The 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) Australia powered by AWS delivered two tightly contested Qualifying sessions at The Bend, with Tigani Motorsport emerging as the team to beat. Jayden Ojeda put the Move My Wheels by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 on pole in Qualifying 1, before Sergio Pires completed the double for the New South Wales-based squad in the Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3.
2026 GTWC Australia: Round 2: Tailem Bend: Qualifying 1: Ojeda edges Leitch in close fight
In Qualifying 1, Ojeda produced a composed performance in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 he shares with Paul Lucchitti. After the field traded quick laps throughout the short session, Ojeda delivered his best effort in the second half of Qualifying to secure Rowe Pole Position.
However, Brendon Leitch pushed him all the way in the Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3. Leitch set his benchmark on his fourth lap, but Ojeda responded on his fifth attempt and edged ahead by just two hundredths of a second.
Behind them, Broc Feeney completed the top three in the #1 Kelso Electrical / Team MPC BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II. He finished a further tenth back, narrowly keeping newcomer Garnett Patterson behind him in the #666 Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II.
Meanwhile, Thomas Randle took fifth in the #268 Castrol Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II, missing out on a second-row start by only eight hundredths of a second. Oscar Targett followed closely in the Kollosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG, as another small margin separated the battle for the top six.
In the Trophy Class, Luke Youlden delivered a commanding run in the AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3R (991.1), which he shares with Nathan Halstead. Youlden finished more than one second clear of SRO GT Academy hopeful Alex Gardner in the Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, while Paul Stokell placed third in the KFC / Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II.
2026 GTWC Australia: Round 2: Tailem Bend: Qualifying 2: Pires completes Tigani double
In Qualifying 2, Pires continued Tigani Motorsport’s strong form by placing the #44 Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 on pole. He extracted enough pace from the car to beat reigning champion Brad Schumacher by just over one hundredth of a second.
Schumacher still secured a front-row start in the #1 Kelso Electrical / Team MPC BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II, improving on Feeney’s Qualifying 1 result for the shared Audi entry. Behind him, Mark Rosser put the Castrol Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II third, finishing a further five tenths adrift.
Shane Smollen then backed up the pace shown by Targett in the sister session, taking fourth in the Kollosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG. Meanwhile, ARGT’s Elliott Schutte placed fifth and finished as the highest-ranked Ferrari 296 GT3 driver in the session.
In the Trophy Class, Matt Stoupas turned the tables for the KFC Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II. After Stokell took third in class during Qualifying 1, Stoupas moved the Audi to the top of the Trophy order in Qualifying 2. Ben Porter finished second in the Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, while Halstead completed the top three in the AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport Porsche.
Race 1 ahead
GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS now turns its focus to Race 1 at The Bend. The opening race takes place at 4:20pm ACST and will be available to watch on FOX SPORTS Australia and Kayo Sports. The Practice sessions were completed on Friday.
