Liam Talbot’s MEGA Racing Porsche will start the first race in tomorrow’s Australian GT Championship decider in third position after the two qualifying sessions held today at a wet Sandown Raceway.
The second session was in fact cut short early when another competitor hit the fence causing armco damage.
The third placed starting position will see Talbot start from the second row of the grid, however this reduces his overall stationary time in the compulsory pitstop window.
Critically, his closest Championship rival, Geoff Emery, will start just in front of the Queenslander, who led the Championship by 28 points coming into today’s qualifications.
AUDIO: LIAM’S THOUGHTS ON THIRD HEADING INTO THE TITLE RACE:
The 2016 Blancpain Endurance Series Champion finished the opening practice this morning in second position.
He is aiming to add the Australian GT Championship to his Bathurst 12 Hour class crown for MEGA Racing – Australia’s newest Petroleum company – and the Walkinshaw GT3 organisation that prepare the Porsche 911 GT3-R.
Tomorrow’s triumvirate of 40 minute races will be conducted at 8:30am, 12:05pm and 5:10pm respectively. 67 points per race win is up for grabs. The Australian GT Championship is supporting the first round of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, PIRTEK Enduro Cup Sandown 500.
QUOTEBOARD – LIAM TALBOT
“The MEGA Racing Porsche is fantastic, especially in the wet, we got both conditions throughout the course of today and it was strong in both conditions.
“We did the best we could and we are in a good place to be on the inside heading into turn one, we don’t have any real ‘exclamation points’ around us, I guess, heading into that first turn.
“I can’t wait this is what I train for. They are only 40 minute races so not too long, but there are three of them in one day, so it is a big schedule.
“The Walkinshaw GT3 guys as usual have done an awesome job in preparing the car for battle and we’ll push as hard as we can. I’m so excited about what we can achieve tomorrow.”
WEEKEND SCHEDULE – AUSTRALIAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP:
Saturday, September 16
8:30am-9:10am – Race 1 (40 mins)
12:05pm-12:45pm – Race 2 (40 mins)
5:10pm-5:50pm – Race 3 (40 mins)
2017 Australian GT Championship Calendar:
1. Mar 2 – 5 Clipsal 500, Adelaide, South Australia – 4th
2. Mar 23 – 26 Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria – 3rd
3. May 5 – 7 Perth Super Sprint, Barbagallo, Western Australia – 1st
4. Jul 7 – 9 Townsville 400, Townsville, Queensland – 3rd
5. Sep 15 – 17 Sandown 500, Sandown Raceway, Victoria
2017 Australian Endurance Championship Calendar:
1. May 26 – 28 Phillip Island, Phillip Island, Victoria – 6th
2. Aug 18 – 20 Sydney Motorsport Park, Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW – 2nd
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/
http://twitter.com/MEGARacingAU
http://www.instagram.com/MEGARacingAU/
Walkinshaw GT3
http://www.facebook.com/WalkinshawGT3/
http://twitter.com/WalkinshawGT3
http://www.instagram.com/walkinshawgt3/