It’s the business end of the racing season, when titles are decided and the big trophies are on the line.
Take a look at the five categories on track at Phillip Island on 8-10 September – including the two categories that will be decided in their final round.
Australian Prototype Series – final round
Three winners from the first three rounds set the scene early in the Australian Prototype this year, however a remarkable mid-season run from Mark Laucke allowed him to storm up the leaderboard and take the series lead heading into the finale.
He stands as one of six drivers capable of winning the series in the final round, with 92 points covering the top six with 115 up for grabs in the final three races at Phillip Island.
Laucke has won two rounds this year, however he will be challenged thanks to the consistency of FL1 driver Terry Peovitis that has seen him retain second place in the standings heading into the final round.
The same can be said for Radical SR3 runner Chris Sutton, who sits just two points behind the open-wheel racer.
Phil Hughes led through the first three rounds however a zero-score at Queensland Raceway dented his series chances. Jason Makris – a round winner this year – and John-Paul Drake complete the top six.
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia presented by Pirelli – final round
Jordan Love has dominated the headlines in the Porsches this year, storming to an impressive series lead and having already clinched the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy thanks to three wins from three starts in the longer-distance races this year.
The young West Aussie hasn’t lost a race since the last time the series visited Phillip Island in May.
Brenton Grove sits second in the points and has been building his pace as the year goes on, missing out on pole by tiny margins for the last few rounds.
The key interest heading into the Phillip Island GT3 Cup Challenge Australia finale will be the fight for third overall and also the Elite class win.
Just seven points split leader Anthony Gilbertson and Sam Shahin in the Elite battle, Gilbertson having jumped to the top after a strong round at home in Queensland last time out. In the overall fight it’s Shahin who holds tenuously onto third place, 13 markers ahead of the Hallmark Homes driver.
Kumho Tyre V8 Touring Car Series – two rounds to go
Jack Smith has been doing the business for Brad Jones Racing in this year’s Kumho Tyre V8 Touring Car Series, extending his lead to 99 points following a perfect weekend of pole position, three wins and a lap record last time out at Queensland Raceway.
The youngster missed the round victory in the season opener (Phillip Island) by just one point and backed that up with wins in successive rounds at Winton and last time out in the Sunshine state.
Jordon Boys sits second in his Image Racing Falcon, with consistency being his major ace-card so far this year.
Third outright at Queensland elevated Tyler Greenbury to the same spot in the overall standings despite a horror run of luck that saw him in position to win at both the first two rounds of the series before being denied with issues late in the third race at each round.
Michael Anderson and Josh Smith round out the top five, with privateer Anderson in particular being mighty impressive in his former Dunlop Super2 Series winning Falcon.
CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series – two rounds to go
The third-tier of Australian GT racing has produced first-class competition this year thanks to a several different winners from the three rounds contested so far.
Rod Salmon and Steve McLaughlan both recorded victories in treacherous conditions at Sandown’s season opener, the Audi R8’s proven aero capabilities prevailing in the wet weather. McLaughlan then continued his winning ways at Winton by doing the double at the country Victorian circuit at Round 2.
It took until Round 3 for the Audi domination to end, with Richard Gartner’s Lamborghini Gallardo loving the straights of Queensland Raceway, the minister for enthusiasm holding out Rod Salmon to win both races in style.
With McLaughlan third at Queensland, the Jamec-Pem Audi driver continues to lead the series with Salmon second and Gartner now third thanks to his Queensland sweep.
Australian Production Car Series – two rounds to go
Bob Pearson holds a near 100-point margin at the pointy-end of the Australian Production Car Series thanks to a remarkable run of success that now stretches to six straight race wins.
Pearson grabbed solid points at Winton’s second round and then charged to four victories from four starts at Sydney Motorsport Park a few weeks later.
As if that wasn’t enough, he then backed that up by combining with Rick Bates to win both races in Queensland, including the prestigious ‘Fight in the Night’ held on the Saturday evening of that weekend.
The imperious pace of the Sherrin brothers and their new M4 has yet to deliver a victory, despite being the fastest car on track at each round so far.
Consistency has kept Chaz Mostert and Nathan Morcom in the game in their Ford Focus, the pair still second in the standings despite missing the Sydney round.
A four hour enduro at the Island and a tricky weekend at Wakefield Park await.