With the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS set to reconvene at Bathurst for their season finale in nearly a month’s time, teams in two states have tested in preparation.
At Sydney Motorsport Park, GWR Australia-prepared entrants Hobson Motorsport in the race-winning Nissan GT-R GT3 and category debutants RAM Motorsport in its recently upgraded Mercedes-AMG GT3 at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Originally imported from New Zealand as an older model, the Mercedes has been upgraded to the current Evo specification with GWR Australia and Garth Walden on hand to support Michael Sheargold in his maiden drive in a GT3 car.
Around 300km was completed as the Mercedes ran faultlessly throughout the day.
For Sheargold, the experience was an enjoyable one as he made the progression into the GT3 steadily.
“I think I was equal parts excited and nervous, but once I completed a few laps you notice the aero holding through the corners plus the added braking performance,” said Sheargold.
“By the end of the day, I had lapped SMP the fastest I’d ever done it so it was a pretty good base to start. I’ve still got to fine some time, but I’m pretty sure with new tyres and additional set-up changes we can hopefully continue to chip away at.”
Walden described the day as successful as he prepares to co-drive the new entry alongside Sheargold.
“It was a pretty good day,” he remarked.
“The Mercedes ran great all day, it was our first shakedown in the car after purchasing it and we installed the Evo kit as well, so it’s current spec.
“The main aim for the test was to get familiar in the car as it was the first time for Michael in a GT3, so it was really about getting him used to the ergonomics and how it all feels.”
Still without a livery, Sheargold explained the Mercedes will continue his team’s green and black appearance, but be subtly different to the other cars in the fleet.
Also in attendance was Wall Racing, which completed a shakedown of Adrian Deitz’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 after a rebuild during the break.
Meanwhile at Winton, Melbourne Performance Centre completed testing with three of its Audi R8 GT3 LMS fleet, including Tony Bates’ Bostik-sponsored example.
M Motorsport also dusted off its Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX LP 600 GT3 for team owner Justin McMillan, while Dale Patterson completed a run in his Chevrolet Camaro GT3 after racing it at the opening round of the season at Phillip Island.
This follows Triple Eight Race Engineering completing testing at Queensland Raceway with Prince Jefri Ibrahim and Team BRM’s Mark Rosser running his Audi R8 LMS GT3 at Mallala recently.
South Australian Mark Rosser meanwhile has revealed his new Audi R8 LMS GT3 in its striking new livery ahead of the final round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS at Bathurst.
In what will be Rosser’s maiden trip to the Mountain, his Team BRM prepared Audi will be adorned in the colours of the various board games under his VR Distributions banner.
“I’m really happy with how it’s come up,” said Rosser. “It’s nice and bright, it definitely stands out and you can’t miss out!”
Catan takes pride of place on the sides of Rosser’s Audi, with Check It Out Graphics designing a fantasy-based livery featuring various board games including Beat That!, What Do You Meme? and Muffin Time.
“It definitely put a smile on my face when I saw it in person,” Rosser remarked.
Debuting the new livery last weekend at Mallala where Rosser not only clinched the State Championship but took a clean-sweep and the lap record.
Rosser will contest the GT Championship Am class currently being led by Andrew Macpherson and Ben Porter in the IMAK Kwikmit Lamborghini Huracan GT3.
Audi Pic: Visual Edge Media
