 commenced under safety car conditions following an early incident. After the restart, Schumacher and Feeney took the lead, with Schumacher displaying exceptional speed and overtaking Schutte for the win.
- Controversy: Schutte was initially credited with second place, but a post-race penalty for accelerating under yellow flags demoted the #26 Ferrari to seventh, effectively costing them the championship.
Final Standings
- Championship Results:
- Champion: Brad Schumacher (#888 Audi)
- 2nd: Ryan Wood/Steve Brooks (#88 Audi)
- 3rd: Ojeda/Lucchitti (#66 Mercedes)
Brad Schumacher’s victory marks a historic achievement as the first driver to transition from an Am-class championship to win the Pro-Am title in GT World Challenge Australia.
This season showcased a remarkable turnaround for Schumacher and Feeney, who overcame a challenging start to finish strong with four race wins and secure the championship by just four points, further solidifying Audi’s presence in GT World Challenge Australia after Liam Talbot’s success in 2023.
