The 2026 GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS season resumes this weekend, with 16 cars set to do battle in Tailem Bend for LIQUI MOLY GT Festival The Bend as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries’ second event of the year.
Held at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, the GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS season enters the event off the back of a gripping season opener at Phillip Island, where there was plenty of drama and entertainment across three jam-packed days, with seven manufacturers taking centre stage on the Island.
While the Victorian crowd had a show put on for them by a star-studded entry list with top-spec GT machinery, this weekend’s event will run with a mostly unchanged field from the opening round.
As reigning Pro-Am Champions Broc Feeney and Brad Schumacher got off to a brilliant start and lead the standings heading into round two, they once again find themselves against a familiar group of title contenders – led by Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte in their Ferrari 296 GT3 and the Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG of Jayden Ojeda and Paul Lucchitti.
Audi
Boasting the largest manufacturer representation on the GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS grid, there will be six Audi R8 LMS EVO IIs at The Bend, spread across Pro-Am and Trophy classes - increasing from five at Phillip Island.
Mostly unchanged from the Island, with Feeney and Schumacher leading the manufacturer’s charge alongside fellow Melbourne Performance Centre entrants Matthew Stoupas and Paul Stokell in the #24 KFC Audi, and the #2 Team MPC Audi of SRO GT Academy driver Valentino Astuti and Darren Currie, the biggest shake-up is in Team BRM, who bring in a brand new entry to the field.
The South Australian outfit will welcome GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS debutant John-Paul Drake and his long-time coach Garnet Patterson to the team, with the pair to be behind the wheel of the #666 Team BRM Audi.
While they bring a new pairing in, the team keeps the same line up in the other Audi, with Thomas Randle remaining Mark Rosser’s teammate as Alex Peroni continues to recover from a broken bone.
Rounding out the team is the team’s third entry, with Steve Brooks and Ryan Wood hopeful of guiding their #88 Wolfbrook Motorsport Audi up the standings.
#1 Kelso Electrical MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Broc Feeney & Brad Schumacher (Pro-Am)
#2 Trading Garage Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Valentino Astuti & Darren Currie (Pro-Am)
#24 KFC Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Matthew Stoupas & Paul Stokell (Trophy)
#88 Team BRM Wolfbrook Motorsport Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Ryan Wood & Steve Brooks (Pro-Am)
#268 Castrol Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Thomas Randle & Mark Rosser (Pro-Am)
#666 Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II - Garnet Patterson & John Paul Drake (Pro-Am)
Aston Martin
Another change for the GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS field comes in the Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, with SRO Academy Driver Alex Gardner to be joined by experienced GT driver Ben Porter, who replaces Lee Stibbs in the #14 Aston Martin.
Porter’s inclusion will see the pair team up for the first time since 2024, where they debuted the Aston Martin together for Volante Rosso at Queensland Raceway.
#14 Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 – Alex Gardner & Ben Porter (Trophy)
Ferrari
Like Phillip Island, there will be three Ferrari 296 GT3s in action at Tailem Bend, with ARGT’s Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte leading the charge as the pair sit second in the standings - just two points off the top.Zagame Autosport’s Josh Buchan and Cameron Campbell are back from a trip overseas and in the #23 Ferrari 296 GT3, with the pair having raced at the famous Silverstone 500 earlier this month.
Making up the Ferrari charge is the #181 OnlyFans Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 of Renee Gracie and Supercars race winner Will Davison, who will be looking to improve on their first-round efforts following their debut with the famous brand.
#23 Zagame Autosport Ferrari 296 GT3 – Cameron Campbell & Josh Buchan (Pro-Am)
#26 ARGT Ferrari 296 GT3 – Jaxon Evans & Elliott Schutte (Pro-Am)
#181 OnlyFans Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 – Renee Gracie & William Davison (Pro-Am)
Lamborghini
Tony D’Alberto and Adrian Deitz picked up their best result together from the last few seasons in the Wall Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO I at Phillip Island last month, and the pair will once again be hoping to continue building on their upward trajectory, having started the year strongly at the Bathurst 12 Hour.
#93 Wall Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO II – Tony D’Alberto & Adrian Deitz (Pro-Am)
McLaren
A top 10 finish highlighted McLaren’s grand return to GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS, as Volante Rosso Motorsport’s Josh Hunt and Geoff Emery overcame some early teething problems to show plenty of promise in the opening round’s second race – a feat they will undoubtedly build on this weekend.
#15 Volante Rosso Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Evo – Josh Hunt & Geoff Emery (Pro-Am)
Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG will once again roll out three cars at The Bend, with all entries flying under the Tigani Motorsport banner.The Mercedes-AMG works team will be led by Phillip Island’s Race 2 winners Ojeda and Lucchitti, while the #44 entry of Sergio Pires and Kiwi star Brendon Leitch will be keen to bounce back after late drama in that same outing.
Oscar Targett and Shane Smollen will enter the round off the back of a very impressive maiden performance together, with the duo ending the weekend in fifth place in the standings, while Targett comfortably leads the way in the SRO GT Academy points as he looks to secure a fully paid entry in the CrowdStrike 24Hr of Spa as part of the SRO GT Academy.
#44 Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO – Brendon Leitch & Sergio Pires (Pro-Am)
#56 Kollosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO – Oscar Targett & Shane Smollen (Pro-Am)
#66 Move My Wheels by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO – Jayden Ojeda & Paul Lucchitti (Pro-Am)
Porsche
Tigani Motorsport’s fourth entry sees Luke Youlden and Nathan Halstead behind the wheel of the category’s sole Porsche, with the pair steering the #71 911 GT3 R as they look to build on their Race 1 Trophy Class victory in the opening round.
#71 AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R (991.1) – Luke Youlden & Nathan Halstead (Trophy)
For those who are unable to attend this weekend's LIQUI MOLY GT Festival The Bend, you can follow all of Saturday and Sunday’s sessions via the live broadcast on FOX SPORTS Australia and Kayo SPORTS. Viewers outside of Australia will be able to watch via the GT World YouTube stream.
Weekend Schedule*
Friday 8 May
Practice 1 / 09:20am - 10:20am
Bronze Practice / 1:00pm - 1:40pm
Practice 2 / 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Saturday 9 May
Qualifying 1 / 10:15am - 10:30am
Qualifying 2 / 10:40am - 10:55am
Race 1 / 4:20pm - 5:20pm
Sunday 10 May
Race 2 Grid Walk / 1:45pm - 2:00pm
Race 2 / 2:10pm - 3:10pm
*All times in ACST