Perfect conditions have welcomed back the Shannons SpeedSeries following a near two month break between Darwin and Sydney.
Five categories will take to Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend led by GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS, Monochrome GT4 Australia, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, the final round of Ferrari Challenge Australasia and Radical Cup Australia.
With Friday reserved for practice, two days of Qualifying and racing are ahead at the penultimate round of the Shannons SpeedSeries for 2026.
GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS
It was Mercedes-AMG 2, Audi 1 after three sessions for GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS in Sydney.
Fresh off a career best finish in Supercars last weekend, Jayden Ojeda led the way in opening practice driving the Move My Wheels by Tigani Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo he will share with Paul Lucchitti.
The gap was just 0.203s back to the Alex Peroni/Mark Rosser Team BRM Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, while the Oscar Targett/Shane Smollen Kollosche AMG by Tigani Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo rounded out the top three.
In the all-Bronze session it was series returnees Brett Hobson and Michael Sheargold setting the pace in the GWR Motorsport/RAM Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo from Rosser’s Audi and Renee Gracie driving the OnlyFans Racing Ferrari 296 GT3.
Reigning champions Broc Feeney and Brad Schumacher finished the day on top in the Kelso Electrical/Team MPC Audi by just 0.312s ahead of the similar entry of Team BRM/Wolfbrook Motorsport of Ryan Wood/Steve Brooks.
Hometown driver Josh Buchan was third in the Zagame Autosport Ferrari 296 GT3 as he will co-drive alongside Cameron Campbell.
Luke Youlden led the Trophy Class in the AED Consulting by Tigani Porsche 911 GT3 to be shared alongside Nathan Halstead in two of the three sessions. The Bronze session was led by Paul Stokell and Matt Stoupas in the KFC Team MPC Audi.
Monochrome GT4 Australia
Two sessions were conducted for Monochrome GT4 Australia on Friday as Will Exton and Jack Johnson led the way in the Silver Cup after opening practice.
Exton/Johnson sharing the Team Soutar Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 set the pace by 0.099s from the Blake Tracey/George Miedecke Ford Mustang run by the Lubrimaxx/Miedecke Motorsport operation.
Rounding out the top three was the Blake Purdie/Jobe Stewart Purdie Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4.
Purdie/Stewart turned the tables to end Friday on top of the timesheets in the Audi ahead of Tracey/Miedecke and the Aaron Cameron/Lochie Dalton Multipsares Racing Ford Mustang GT4.
Silver-Am was led by the Caleb Paterson/Kent Quinn Norganic Proteins Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS at the end of the opening session from the two BMW M4 G82 GT4s of Thunder Buddies Racing shared by Ryder Quinn/Steve Jakic and the returning Central West Prestige entry of Tim Leahey/Dylan O’Keeffe.
Zac Soutar/Glenn Nirwan led the way in the second session in the Tufflift Racing by TSM McLaren Artura GT4 from the Exedra Motorsport Toyota GR Supras Evo 2 of Nick McBride/Dean Koutsoumides and the Lachlan Mineeff/Jacob Lawrence Randall Racing BMW.
Am Cup was led by Method Motorsport’s Ryan Sorenson in his McLaren from the Ford Mustang GT4 of Gomersall Motorsport’s Glenn Walker and Nathan Callaghan/Chris Lillis in the Method Motorsport Porsche.
Callaghan/Lillis ended Friday quickest from Walker and Sorenson in what will be an exciting title fight to keep a watch of this weekend.
Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge
Xavier Avramides and Kobi Williams split the honours on the opening day for Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge in Sydney.
Avramides led the way in the opening session from Sonic Motor Racing Services teammate Hayden Haikal the returning Ryan Suhle for Tyler Greenbury Racing.
Williams was fourth in the session, but was fastest in the final session of the day from New Zealander Lincoln Taylor for TekworkX Motorsport and Jones Motorsport’s Hunter Robb.
McElrea Racing’s Anthony Gilbertson did the job in the Am Class across the two sessions.
Ferrari Challenge Australasia
The final round of Ferrari Challenge Australia is underway and title contender Enzo Cheng made the perfect start.
Cheng led the way ahead of fellow title rival Damian Hamilton and Trofeo Pirelli leader Jim Pollicina.
It was Steve Wyatt, who is out of contention, leading the way at the end of the day ahead of Cheng and Pollicina.
David Trewern led the way in Coppa Shell and Ross Tomain did likewise in Trofeo Pirelli 488 after sealing the title at Queensland Raceway last time out.
Radical Cup Australia
Peter Paddon dominated the day in Radical Cup Australia in the First Focus SR3 XXR to set the fastest time in both sessions.
Chris Reindler trailed Paddon in the first session, with Mark Brame in third.
Volante Rosso Motorsport pairing Peter Clare and Josh Hunt were second to Paddon in the final practice session as Reindler was third.
Saturday’s action at the Shannons SpeedSeries LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Sydney begins at 9:30am AEST.