Queensland Raceway: Friday wrap

National Trans Am Series 

Practice 1  

Tim Brook wasted no time in his return to the series, going fastest in the opening practice session of the weekend in his first run in a Dodge Challenger.  

Brook set the benchmark time of 1:12.19, three-tenths of a second ahead of the All American Driveline Ford Mustang piloted by Ben Grice.  

Series leader, James Moffat rounded out the top three places, only a further tenth of a second back from Grice in a session that saw the top nine drivers separated by less than a second.  

Practice 2 

Tim Brook made it two from two for the day, topping the second practice session ahead of an impressive Edan Thornburrow.  

Although, the lead wasn’t comfortable at the top, with the latter less than two-tenths of a second back from the former in this instance. 

Much like the opening session, James Moffat would get the better of teammate and title rival, Lochie Dalton while Elliot Barbour recovered nicely after an incident earlier on in the day to finish in fourth. 

The National Trans Am Series will return to the track first thing Saturday morning for the all-important qualifying session at 9:00am AEST.

Supercheap Auto TCR Australia 

Practice 1 

The two new inclusions to this weekend’s field after Winton have made an early statement, going one-two in the opening practice session.  

Will Brown was comfortably on top, heading the returning Tim Slade in the Lynk & Co by more than four-tenths of a second.  

Running in third was Zac Soutar, who was neck-and-neck with series leader Bailey Sweeny throughout but got the better of the New South Welshman this time around.  

Practice 2 

Will Brown backed up his morning form by going fastest in the afternoons second practice, finishing seven tenths of a second ahead of series leader, Bailey Sweeny in a dominant display.  

Rounding out the top three was Tim Slade, who now has two top three finishes for the day while reigning champion, Tony D’Alberto was next up and started to show some of the form we have come to expect at a circuit he dominated at last year.  

Zac Soutar rounded out the top five places ahead of Ben Bargwanna, while Michael Clemente still remains outside the top 10. 

Supercheap Auto TCR Australia qualifying will kick off on Saturday at 11:45am AEST.

 

Mobil 1 Australian Production Car Series and Monochrome GT4 Australia Series 

Practice 1 

Jake Camilleri topped the timesheets in the first practice session of the weekend, finishing ahead of GT4 series leader, Shane Smollen.  

Smollen had plenty of time out on track with an equal session high 12 laps completed, finishing just under four tenths of a second ahead of Chris Pappas in third, competing in the picturesque McLaren 570S. 

Grant Sherrin was next best behind Camilleri for the APC, mustering seventh outright.  

Qualifying 

Shane Smollen and Lachlan Mineeff went fastest in the weekends first competitive session, dominating the rest of the field in the process.  

Steve Jukes and Justin Anthony claimed second in qualifying but were over a second back from Smollen and Mineeff, while Karl Begg and Paul Morris had an impressive outing in third.  

Leading the APC class was Grant Sherrin, finishing less than a tenth of a second ahead of Iain Sherrin. While the duo will head their class, they will start outright seventh and eighth respectively. 

Race 1

Shane Smollen and Lachlan Mineeff were first across the line for GT4, in what was a dominant performance from start to finish while Coleby Cowham claimed top honours in the APC.

Starting from pole position, Smollen held the advantage at the race start and led through to the pit stop phase, which occurred just before the halfway point of the race – where he would then switch with Mineeff.

Despite it being Mineeff’s first category race, the TCR Regular got the job done, finishing over 30 seconds clear of Steve Jukes and Justin Anthony in second.

Tony and Ryder Quinn would come home in third after Chris Pappas was unable to return to the track after opting for a longer first stint.

Title contender, Grant Sherrin was leading the way in APC for the majority of the outing before making an unplanned pit stop with two laps remaining, promoting Cowham into the race lead.

Coming in second place was Beric Lynton, who is running as a solo entrant at Queensland Raceway this year after years of domination in the Fight in the Night race with Tim Leahey – who finished eighth in class.

Rounding out the top three was Dean Campbell and Cameron Crick, finishing ahead of Robert Gooley and Maika Terhorst.

The category will return on Saturday at 5:55pm AEST for the weekends headline act ‘Fight in the Night’. 

Kumho V8 Touring Car Series 

Practice 1  

Jude Bargwanna continued where he left off from Hi-Tec Oils Race Winton, taking the first practice session ahead of Ray Hislop at Queensland Raceway – who returns to the series after missing the previous round.  

Despite Bargwanna being in familiar territory on top, Hislop was only two-tenths of a second behind whilst completing two less laps.  

Running in third place was Jamie Tilley, who got the better of 2023 rival Jim Pollicina in fourth while finishing only six-hundredths of a second behind Hislop.  

Practice 2 

Jude Bargwanna once again went fastest in the second practice session of the weekend, with the Anderson Motorsport entry almost half a second quicker than Jamie Tilley.  

Tilley did well to improve on his position in the first practice, with the Notlaw Racing Ford Falcon this time getting the best of the RHM/Nulon Falcon entry piloted by Ray Hislop in third.  

Making his first appearance of the season, Jarred Danaher went fourth fastest ahead of the experienced Jim Pollicina. 

Qualifying 

Jude Bargwanna continued his dominant run to make it three category pole positions in a row in Friday’s Qualifying session, edging out Notlaw Racing’s Jamie Tilley. 

In what was Bargwanna’s smallest qualifying margin of the year so far, Tilley will be in prime position to take on the series leader in Saturday’s first race – but will have to fend off Ray Hislop in the process after the experienced driver claimed third.  

Jarred Danaher will be pleased with fourth in his first qualifying of the year, while Jim Pollicina will need to rely on one of his iconic race starts after only managing sixth. 

Race one of the Kumho V8 Touring Car Series will take place at 9:30am AEST on Saturday.

 

Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge 

Practice 1 

Marcos Flack climbed his way to the top of the timesheets in the categories first practice session of the weekend, edging out title contender, Ronan Murphy by less than a tenth of a second. 

A late red flag put an early halt on the session, stopping Ramu Farrell from breaking into the top two but settling nicely into third a couple of tenths back. 

Rounding out the top five places were McElrea Racing’s Caleb Sumich and ‘The Flash’ Nash Morris in a tightly contested session that saw even sixth place runner Aron Shields finish within five-tenths of a second to the session leader. 

Series leader, Marco Giltrap was 11th fastest.  

Practice 2 

Marco Flack backed up his earlier form by going fastest again in the second practice, this time ahead of Team Navy’s Lachlan Bloxsom by less than a tenth of a second.  

Ronan Murphy rounded out the top three only a further tenth behind, not giving in to any pressure as Caleb Sumich, Oscar Targett and Nash Morris all finish within three-tenths of a second of Flack.  

Still struggling to find their way up the timing sheets are series leader, Marco Giltrap and previous round winner, Aron Shields who finished in 10th and 11th respectively. 

Qualifying 

Oscar Targett locked in taken pole position in one of the closest qualifying session you will ever see, edging out Nash Morris by 0.0012 of a second.  

Morris set his fastest time of 1:09.9455 early on in the session, looking certain to take pole before Targett posted a 1:09.9443 in the dying stages.  

After topping both practice sessions earlier in the day, Marcos Flack will start in third place for race one, while Lachlan Bloxsom will line up alongside him on the second row. 

The first race of the weekend for Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia will kick off at 1:00pm AEST on Saturday.

 

Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS 

Practice 1 

Ross Poulakis and Jayden Ojeda had a perfect start to the weekend at Queensland Raceway, topping Geoff Emery and Max Hofer by just over a tenth of a second.  

The returning fan-favourite, Garth Tander showed no signs of rust with a third-place finish alongside series leader, Liam Talbot, powering their Audi R8 LMS Evo 2 ahead of another Harrolds Racing/Volante Rosso Motorsport entry in Christos Batzios and Josh Hunt.  

Renee Gracie led the way in the GT3 class, while Matt Stoupas and Paul Stokell were the AM leaders with fifth outright.  

Practice 2 

Liam Talbot and Garth Tander led a star-studded top three in the categories second practice session of the day, finishing almost half a second clear of their nearest competitors. 

The session was interrupted when a red flag was waved after Renee Gracie found herself bogged after going off track – but was able to get back underway for one last stretch of laps.  

In the end, it was a pair or Triple Eight’s filling the remaining top three places, Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim and Jamie Whincup were second, while Prince Jefri Ibrahim and Broc Feeney were a whisker away in third. 

Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS will next take the track for qualifying on Saturday at 10:00am AEST.