Seven Manufacturers Set For New Season

GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS is set to feature representation from seven different manufacturers this year as the series’ grid continues to take shape ahead of next weekend’s Phillip Island season opener.

SRO Motorsports Australia announced on Tuesday during its media day, held at the same circuit, that McLaren will be joining the existing six manufacturers from last year: Aston Martin, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.

It follows the start of Volante Rosso Motorsport’s new tie-up with McLaren to campaign a 720s GT3 Evo at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour in February, although the team has yet to formalize its GTWC Australia plans.

A total of five marques were represented as 12 cars took part in official testing across a trio of one-hour sessions at Phillip Island on Tuesday.

Tigani Motorsport took part with all four of its Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos and its Trophy class Porsche 911 GT3 R, while Arise Racing GT was present with two Ferrari 296 GT3s alongside single cars each from Zagame Autosport and OnlyFans Racing.

Also in action were Wall Racing’s solo Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 and a pair of Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo IIs, one entered by Team BRM and the other by Wolfbrook Motorsport.

It was the No. 88 Wolfbrook entry — now run by BRM rather than Melbourne Performance Centre — that posted the day’s top time, a 1:26.678, ahead of the No. 268 BRM Audi and the No. 26 Arise Ferrari that was confirmed by the team on Monday.

Announcements regarding the two BRM-run Audi entries as well as the second Arise Ferrari are expected in the run-up to the Phillip Island opener.

It was also announced on Tuesday that Monochrome GT4 Australia is set for a capacity 34-car field as SRO Australia anticipates a combined 50-car presence across both series — implying at least 16 cars for the GTWC Australia opener.

“We’re really pleased with the response from teams and manufacturers for the upcoming season and having more than 50 cars for the season opener at Phillip Island reassures us that we’re on the right path,” said Ben McMellan, CEO SRO Motorsports Australia.

“We also couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year in Monochrome GT4 Australia with the 34-grid for Phillip Island at capacity.

“We have also had a lot of interest from previous competitors to join us at later rounds, while also welcoming a number of new drivers too to the fold.

“I am really looking forward to the continued growth for GT racing in Australia, which I would like thank all the competitors, manufacturers and our partners for their unwavering support.”