Brisbane’s Liam Talbot is aiming to capitalise on his international motorsport success in the Australian GT and Endurance Championships in 2017 with Australia’s newest Petroleum company, MEGA Limited – piloting a Porsche 911 GT3 R prepared by Walkinshaw GT3.
Fresh from adding a class win at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour to his European Blancpain Endurance Series Championship in 2016, Talbot will take to the wheel of the potent Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Backing from MEGA Limited will enable Talbot to raise awareness for the fuel company’s wholesale and retail endeavours. Liam will utilise the live Fox Sports coverage of the Australian GT Championship to highlight MEGA Limited’s current bulk distribution channels throughout rural, marine and aviation industries.
It is the second major play that MEGA Limited has made in motorsport, having recently been unveiled as the naming rights sponsor on Jason Bright’s Prodrive Racing Australia Ford.
With most of his racing having been done in Europe, Talbot returns to Australia to compete in both the Australian GT Sprint and Endurance Series in the Porsche 911 GT3 R. He is also investigating international opportunities for later this year.
2017 is the first year that Walkinshaw GT3 will be vying for Championship honours in both forms of exotic GT racing in Australia and Talbot – the son of late mining magnate, Ken Talbot – is aiming to add more silverware to his collection.
The Porsche 911 GT3 R became the Stuttgart manufacturer’s addition to the worldwide explosion of the international FIA GT3 category at the beginning of 2016, positioning the marque alongside Ferrari, BMW, Mercedes-AMG and Aston Martin.
The combination of the Porsche-built racecar and Walkinshaw GT3’s experience as the most successful Virgin Australia Supercars Championship team in history provides an outstanding platform for Talbot to return home.
The first Australian GT Championship tilt for the MEGA Limited Porsche 911 GT3 R and Talbot will come at Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 this weekend before traversing Australia, with the Title chase ending in New Zealand.
In addition to the support of MEGA Limited, Talbot will have backing from long term supporter Wash-It Truck Wash and Walkinshaw GT3 sponsors – Morris Finance and Urban Maintenance Systems.
The fully integrated program with MEGA Limited with the combined power of Porsche and Walkinshaw GT3 is one of the most keenly anticipated to be brought to the Australian GT Championship in some time.
LIAM TALBOT – DRIVER:
“To return to racing in Australia with an exciting, emerging company like MEGA Limited, Walkinshaw GT3 and a marque like Porsche is really fantastic.
“As a proud Queenslander, for a Queensland company like MEGA Limited to quickly come to grips with the program that we’ve developed this year and come on board with full support is something that is extremely pleasing and we’re thrilled to be playing a part in assisting them to realise their future goals in the energy space.
“The Porsche GT3 program is relatively new when compared with other manufacturers, however when you combine Porsche’s motorsport heritage with the international experience of Walkinshaw GT3 that draws on every category right up to Formula 1 – there is a wonderful pedigree there.
“The quality of the Porsche 911 GT3 R was shown at the recent Bathurst 12 Hour where I was able to finish the race fourth overall and first in my class. It did not miss a beat all day and the team nailed every pitstop.
“I’ve spent the last two years in Europe cutting my teeth in the Blancpain Endurance Series – the toughest GT category in the world. It has shown me how it is done on some of the greatest racetracks known to man.
“Coming back to Australia will be a little different, but I feel hardened and ready to apply that experience to this campaign.
“It is going to be MEGA!”
TERRY KNIGHT – MOTORSPORT MANAGER – MEGA LIMITED:
“MEGA Racing is really pumped about joining forces with Liam Talbot Racing and his efforts in the Australian GT Championship,” said Knight.
“The program Liam has developed with Walkinshaw GT3 and the magnificent Porsche 911 GT3 R is a terrific platform to promote our product offerings.
“From a positioning point of view, MEGA Limited is a premium brand that will offer a high quality product at a price affordable to all Australians, which fits perfectly with the demographic that follows the Australian GT Championship.
“This is a great addition to our program with Jason Bright in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.
“Liam’s international profile through his exploits in Europe and particularly Asia and the Middle East resonates with MEGA and we’re excited that we’ll be able to leverage off him as an ambassador, along with the global reach of the Porsche brand and the GT3 program.
“Liam’s business experience in the energy and resources sector is a further reason for MEGA Limited to be involved in his program and already, there have been a number of business-to-business opportunities emerge from our discussions.
“We can’t wait to see the MEGA Porsche on track at Clipsal and what Liam can achieve this year!”
RYAN WALKINSHAW – OWNER – WALKINSHAW GT3:
“Liam brings with him an impressive CV so early in his racing career.
“To go into the Blancpain Endurance Series in Europe and win it in your second full season is an incredible achievement, particularly against some of the biggest manufacturers in the world and some vastly experienced racers.
“We’re delighted to have Liam as part of our first full season in both forms of Australian GT and we’re hopeful of him propelling the Porsche 911 GT3 R to the front of the pack in both forms of competition.
“The Porsche 911 GT3 R is one of the emerging makes in GT3 globally and we’re thrilled that Walkinshaw GT3 has been chosen to operate this car for Liam.
“Combine Liam’s ability and profile with the globally renowned success of Walkinshaw GT3 and Porsche and I think we have all the ingredients for a successful partnership.”
AUSTRALIAN GT PROGRAM – CLIPSAL 500:
Thursday, March 2, 2017
10:45am – Practice 1 – 20 mins
1:40pm – Qualifying 1 – 20 mins
4:45pm – Qualifying 2 – 20 mins
Friday, March 3, 2017
10:35am – Race 1 – 40 mins
Saturday, March 4, 2017
9:10am – Race 2 – 40 mins
Sunday, March 5, 2017
9:55am – Race 3 – 40 mins
2017 Australian GT Championship Calendar:
1. Mar 2 – 5 Clipsal 500, Adelaide, South Australia
2. Mar 23 – 26 Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria
3. May 5 – 7 Perth Super Sprint, Barbagallo, Western Australia
4. Jul 7 – 9 Townsville 400, Townsville, Queensland
5. Sep 15 – 17 Sandown 500, Sandown Raceway, Victoria
2017 Australian Endurance Championship Calendar:
1. May 26 – 28 Phillip Island, Phillip Island, Victoria
2. Aug 18 – 20 Sydney Motorsport Park, Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW
3. Oct 27 – 29 Hampton Downs, Hampton Downs, New Zealand
4. Nov 10 – 12 Highlands 501 Highlands Park, Cromwell, NZ
Further Sources of Information:
Liam Talbot Racing
www.liamtalbotracing.com
www.facebook.com/liamtalbotracing
www.instagram.com/liamtalbotracing
MEGA Limited
www.megaltd.com.au
http://www.facebook.com/MEGAracingAU/
Tweets by MEGARacingAu
http://www.instagram.com/MEGARacingAU/
Walkinshaw GT3
http://www.facebook.com/WalkinshawGT3/
Tweets by WalkinshawGT3
http://www.instagram.com/walkinshawgt3/
More Information:
Matt Payne – Acclaim Media
For Liam Talbot Racing
Ph: +61 413 082 142
Em: matt@acclaimmedia.com.au
http:/www.facebook.com/AcclaimMediaGlobal