Sprint Challenge show rolls into South Australia

AN already strong field will only get stronger when the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series returns to action this weekend in South Australia.

A 23-strong grid will tackle Round 2 of the series at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at The Bend this weekend with two-time race winner James Lodge returning to the fray, having made an impact in his debut season last year.

Lodge will join forces with Jones Motorsport for a part-time Sprint Challenge campaign commencing this weekend, joining a field fired up and ready to go after a stunning opening round at Phillip Island in late March.

Claimed by Hunter Robb, who leads the championship, five different drivers featured in the top three across the opening round’s trio of races that set the tone for a massive year ahead.

Robb won the first two races at the Victorian circuit before fellow young-gun Kobi Williams blazed though to claim the Enduro in an absolute thriller.

However, the New Zealander’s consistency saw the Jones Motorsport driver claim the round ahead of Kamal Mrad (McElrea) and Xavier Avramides (Sonic), Lincoln Taylor (TekworkX) and Williams (TGR) completing the top five – all representing different teams.

Nine of the Professional class drivers have recently completed the Porsche Michelin Junior Camp, a three-day program of physical, mental and driver preparation held in Queensland.

The opening round of the championship was box office stuff with the Jim Richards Enduro race in particular featuring hugely competitive battling for the race lead, with the similar nature of The Bend’s fast and flowing 4.6km International circuit set to provide much the same this week.

After sweeping proceedings at Round 1, Anthony Gilbertson returns to lead the Pro-Am ranks into the second round of the championship, while Stephen Moylan’s Effect Building Projects entry sits second in class following a strong season opener.

The 23-strong Round 2 grid remains similar to the grid at Phillip Island, with Lodge’s addition adding to the Pro class ranks.

Returning following drama at Phillip Island will be Brandon Madden – who crashed at turn one late in the second practice session at the opening round.

The Tyler Greenbury Motorsport-run Harvey’s Towing Porsche has been repaired since it’s accident with the Queenslander looking for his first official Porsche race start this weekend.

Also back on the grid will be Dean Wanless, who was another to fall victim to Phillip Island’s high speed and close walls; the GWR crew ensuring the Sydneysider – who is making a return to racing after 20 year stint on the sidelines – returns this weekend.

The most recent trip to The Bend was the penultimate round of the 2025 season and saw Team Porsche New Zealand’s Tom Bewley claim pole position, with Pro-Am leader and eventual champion Ramu Farrell in second outright.

Farrell went on to claim the first race outright while Bewley claimed the Pro class honours in second.

Eventual outright champion Jake Santalucia would claim race two ahead of Farrell and James Lodge, before going on to claim the Enduro Cup race on Sunday to take the round overall.

Action commences on Friday with both practice sessions and qualifying to set the tone for the weekend.

Two sprint races highlight Saturday’s action while the 45-minute Jim Richards Enduro Trophy affair will see the series take centre stage at the Shannons SpeedSeries GT Festival event on Sunday.

All three races will be broadcast live and ad-break free on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.