The inaugural GT Festival at Phillip Island will kick start with the GT Road Trip from the mainland town of San Remo, across the bridge and all the way to the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit this Thursday.
A selection of Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS and Monochrome GT4 Australia cars representing each manufacturer will take part in the tour, starting their adventure from the Bass Coast College – San Remo Campus, where they will be on display for the school’s students, before embarking on the 18km journey to the circuit.
Bass Coast Mayor Cr Clare Le Serve will be at the Bass Coast College to see the cars depart on their trek.
The GT Road Trip will then see the race cars travel over the San Remo bridge and past towns on the Island including Newhaven, Cape Woolamai, Surf Beach and Smiths Beach on their way to Back Beach Road – the gateway to the world famous Phillip Island circuit.
During the journey, the cars will travel at normal speeds and adhere to all regular road rules.
Motorsport fans are invited to be part of the historic GT Road Trip to watch the million dollar racers take the trek to the track.
The cars are due to depart Bass Coast College at 11:30am AEST, arriving at the circuit at 11:45am.
The inaugural GT Festival, promoted by SRO Motorsports Australia, takes place at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on August 23-25 and has free entry for spectators all weekend.
Ben McMellan – CEO, SRO Motorsports Australia:
“This is a really cool initiative and a great way for SRO Motorsports Australia to bring the racing to the people,” said McMellan.
“We are offering free entry to all race fans for the event, and that has been met with a great response, so the road trip is just another way to get the fans involved.
“We’re really looking forward to the GT Festival. There will be plenty for the fans to see and we know that the racing will be top class.”
Ross Poulakis to join Alex Gardner in Volante Rosso Aston Martin
Ross Poulakis will switch to Volante Rosso Motorsport’s new Aston Martin AMR Vantage GT3 for the inaugural GT Festival, joining young gun Alex Gardner.
The Aston Martin made its first appearance at the previous round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS at Queensland Raceway, but a qualifying incident ruled the entry out for the remainder of the weekend.
At the same event, Poulakis made his return to the category alongside friend Chris Batzios in the Harrolds Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, with the pair finishing fourth in the Am Class in both races.
In a driver shuffle, Poulakis will join Gardner in the Aston Martin AMR Vantage GT3 for Phillip Island, with previous round partner Ben Porter unavailable to attend due to prior racing commitments overseas. As announced, David Brabham will race in the AMG with Chris Batzios.
Ross Poulakis:
“After I saw the Aston Martin at Queensland Raceway a couple of weeks ago, I fell in love, so I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to drive it at Phillip Island,” said Poulakis.
“Aston Martin is a brand I am fond of and Volante Rosso did a fantastic job in getting the car on track for Queensland Raceway in such a short turnaround.
“I think getting the drive in the Aston Martin for next week is also a reward for my efforts too as my times at Queensland Raceway were quite competitive and I was showing similar speed to the likes of Liam Talbot and Brad Schumacher throughout the weekend.
“Considering I had not driven a GT in more than a year having run in the Australian Prototype Series, I was really happy with my performance in Queensland and my general progress.”
Alex Gardner
“Apart from Sepang in Malaysia, Phillip Island is my favourite circuit I have driven on so far,” said Gardner.
“Queensland Raceway was really good to get more comfortable in the Aston Martin and I was getting faster with each session, while building an understanding. It was a similar thing for the team – they were learning as well.
“Hats off to the Volante Rosso team in getting the Aston Martin to Queensland Raceway, it was incredible. The team was really short on time and it was really well done.
“The car felt really comfortable, it was getting better and better every time. It felt amazing on track, it was an honour to drive and was awesome to be out there in this field.
“Ross is really fast and it was good to have chats with him across the weekend, especially to calm me down before sessions. It’s good to have someone like that in the team and it was very helpful to me at Queensland Raceway.
“If there is something I don’t quite understand, there are heaps of people in the team to guide me.”
New driver line-up for second Method Motorsport McLaren GT4
Experienced racer Luke King will form part of a stacked Monochrome GT4 Australia grid for the inaugural GT Festival after confirming a place at Method Motorsport alongside long-time supporter Tony Levitt.
The pair will contest the fourth round of the 2024 season in the team’s McLaren Artura GT4, replacing Tom McLennan and Nathan Morcom.
King brings vast experience with him to the series after being a front-runner in TCR Australia where he was teammate to Method Motorsport co-owner Chaz Mostert, before competing in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia last year.
More recently, King has partnered with Levitt in selected Meguiar’s Australian Production Car Series events in a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG including at the MRF Bathurst 6 Hour event.
Levitt himself has raced in state and national production car racing, but this will be first event in a GT4 as it will be King’s.
Method Motorsport has enjoyed a strong campaign so far in Monochrome GT4 Australia in what is its first season of competition. The squad has already tasted victory twice this year and sits second in the Silver Cup standings.
