The Carrera Cup Australia drivers have taken first blood against their Asian counterparts at Sydney Motorsport Park, winning the right to start both of Sunday’s combined races from pole position.
The weekend’s Porsche format will see two races that pit the championships against each other – one heat for all of the Professional drivers and one for the Challenge/Class B entrants.
Grids for both will be split down championship lines, with one side made up of CC Australia competitors and the other side CC Asia.
The Australians will line-up on the pole side for both races after winning a pair of coin tosses at a welcome function last night.
The starting order within the two lines will be determined by each championship’s own qualifying session, the first of which takes place this afternoon.
CC Australia points leader Matt Campbell enters the weekend as a hot favourite after dominating the Rennsport round at the Sydney venue earlier this year.
Despite his form at the circuit, the youngster isn’t underestimating the visitors.
“There’s some fantastic talent in Asia and it’s going to be really interesting racing, that’s for sure,” said Campbell.
“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to throw a spanner in the works but we’ll see how we go.”
Like the vast majority of the CC Asia field, Porsche China Junior driver Andrew Tang is having his first run on Australian soil.
The 22-year-old however hopes that his experience on New Zealand circuits in the Toyota Racing Series will provide some benefit as he goes about learning Sydney Motorsport Park.
“The bumpy and smaller tracks are a little more challenging, but all of us welcome the challenge,” said Tang.
“I’m sure the competition here is really high, so I’m looking forward to getting on track with them.
“Having 40 cars racing together (on the same weekend) is just massive and I’m sure the competition from both series will really show.”
Both CC Australia and CC Asia will hold their own separate championship rounds this weekend prior to Sunday’s two combined races.