Porsche Carrera Cup Australia drivers will this weekend tackle Australia’s most challenging race circuit in Mount Panorama, where the 18-strong field, including two returning racers, will face the series’ most demanding endurance test to date.
With just two rounds remaining for the 2017 season, Carrera Cup will hold a 16-lap race on Friday afternoon as the second instalment of the three-race Endurance Cup. At 99.4km in length, Friday’s opening race is the longest scheduled single-driver race in Carrera Cup Australia history. The race eclipses the length of the 89.4km Gold Coast endurance race in 2004, which was won by current Endurance Cup points leader Alex Davison.
Two former front-runners will return to Carrera Cup for this weekend’s Bathurst round. Six-time Carrera Cup Australia race winner Dan Gaunt returns to the Porsche series in the #8 Porsche Centre Melbourne entry. Meanwhile, former triple TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge champion Max Twigg makes a return to the series for the final two events of 2017.
Following his recent round victory at Sandown Raceway, Sonic Motor Racing driver Nick McBride hopes to continue his winning momentum into Bathurst, where he looks to break the recent four-year winning streak of McElrea Racing – Warren Luff (2013), Shae Davies (2014) and Matt Campbell (2015-2016) – at the regional New South Wales round.
“Bathurst is the ultimate driving challenge. It hasn’t traditionally been a strong track for me but I’m really looking forward to changing that for the coming round this weekend,” said McBride.
“Sandown was a great round for me and a change in form from earlier in the season. I’m hoping I can continue this at Bathurst for what is one of the best rounds of the year.”
Meanwhile, fresh from his second Porsche Carrera Cup Asia appearance of the season at Sepang International Circuit last weekend, Stephen Grove is hoping for a strong performance at his favourite Australian circuit.
“I love Bathurst. Outside of Spa-Francorchamps it’s my favourite track and I can’t wait to get up there for the next Carrera Cup round,” said Grove, who holds a convincing lead in the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge standings.
“Bathurst is a track that really awards commitment so I just want to go there and give it my all and hopefully that results in a strong performance.”
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia will hold its sole practice session on Thursday, qualifying and the endurance-style race one on Friday, followed by a single sprint race on both Saturday and Sunday.
Race Schedule
Thursday October 05, 2017
3:55pm Practice 1 (50 minutes)
Friday October 06, 2017
10:00am Qualifying (30 minutes)
2:05pm Race 1 (16 laps)
Saturday October 07, 2017
4:30pm Race 2 (9 laps)
Sunday October 08, 2017
9:30am Race 3 (9 laps)
Broadcast Schedule
Channel: Fox Sports 506
Practice – 3:55pm, Thursday October 05
Qualifying – 10:00am, Friday October 06
Race 1 – 2:05pm, Friday October 06
Race 2 – 4:30pm, Saturday October 07
Race 3 – 9:30am, Sunday October 08
Channel: TEN
To be confirmed.
Entry List: Round 7 – Mount Panorama, Bathurst
#4 Stephen Grove (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Grove Group
#5 Cameron McConville (Outright) Repair Management Australia
#7 Jaxon Evans (Outright) Hungry Jacks
#8 Dan Gaunt (Outright) Porsche Centre Melbourne
#9 Marc Cini (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Hallmarc
#13 Sam Shahin (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) HTFU
#18 Max Twigg (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge)
#26 Michael Almond (Outright) Copyworld
#33 Simon Ellingham (Outright) Peak Marketing
#38 David Wall (Outright) PAYCE/Wilson Security
#70 Tim Miles (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Miles Advisory Partners
#77 Nick McBride (Outright) Sonic / Bob Jane T-Marts
#79 Jordan Love (Outright) Sonic Motor Racing / Quintis
#88 Dylan O’Keeffe (Outright) APB Group/President Limo Australia
#131 Graham Williams (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) WRA
#136 James Abela (Outright) Horsley Park Gun Shop
#777 Andre Heimgartner (Outright) Bob Jane T-Marts / Money Now
#888 Alex Davison (Outright) President Limo Australia
