McElrea Racing’s James Abela secured the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Jim Richards Trophy in round five of the Shannons Nationals at Queensland Raceway.

While Ryan Simpson took the spoils from Dylan O’Keefe in the category’s opening race of the weekend, all eyes were on the battle between Abela and Jon McCorkindale for the Jim Richards enduro crown.

The pair were locked on points coming into the final round of the three race series, and after a race long battle it was Abela, who pipped McCorkindale to third to take the crown.

“It’s a big step for me this year, getting my head around the Porsche,” said Abela.

“I really didn’t expect to be this far up so early in the year and it’s an honour to add my name to the list of drivers who have won the endurance title.”

Holden Racing Team V8 Supercar co-driver Jack Perkins edged reinging Kerrick Sports Sedan champion Tony Ricciardello in a thriller.

Perkins led the entire race from pole position but was forced to withstand immense pressure from the Alfa Romeo of Ricciardello.

In the end, Perkins hung on to take the chequered flag by 0.4s, with Steven Tamasi’s Holden Calibra in third.

Beric Lynton produced an impressive drive to claim victory in the Australian Manufacturers Championship ‘Fight in the Night’ showpiece.

The Gold Coast BMW driver emerged in the lead after the second round of pit stops in the strategy dominated 200km encounter.

Lynton managed the gap for the remainder of the race to ultimately record an unchallenged win from the BMW 135i of Grant and Iain Sherrin.

Aaron Seton and Rick Bates in the ProDuct Racing Mitsubishi Lancer had to settle for third.

Teenager Alex Rullo turned heads once again in the Kumho V8 Touring Car Series as he converted a pole position into a comfortable two second victory from Eggleston Motorsport’s Liam McAdam.

The victory comes after the 14-year-old made history at Winton in June by becoming the youngest ever winner of a CAMS circuit event.

Steven Devjak brought his BF Falcon home in third ahead of fellow BF Falcon runners Jake Kostecki and Jason Heck.

Roland Legge recorded his maiden win in the Australian Formula 3 Championship with a dominant lights-to-flag win from Jon Collins.

A perfect start from the Mackay driver paved the way to victory from Collins, who extended his championship lead to five points, as rival Ricky Capo finished third.

The returning Chris Gilmour finished fourth in front of Trent Shirvington and National Class runner Roman Krumins.

The Australian Formula Ford Series produced a titanic scrap between Cameron Hill and Luis Leeds with the latter narrowly taking the victory.

Leeds, who also contests the Australian Formula 4 Championship, led from the outset before losing the advantage to series leader Hill towards the end of the opening lap.

Hill managed to fend off Leeds for the majority of the race until lap 11 when the Victorian’s pressure finally took its toll.

However, the introduction of the Safety Car for Thomas Maxwell set up a frantic finish, resulting in Leeds holding on to clinch his second win of the season by 0.06s.

Victoria’s Christian Morina came home in third just ahead of Andrew Kahl and Will Brown.

Ben Grice, the son of touring car legend Allan Grice, extended his run of victories to four with a dominant lights-to-flag win in the Super Six Touring Car Series.

Grice led every lap from pole in his Holden Commodore to take the chequered flag with a five second margin over fellow Holden driver Gavin Ross.

Ross just held out Queenslander Ashley Jarvis, who claimed the final place on the podium in his Ford Falcon AU.

Mark Laucke produced an impressive comeback drive to clinch victory in the opening Sports Racer Series race of the weekend.

The polesitter was three seconds adrift with four laps remaining before a late charge from the South Australian saw him overhaul Joshua Townsend and Adam Cranston for the win.

The fifth round of the Shannons Nationals at Queensland Raceway continues on Sunday.