Qualifying race for Australian GT finale

The final round of the Australian GT Championship at Hampton Downs, which doubles as the finale of the Australian Endurance Championship, will feature a 30-lap qualifying race.

The starting grid for the Laser Plumbing & Electrical Hampton Downs 500 will be decided in a multi-part process, starting with two pre-qualifying sessions followed by the qualifying race on Saturday afternoon.

There will be 20 points on the line for the pole-sitters, which could see the Australian GT Championship lead change hands before the start of the 500 proper.

The qualifying race will feature a compulsory pit stop while Sunday’s finale is scheduled for 101 laps.

Fraser Ross (Total/Opti-Coat McLaren) currently leads the Australian GT Championship, and will drive with Duvashen Padayachee at the North Waikato circuit.

He is trailed by Peter Hackett (Eggleston Motorsport Mercedes-AMG), who will be partnered by Dominic Storey as he was at the Australian Grand Prix season-opener, at 16 points behind.

Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 winner Steven Richards (BMW Team SRM M6 GT3), who will drive with Michael Almond, is 19 points further back.

He is also only 36 points off the lead of the Australian Endurance Championship, which is held by Max Twigg and Tony D’Alberto (WM Waste Management Mercedes-AMG GT3), in second position.

Tony Bates and Daniel Gaunt (KFC Audi R8 LMS GT3), who won the Phillip Island 101, are only another six points in arrears.

Garth Tander rejoins Jamec Pem Racing to drive with Geoff Emery (Audi R8 LMS GT3), while Craig Baird again partners with Scott Taylor in the latter’s Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The round, the last for Australian GT at Hampton Downs for the foreseeable future, begins with an hour-long practice session this Friday.

Schedule (NZDT)