Talent-packed grid ready for Michelin Sprint Challenge opener

A STRONG field of 25 cars will tackle the opening round of an exciting new season of Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia this weekend, at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in Victoria.

Featuring the regular broad mix of Porsche Michelin Juniors, experienced Pro drivers and Pro-Am drivers both experienced and new, the first of six rounds this year will be a highlight of the Phillip Island GT Festival this weekend – an event that kicks off the Shannons SpeedSeries schedule for 2026.

The field includes 14 in the Pro class, 11 in Pro-Am and 9 Porsche Michelin Junior drivers.

Nine drivers, spread across both Pro and Pro-Am, of the 25 are also making their respective one-make Porsche debuts this weekend.

With the top three drivers from the 2025 championship all moving up to Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia this year, attention turns to the crop of returning Pro drivers, including proven podium finishers Kamal Mrad and Hunter Robb, 2025 Class B Champion Daniel Quimby plus second-year driver, teenager Lincoln Evans.

Brothers Josh and Diesel Thomas, who made their respective debuts at Sandown’s season finale last year, will split their Sprint Challenge campaigns with Carrera Cup championship seasons this year.

Ben Taylor moves to Jones Motorsport this year to continue his learning curve as he continues to raise awareness for those with Autism via his racing program.

Those on debut include a huge mix of impressive rookies, including international open wheel graduates like Jesse Lacey (from US F4) and Xavier Avramides (British F4), current Australian Formula Ford Champion Kobi Williams, 2025 GR Cup runner-up Lincoln Taylor and Radical Cup Australia’s top 2025 rookie, Ruari Avern.

Aussie Racing Cars contender Brandon Madden – who was third in the championship last year – also makes his Porsche debut this year while international interest comes in the form of 21-year-old Malaysian driver, Hayden Haikal; Johor Motor Racing’s first Junior Program member set for his Porsche debut this weekend.

The Pro-Am field has also had an off-season shakeup with the return of former class champion Anthony Gilbertson this year.

The Queenslander, who claimed the 2017 Pro-Am title and went on to win races in Carrera Cup’s Pro-Am class as well, returns with McElrea Racing following six years away.

Gilbertson holds a rare piece of Sprint Challenge history as the first Pro-Am driver to have taken an outright Pole Position in the history of the championship – a feat achieved at Winton in 2017.

He’ll be up against a tough field which includes 2024 champion Lachy Harburg and Pro-Am regulars Eric Constantinidis – who was fifth in the class last year – plus Kent Leicester, Indiran Padayachee, Stephen Moylan, Tim Farrell, John Papantoniou and Mark Darling.

Making their respective local Porsche debuts this weekend include John McInness, who returns to racing following a decade competing in the United States – including in Sprint Challenge USA competition and the Pikes Peak hillclimb.

Meanwhile, former Australian NASCAR and Development Series (now Super2) racer Dean Wanless will make a racing return after an even lengthier break on the sidelines, making a racing comeback more than 20 years following his last competitive start. Both newcomers will be run by reigning Carrera Cup champions, GWR Australia.

The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series hits the track for a pair of practice sessions on Friday, the first at 9:35am local time and the second at 1:15pm.

Action on Saturday and Sunday will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports, with qualifying (1035am) and Race 1 (3:05pm) on Saturday with the weekend completed with Race 2 (10:20am) and the Jim Richards Enduro Trophy race completing the weekend at 4:00pm.

Now approaching its 17th season, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia has established itself firmly as one of Australia’s premier categories; a long list of drivers successfully progressing their careers after tackling the series.

Former stars of the series include Matt Campbell, recent Sebring 12 Hour podium finisher Thomas Sargent, two-time Carrera Cup Champion Harri Jones, Jordan and Aaron Love, Jaxon Evans and more – including 2025 champion Jake Santalucia who, along with runner-up Ryan Casha and third-placed Tom Bewley, this year stepped up to the Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

Similarly, Pro-Am competitors are a significant factor in Sprint Challenge competition both as a destination category, but also as a pathway to higher levels of Porsche and GT racing.

Using the Generation 2 991 Porsche GT3 Cup Cars, Sprint Challenge will be contested across six rounds this year, four with the Shannons SpeedSeries and two with the Repco Supercars Championship.

ENTRY LIST – Round 1, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia