The Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge’s final round for 2018 is fast approaching, with competitors ready to tackle Sydney Motorsport Park on 21 -23 September.
After five rounds, the title remains up for grabs with a tense battle at the top of the standings.
1. Cooper Murray
749 points – Eight outright wins
It’s been a sensational year for Murray who has managed to win eight races, including a five race-winning streak between Sandown and Queensland Raceway.
The 17-year-old has enjoyed tight battles with title rival Simon Fallon, but will go into the final round as favourite based purely on his season to date.
It’s a classic case of finish above Fallon in two or more races and the title is his. Finish below in Fallon in two or more, then the title is gone.
Highest Finish: First
Lowest Finish: Third
Realistic: First
2. Simon Fallon
738 points – Four outright wins
The CAMS PAYCE Australian F4 Championship graduate has showed good form all year and was rewarded with a round win in Queensland.
Fallon has the most realistic chance of any of the other competitors after briefly replacing Murray at the top of the standings during the Winton round.
For Fallon to beat Murray, he needs to win at least two of the remaining races, as well as finish at least two places ahead of him on two occasions for some breathing space.
Dropping to third will be highly unlikely for Fallon, however a crash in the first race that forces him out for the rest of the weekend and two race wins to Max Vidau could see Fallon actually drop to third.
Highest Finish: First
Lowest Finish: Third
Realistic: First
3.Max Vidau
614 points – Two outright wins
Vidau started the season with a bang, winning the opening round at the Bend Motorsport Park after a fantastic performance. Strong results in other rounds have been difficult for Vidau, with his only other podium coming in Queensland.
Vidau still technically has a mathematical chance to finish first but the odds are stacked against him. To win the title, Vidau needs both Fallon and Murray to retire after race one and win at least two races.
Dropping down to fifth is also a potential outcome for the 18-year-old, but like his title chances, are highly unlikely.
Jimmy Vernon sits 60 points behind Vidau, while in Chelsea Angelo sits a further 90 points behind Vernon. Only a retirement in two or more races will see Vidau fall beneath his fellow Michelin Junior drivers.
Highest Finish: First
Lowest Finish: Fifth
Realistic: Third
4.Jimmy Vernon
558.5 points- No outright wins
The Queenslander has showed lots of promise in what has been a long learning debut season, his best results coming in both Phillip Island and Winton with third outright.
Vernon has no chance to win the Cup, but could sneak onto the podium at the end of the year if results go his way.
Only needing to make up 60 points, Vernon will need to finish a minimum of 10 places ahead of Vidau across the three races, or hope that Vidau has a DNF in one.
The lowest Vernon can go is fifth, providing Chelsea Angleo can make up 90 points through multiple podium finishes and a DNF to Vernon.
Highest Finish: Third
Lowest Finish: Fifth
Realistic: Fourth
5. Chelsea Angelo
470 wins- No outright wins
Almost impossible for Angelo to make the top three, with two DNFS to Vidau, one to Vernon and a race win the only possibility of seeing her sneak onto the podium.
Angelo is also unlikely to drop below Daniel Stutterd, despite being within reach. Angelo has only finished once behind Stuttered, but has twice retired from a race.
Cross the line in every race and fifth is sealed.
Highest Finish: Third
Lowest Finish: Fifth
Realistic: Fifth
CLASS PRO-AM
1. Danny Stutterd
704 points- Seven class wins
Has enjoyed a good season and has lead the way from the start with seven class wins, setting a buffer between him and Brett Boulton in the class.
Sitting in sixth outright, an outright podium is impossible but the class win is more than likely with Stutterd only needing to finish every race to seal the title.
While Stutterd will most likely win the class, if he registers two DNFs, he could fall as low as third.
Highest Finish: First – Class
Lowest Finish: Third – Class
Realistic: First – Class
2. Brett Boulton
622 points- Four class wins
Enjoyed his first class round win at Ipswich, Boulton has a chance to win the class but needs a lot of luck.
A DNF to Stutterd and class win to Boulton should bring him right back into the mix and finishing at least three positions ahead of Stuttered in every race is essential.
Could also drop to fifth, but for that to happen, Boulton can’t show up or score no points throughout the weekend.
Highest Finish: First – Class
Lowest Finish: Third – Class
Realistic: Second – Class
3. Michael Hovey
580 points- No class wins
One of two drivers to finish every race of the season (the other being Fallon), like Angelo, will be relying on the people above to have bad luck for a good result.
Can still mathematically win the class, but three DNFs from Stuttered is the only realistic way he can win.
Could also drop to fifth in class, but only if he doesn’t attend and one of the drivers occupying fifth in Sam Fillmore or Marcel Zalloua win the class in every race.
Highest Finish: First – Class
Lowest Finish: Fifth – Class
Realistic: Third – Class
CLASS B
Christian Pancione
738 points – 10 Class wins
Been too good all year. Has won every race in the class since race one in Phillip Island except one setback in Winton where he registered a DNF.
Can only lose it from here if he doesn’t show and Phil Morris wins every race.
Highest Finish: First – Class
Lowest Finish: Second – Class
Realistic: First – Class
Phil Morriss
577 points – No class wins
Needs a miracle to pass Pancione including the youngster not to show, three race wins and no pressure from third placed David Greig.
Could fall to down to fifth, but only if he also doesn’t show and both Andrew Goldie and Richard Bloomfield place first and second in class for every race on the weekend.
Highest Finish: First – Class
Lowest Finish: Fifth – Class
Realistic: Third – Class
David Greig
552 points – Two class wins
When Greig has raced, he has raced well, picking up podiums in all bar one of his races.
Like Morris, Greig requires Pancione to retire and not claim any points, while he himself needs to win every race.
Highest Finish: First – Class
Lowest Finish: Fifth – Class
Realistic: Second – Class
