Max Vidau has begun the 2019 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia in the same fashion as he did in last year’s season, claiming a clean sweep in the season opener.
Taking place at Symmons Plains as part of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship’s visit to the ‘Apple Isle’ earlier this month, Vidau was too good for his rivals.
It’s a carbon copy of his 2018 season start, when he clinched the inaugural round at The Bend Motorsport Park. With Vidau once again starting strong, the South Australian is confident he can continue his good form.
“We have obviously pretty good start to 2019 with three race wins so I can’t complain,” Vidau said.
“I can’t thank the team enough because they gave me an awesome car on the weekend as they always do.
“Last year I won the first round but ended up pushing myself really hard in the wrong spots after that. I made a few mistakes which put me back in the championship, but we planning to have the perfect year this year.”
With Sydney the next stop for the series, Vidau’s confidence will be helped with the fact that he ended up placing second and fourth in the corresponding round last year.
What has also given the teenager a major confidence boost is moving to Victoria in order to be closer to his team, Sonic Motor Racing Services, something he admits has made his preparation better.
“The move has been a bit different. Moving states as a 17-year-old is always interesting but the Sonic family are treating me well and they always do,” Vidau explained.
“I probably need to do a bit of preparation for the Sydney track, but now that I’m here with Sonic spending more time on the simulator than I did last year, I am excited for it.
“Tasmania is a very solid track but I’m super keen for Sydney so we would like show our speed a little more.”
With seven drivers taking part in the series’ pro-class, Vidau has the added benefit of being one of the more experienced major front-runners.
With last year’s champion and runner-up in Simon Fallon and Cooper Murray both moving on as well as Jimmy Vernon, Chelsea Angelo and Luis Leeds, Vidau looks like the one to beat in season 2019.
However the round one winner is also well aware of the dangers presented by newcomers in Harri Jones, CAMS PAYCE Australian Formula 4 Championship alumni Ryan Suhle and Aaron Love and 2018 Class B champion Christian Pancione.
“Cooper Murray and Simon Fallon leaving has given me a slight advantage but I still am going to push myself as hard as I did last year to make sure I am at the top of my game all year,” Vidau added.
“At the moment we have a really good category with some really solid drivers. With Harri, I raced against him in 2017 so I know a bit about and the way he drives.
“As for Ryan Suhle and Aaron Love, I don’t know too much about them because Tasmania was the first race meeting I actually ever raced against them, although I have seen them on TV with Formula 4 before.
“With this said, we are only worrying about myself at the moment and hopefully we can keep it that way.”
The Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge’s next appearance is part of the Shannons Nationals opening round at Sydney Motorsport Park on 17-19 May.
Click here to purchase tickets to the first Shannons Nationals in 2019.
