After the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS Endurance Cup title was decided under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park, can Arise Racing GT’s Liam Talbot and Garth Walden for RAM Motorsport do the double by taking the Sprint Cup at Bathurst?
Talbot currently leads alongside Chaz Mostert in the Pro-Am Cup for the Sprints by 30-points, while having secured the Endurance Cup in Sydney by finishing runner up.
As for Walden, he is in the same position after securing the Am Endurance Cup title on home turf and can complete a clean-sweep of the standings at Bathurst.
Walden and his RAM Motorsport teammate Michael Sheargold hold a 25-point margin back to the James and Theo Koundouris heading to the mountain.
How was the Endurance Cup decided?
The opening round was at the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge’s annual trip to Australia.
Although many competitors contested the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour, only those teams and drivers confirming their entry for the Endurance Cup were eligible to score points in the event.
Points were handed out 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 for both rounds in Pro-Am and Am categories (also Silver at the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour).
In the Pro-Am Cup, just Talbot and Brad Schumacher entered the opening round as part of Melbourne Performance Centre’s Audi attack.
Talbot finished third outright at Mount Panorama to lead the points as Schumacher retired.
Talbot switched to Arise Racing GT and Ferrari by the start of the Fanatec GT Australia Sprint Cup, but a runner up spot in Sydney with the 296 GT3 sealed the crown, as Schumacher crashed in the lead up to the race that ended his and Will Brown’s weekend early.
Jayden Ojeda and Paul Lucchitti greeted the flag in Sydney elevating both to second in the Enduracne Cup Pro-Am standings.
Mostert and Schumacher finished equal third in the Endurance Cup for Pro-Am.
Walden completed a clean-sweep of the Am Cup results winning alongside Valmont Racing’s Sergio Pires and Marcel Zalloua at Bathurst.
Although Walden was part of the M Motorsport Mercedes-AMG squad in Pro-Am, the Valmont Racing crew were in Silver Cup, which ensured all drivers scored the full allotment of points.
Walden alongside regular RAM Motorsport partner Michael Sheargold secured the win in Sydney ensuring he took the Endurance Am Cup crown.
Pires and Zalloua finished equal second in the standings from Tigani Motorsport stablemates the Koundouris brothers.