After the successful outing at the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hours earlier this month, Melbourne-based EMA Motorsport will further expand its racing plans with Porsche Customer Racing in Australia into the 2023 season.
The 911 (991.2) GT3 R which scored an outright podium at Mount Panorama will take on a full season entry into Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS.
At the wheel will be the exciting driver partnership of reigning champion Yasser Shahin, and the team’s recently confirmed driver for the 2023 Carrera Cup charge, Garnet Patterson.
Shahin returns to the series having claimed both the 2021 and 2022 championship titles. Since then, he has kicked off the season as runner-up at Bathurst 12 Hours in the Pro-Am class. He is joined by Patterson who, in recent seasons, has run in a series of prototype racers across both LMP2 and LMP3 classes, finishing on the Michelin Le Mans Cup podium with United Autosports last season. Most recently, racing together, the duo campaigned in the LMP2 class of the Asian Le Mans Series.
Commenting ahead of the new season, reigning Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS champion, Shahin, explained: “I’m so excited to get the opportunity to represent two brands I love – The Bend and Porsche. The opportunity to drive and defend the GT title with EMA Motorsport is really exciting. The GT3 R suits my driving style, and the team is extremely committed to high performance in all respects.”
This announcement by EMA Motorsport follows confirmation of wider racing plans with the Porsche brand for 2023, which includes both domestic and European racing. In Australia, the entry into GT World Challenge Australia sees the team looking to build on its debut outing at Bathurst, building on its GT3 presence. This will run in parallel with the recently confirmed expansion to a two-car entry into the Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship which will see Patterson race alongside Chris Pither.
Meanwhile, in Europe the team has extended the collaboration with Porsche specialists, Manthey, and the German-Australian relationship will continue to work together as Manthey EMA. The team debuted the new 992 GT3 R at the opening round of the German NLS calendar last weekend, scoring a top-7 result. From here, they will take on further select rounds of the NLS calendar, including the Nürburgring 24 Hours event in May, as well as the full German DTM championship.
Race 1 of the season takes place over the weekend, 7-9 April, with the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour, Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS.
Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS 2023 season calendar
Round 1 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour
Round 2 Perth Supersprint
Round 3 Phillip Island
Round 4 Sydney Supersprint
Round 5 Queensland Raceway
Round 6 VALO Adelaide 500
