The RAM Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 will retain its Bowel Cancer Australia livery for this weekend’s final round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia at the VAILO Adelaide 500, with Mike Sheargold and Garth Walden to again share driving duties in the Am Class.
The livery made its first appearance earlier this year after Sheargold was diagnosed with bowel cancer. The subsequent fundraising drive saw more than $150,000 raised for the Bowel Cancer Australia Foundation, and Sheargold explained it was appropriate to keep the livery as a way of recognising the contributions of donors.
“We were blown away with everyone’s generosity, so we’ve decided to continue with the livery as our way of saying thank you,” Sheargold said.
After undergoing successful surgery earlier this year, Sheargold elected to undergo a chemotherapy program as a preventative measure. While the chemo cycles have taken their toll on Sheargold’s stamina, they haven’t kept him out of the driver’s seat – he and Walden have recently completed some successful test days at Sydney Motorsport Park, with Sheargold even recording his personal-best lap times at the venue.
“I feel like I’m in a really good place with my driving, and it’s given me a lot of confidence not just for Adelaide, but heading into next season when the chemo will be finished and I’ll be back in peak physical condition,” Sheargold said.
“We’ve also made some inroads with the car and we’ll be heading to Adelaide with a good setup.”
Sheargold and Walden are currently third in the Am standings, but Sheargold said the satisfaction of completing the championship will outweigh the final result.
“To be honest, considering the health challenges I endured in the middle of the year, to still have been able to compete in every round is a milestone,” he said.
The Adelaide event will be a busy one for the RAM Motorsport/GWR Australia squad; in addition to running the Sheargold/Walden entry and the sister GT car of Brett Hobson/Mike Bailey, they will also be operating the Porsche Carrera Cup entries of Dylan O’Keeffe and Dean Cook.
O’Keeffe is leading the Endurance Cup mini-series for the longer distance races and also aiming to secure a top three result in the overall standings, while Cook is just 23 points away from the Pro-Am Class lead.