Peroni and Rosser (#268 Audi R8) picked up their first victory of the season, and the first GTWC victory in Darwin, leading from lights to flag as drama occurred behind.
The win promotes Rosser to the championship lead by a single point after several title contenders suffered tough outings.
Jayden Ojeda/Paul Lucchitti (#66 Mercedes-AMG) came home in second place, with Will Davison/Renee Gracie (#181 Ferrari 296) in third.
Broc Feeney/Brad Schumacher (#1 Audi) battled through the field after a first lap mishap to finish fourth, while Josh Buchan/Cameron Campbell (#23 Ferrari) rounded out the top five.
Chaos erupted at Turn 1 on the opening lap.
Sergio Pires got the jump over Rosser at the start, however several drivers set about battling for position behind.
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Elliott Schutte ran down the inside, three-wide with Steve Brooks and Pires on the outside.
Schutte’s Ferrari climbed over the inside kerb, forcing Brooks into Pires, breaking the Ferrari’s steering and puncturing the right front tyre.
In an effort to avoid the chaos, Darren Currie spun to the inside across Shane Smollen’s nose.
Simultaneously, Schumacher spun on the exit kerb, tumbling to the back of the field from second place.
Brooks suffered panel damage to the left-hand side of his Audi, forced to pit in the opening laps with a mechanical black flag, promoting Lucchitti to second place.
Schutte managed to limp the Ferrari back to the pits, forced to retire the car, costing crucial places in the championship.
Schumacher set about a mammoth recovery effort, carving back through the field, consistently setting and lowering the fastest lap on his charge.
His recovery drive was hampered by a five second penalty while battling for fifth with Pires.
Pires appeared to give Schumacher room at Turn 5, but the reigning champion made contact with the current championship leader, forcing the Mercedes wide.
Schumacher confirmed on the broadcast that the contact was unintentional, admitting that he spoke to Pires to apologise.
Feeney emerged in fifth after the penalty was served in the pit stop, setting about continuing the recovery drive.
The reigning champion made short work of Buchan in the Zagame Autosport Ferrari to move into fourth, before chasing down Davison for third.
Peroni was unchallenged at the front having taken over from Rosser, holding a steady gap over Ojeda.
Feeney caught Davison inside the final 10 minutes after the Ferrari lost time relative to Ojeda.
Garnet Patterson/JP Drake (#666 Audi) came home in sixth after a stunning drive by Drake in the opening stint.
Brendon Leitch and Pires (#44 Mercedes) bounced back from the drama to bank crucial championship points in seventh, ahead of Tigani Motorsport teammates Oscar Targett and Smollen in the #56 entry.
Trophy Class winners Paul Stokell/Matt Stoupas (#24 Audi) finished ninth, while Valentino Astuti/Currie (#2 Audi) rounded out the top 10.
GT World Challenge Australia returns for a final one-hour race on Sunday 10:10am ACST.

























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