For the first time in three years, GT racing will race at the historic Sandown Raceway situated in metropolitan Melbourne this weekend.
The Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS is poised for a tight title fight as just eight-points separate Audi drivers Yasser Shahin and Liam Talbot entering the third round at the home circuit for Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia.
Shahin will be joined by Garth Tander after being reunited at Queensland Raceway, while Fraser Ross continues his successful partnership with Talbot after debuting Gtechniq colours last round.
A further five-points behind is the Triple Eight Race Engineering partnership of Prince Jefri Ibrahim and Shane van Gisbergen following success on home turf in Ipswich, the duo will aim to replicate this and bridge the gap to reigning winner Shahin.
Tony Bates fought hard in the C-Tech Laser Audi in Queensland and is expected to be a contender alongside David Reynolds.
Debuting last time out in Pro-Am after a stint in GT4, Ross Poulakis and Peter Hackett will continue in the Harrolds Volante Rosso Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 as the team re-enter the GT4 class also.
The hotly contested Am Class battle welcomes back the RAM Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Michael Sheargold and Garth Walden in addition to Marc Cini in his Hallmarc Audi R8 GT3 LMS Evo II.
Previous leader Matt Stoupas will be aiming to snatch the lead back in Am Class driving one of two KFC Audis after dropping to third following Queensland Raceway. Stoupas will be battling teammates Gary Higgon and Paul Stokell after they took the class lead.
As previously mentioned, Harrolds Volante Rosso Racing will return to GT4 with Sam Brabham partnering Christos Batios in its Mercedes-AMG GT4.
Class stalwart Mark Griffith returns in his Mercedes.
Rounding out the field is the Invitational M Motorsport KTM X-Bow GT2 of David Crampton and Trent Harrison, which ran at the LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour earlier this year.
Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia’s two 60-minute races will be covered by Stan Sport’s live, uninterrupted and on-demand coverage.
You can sign up to a free 7-day trial with Stan Sport. Head to http://www.stan.com.au/
Entry list, Round 3 Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS Sandown Raceway
| Car # | Class | Sponsor/Team | Driver | Co-Driver | Model |
| 1 | Pro-Am | The Bend Motorsport Park | Yasser Shahin | Garth Tander | Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II |
| 2 | Am | KFC | Gary Higgon | Matt Stoupas | Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II |
| 9 | Am | Hallmarc | Marc Cini | Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II | |
| 19 | GT4 | Daimler Truck Brisbane | Mark Griffith | Mercedes-AMG GT4 | |
| 20 | Pro-Am | Gtechniq | Liam Talbot | Fraser Ross | Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II |
| 23 | Am | KFC | Matt Stoupas | Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II | |
| 24 | Pro-Am | C-Tech Laser | Tony Bates | David Reynolds | Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II |
| 45 | Am | RAM Motorsport | Michael Sheargold | Garth Walden | Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
| 50 | Inv | M Motorsport/Vantage Freight | David Crampton | Trent Harrison | KTM X-Bow GT2 |
| 101 | Pro-Am | Harrolds Volante Rosso Racing | Ross Poulakis | Peter Hackett | Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
| 102 | GT4 | Harrolds Volante Rosso Racing | Christos Batios | Sam Brabham | Mercedes-AMG GT4 |
| 888 | Pro-Am | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Prince Jefri Ibrahim | Shane van Gisbergen | Mercedes-AMG GT3 |