Unfortunately we’re stuck here over in Perth at the moment due to the ongoing border issues and not wanting to get stuck where we can’t cover local motorsport too. But luckily we have many friends on the ground over in Victoria and managed to get a bit of info out of them.
But onto the good news. After a delay the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships has finally arrived at Phillip Island for 2021. Originally slated for a motorsport fest with two wheels and four joining forces, scheduling meant the Australian Super Bike round wasn’t about to be held on the same weekend.
After a big sponsorship announcement last year, VHT remained onboard showing great commitment to emerging motorsport categories with what would be my highlight of the weekend the VHT S5000s out on track today. James Golding topped both practice sessions with Nathan Herne, Thomas Randle and Joey Mawson all running close over the weekend. Episode 0002 guest Antonio Astuti managed a top 10 time for the second session of the weekend.
Out on track this weekend is the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series which has some big names competing in it including Supercars drivers Lee Holdsworth and Chaz Mostert. Supercheap Auto was dumped as the sponsor of the Bathurst 1000 event late last year and wasted no time re-investing into motorsport by sponsoring the TCR Australia series. Holdsworth and Mostert took out top of the chart results in one practice each at the island.
As previously announced this week, the Fanatec GT World Challenge fielded a huge grid of 20 for the endurance race which will be their only outing of the weekend. Chaz Mostert has taken up double duties for the weekend and joins fellow Supercars driver Jamie Whincup on the starting grid for the race.
Porsche is getting a little greedy with the Michelin Sprint and Porsche 944 challenges on track with the latter a state-level series joining the national championships this round. Ryan Suhle took out both practice sessions as well as a fantastic final lap in qualifying to seal pole position being the only driver under the 1:32 laptime. Close on his heals was Bayley Hall with Callum Hedge and Courtney Prince finishing the top two.
West Australian Andrew Goldie will start back in 18th while Episode 0007 guest Madeline Stewart sits lucky for some 13th on the grid.
It would seem Queensland has been taking advantage of its fine weather and ability to run motorsport last year with another Queenslander topping the times in the National Trans Am series. Aaron Seton ended up topping all three sessions for the day including qualifying and is now looking towards taking out the two races tomorrow at Phillip Island. Owen Klely came in second while third placed Kyle Gurton was well off the pace two seconds behind Seton.
If you want to watch all the action live, catch it on 7plus from 10am AEDT and 11am AEDT on 7mate.
Saturday Schedule – 13th March 2021
all times in AEDT
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