Josh Buchan and Brad Schumacher shared the Rowe Pole Position Awards during GT World Challenge (GTWC) Australia powered by AWS Qualifying at Hidden Valley Raceway.
Buchan, who set the benchmark in Practice, delivered Zagame Autosport’s first championship pole in Qualifying 1 after beating Ryan Wood and Broc Feeney by less than one-tenth of a second. Subsequently, Schumacher led an Audi front-row lockout in Qualifying 2 ahead of Mark Rosser.
2026 GTWC Australia Hidden Valley Qualifying 1: Buchan claims Zagame’s maiden pole
Feeney initially set the pace in the #1 Kelso Electrical/Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II. However, Buchan moved ahead during the middle stages aboard the #23 Zagame Autosport Ferrari 296 GT3.
Buchan recorded a 1:04.3750 on his seventh lap, thereby securing Zagame Autosport’s highest GTWC Australia Qualifying result and its first pole position in the championship.
Nevertheless, Wood applied late pressure in the #88 Team BRM/Wolfbrook Motorsport Audi. The New Zealander improved on his final lap and finished only 0.0631 seconds behind Buchan.
Feeney also challenged during the closing stages. However, he settled for third, just 0.0008s behind Wood and 0.0639s away from pole.
Meanwhile, Jayden Ojeda placed the #66 Move My Wheels by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO fourth. Alex Peroni completed the top five for Team BRM.
Luke Youlden led the Trophy Class in the #71 AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R. His 1:04.8721 placed him 10th overall and 0.6306s ahead of Paul Stokell.
Full Qualifying 1 classification
- Josh Buchan — Zagame Autosport Ferrari 296 GT3: 1:04.3750
- Ryan Wood — Team BRM/Wolfbrook Motorsport Audi R8 LMS EVO II: +0.0631s
- Broc Feeney — Kelso Electrical/Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II: +0.0639s
- Jayden Ojeda — Move My Wheels by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO: +0.1736s
- Alex Peroni — Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II: +0.1861s
- Brendon Leitch — Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO: +0.2523s
- Jaxon Evans — ARGT Ferrari 296 GT3: +0.4324s
- Oscar Targett — Kollosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO: +0.4575s
- Valentino Astuti — Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II: +0.4695s
- Luke Youlden — AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R: +0.4971s — Trophy
- Garnet Patterson — Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II: +0.5081s
- Will Davison — OnlyFans Racing Ferrari 296 GT3: +0.7278s
- Paul Stokell — KFC/Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II: +1.1277s — Trophy
2026 GTWC Australia Hidden Valley Qualifying 2: Schumacher delivers late Audi pole
Schumacher established the early Qualifying 2 benchmark before several drivers moved into contention.
Darren Currie briefly led in the #2 Team MPC Audi. Subsequently, Rosser moved the #268 Team BRM Audi to the top of the timesheets.
Steve Brooks also challenged in the #88 Team BRM/Wolfbrook Motorsport entry, while Sergio Pires placed the #44 Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG within reach of pole.
However, Schumacher responded on his 10th lap. Although he did not set the quickest opening sectors, he delivered a strong final sector and recorded a 1:05.3930.
Rosser finished 0.1245s behind in second, completing an Audi front-row lockout. Pires followed only 0.0027s further back in third, while Brooks secured fourth.
Elliott Schutte placed the #26 ARGT Ferrari fifth, ahead of Currie and Paul Lucchitti.
Meanwhile, Matt Stoupas topped the Trophy Class in the #24 KFC/Team MPC Audi. His 1:06.9257 placed him 12th overall and 1.6190s ahead of Nathan Halstead’s AED Consulting Porsche.
Full Qualifying 2 classification
- Brad Schumacher — Kelso Electrical/Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II: 1:05.3930
- Mark Rosser — Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II: +0.1245s
- Sergio Pires — Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO: +0.1272s
- Steve Brooks — Team BRM/Wolfbrook Motorsport Audi R8 LMS EVO II: +0.1617s
- Elliott Schutte — ARGT Ferrari 296 GT3: +0.2429s
- Darren Currie — Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II: +0.2614s
- Paul Lucchitti — Move My Wheels by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO: +0.2984s
- Renee Gracie — OnlyFans Racing Ferrari 296 GT3: +0.6713s
- Shane Smollen — Kollosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO: +0.7592s
- Cameron Campbell — Zagame Autosport Ferrari 296 GT3: +0.8874s
- John-Paul Drake — Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II: +0.9465s
- Matt Stoupas — KFC/Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II: +1.5327s — Trophy
- Nathan Halstead — AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R: +3.1517s — Trophy
Buchan carries pole into Hidden Valley Race 1
Buchan’s breakthrough pole continued Zagame Autosport’s strong Hidden Valley weekend after the team topped Friday’s second Practice session.
The Ferrari driver will lead Wood away at the start of Race 1, while Feeney and Ojeda will share the second row.
Schumacher will then occupy the prime starting position for Race 2 alongside Rosser. Furthermore, Pires and Brooks will start directly behind the Audi pair after another closely contested session at Hidden Valley.
