The CAMS Australian GT Championship and GT Trophy Series both have one round remaining with the top of the table battle to go right down to the very end.
The GT Trophy’s final round is up first at next month’s Shannons Nationals, with a potential three-way battle between Nick Kelly, Rio Nugara and Matthew Stoupas to headline the series.
Despite a crash in the series’ most recent round at Sydney Motorsport Park, Kelly still holds a slight lead over the other two drivers to remain at the top of the standings with 687 points to his name.
Nugara’s fifth place finish was enough to put him 30 points behind Kelly, while a podium finish from Stoupas has brought him right into title contention and just two behinds behind Nugara.
Victorian teenager Ryan How made a dream start to his GT career with a round win on debut to put him seventh outright, while Dave Stevens closed the gap on fourth placed John Morriss who was absent from the round.
In the GT Championship, two podium finishes in Sydney has moved Fraser Ross to the top of the standings, with second placed Peter Hackett just 16 points behind.
Despite not winning a race this season, Ross’ consistency throughout the year has been enough to earn him the lead with the final round in October at Hampton Downs to decide the title.
“It’s an exciting feeling to be leading the championship in my second season of GTs,” Ross said.
“Obviously the consistency of the year is paying off despite not winning a race yet, but being on a number a podiums, being up the top or thereabouts and no DNFs have all contributed to the good season.
“I am looking forward to Hampton Downs seeing as we started on the front row there last year, so I have high hopes for a strong finish.
“I have 66 days now until the round, so a lot to think about.”
Like Ross, consistency all season from Steven Richards has him third on the standings and only 35 points behind the leader. Defending champion Geoff Emery’s top five finish in Sydney puts him just 20 points from an outright podium finish.
A disappointing outing from Tony Bates saw him drop three spots on the standings and needing a bit of a miracle to win the outright championship.
The CAMS Australian GT Championship’s sixth and final round will also act as the third and final round for the Endurance Championship on 13 -14 October, while the GT Trophy series will take place during the Shannons Nationals at Winton Motor Raceway on 1 – 2 September.
