It was a busy weekend at The Bend Motorsport Park with a number of familiar faces taking part in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship’s latest event.
With Aussie Tin Tops and SA Combined Sedans having three races each throughout the weekend, it was in the Tin Tops where some regular drivers from the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia impressed during their three races.
While current Dunlop Super2 Series leader Thomas Randle dominated the 33 car field, it was some young drivers behind the wheel of the Porches who nabbed a good haul of points.
Ending the round in third place behind Randle and runner-up Geoffrey Taunton and with the Super Challenge class win was 2019 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia regular Ryan Suhle with the teenager having picked up a three podiums during the round at The Bend last year.
Finishing just behind Suhle at the conclusion of the round was the driver who won the same one-make series last year in Harri Jones.
Having shifted to the Porsche PAYCE Carrera Cup Australia for this year and waiting to compete again, Jones showed why he is a driver with serious talent after taking out top honours in the Aussie Tin Tops’ first round in Townsville last month.
While he was unable to replicate the success of his title last year or his Aussie Tin Tops form from Townsville, Jones didn’t go home empty handed with the Queenslander taking out the Super Cup class win.
Another young talent from the Porsche family competing on the weekend was Tom Taplin. The 19-year-old came into the round having endured a tough outing the last time he was at The Bend, which included a disqualification and retirement during the 2019 Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships at The Bend in November.
It was a much better set of results this time round though, with the Porsche 911 driver picking up an outright fifth place in the final race, as well as a well-deserved top 10 finish.
Motorsport Australia Endurance Championship driver Yasser Shahin had an unlucky end to the weekend as the Porsche GT3 R driver finished the first race in second place behind Randle, but was unable to finish the final two races.
