Garth Walden has surprised the GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS field with a brilliant Superpole effort at Sydney Motorsport Park.
The Sydney-based driver, who will team with Michael Sheargold in the three-hour endurance race this afternoon, stunned the GT3 world with a brilliant lap in a mixed Superpole session.
Two incidents were the lowlights, with Sergio Pires bringing out the first red flag after an off-track excursion at Corporate Hill. No significant damage was reported to the Audi.
Not the case for the Brad Schumacher/Will Brown Audi, though, as Schumacher collected the wall on the inside of Turn 6.
The incident occurred on Schumacher’s second flying lap, seeing his Audi nose into the wall, damaging both front rails.
The car was instantly ruled out of the event, but will be repaired for the final sprint round at Mount Panorama in three weeks time.
“I was up seven tenths on my flying lap and I was just trying to capitalise on that of course and put that car on the front row for the race,” said Schumacher.
“Unfortunately, just on the exit of Turn 6 where the grate is with the ripple strip, it just snapped in the rear on me and caught me completely by surprise and I just didn’t have the time to save the rear and ultimately went into the inside wall.
“Reasonably hefty damage to the car and unfortunately it looks like our day is over, which is a real shame for Team MPC and Audi Sport. I just want to apologise to the team and obviously all of our amazing sponsors because without them we wouldn’t be here and we were looking super strong all weekend. Being up by seven tenths of a second in that lap was obviously showing our strength. Just not to be, at the end of the day.”
While the Sheargold/Walden Mercedes starting from pole was a surprise, so too is the car that will start alongside it. Paul Stokell pedalled his Audi to P2 which he will share with Renee Gracie.
Triple Eight Mercedes driver Peter Hackett will start third ahead of the Liam Talbot/Chaz Mostert Ferrari.
The three hour endurance race starts at 6:45pm AEDT this evening.