enee Gracie and Will Davison claimed their maiden GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS victory with a commanding performance in Race 1 at Queensland Raceway. Gracie moved the #181 OnlyFans Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 into the lead during the opening stint before Davison completed the job to secure Ferrari’s first overall victory of the 2026 season.
2026 GTWC Australia: Queensland Raceway: Race 1: Gracie charges into the lead
Justin Tigani started from pole position in the #56 Kallosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO and made a clean getaway. He quickly opened a gap over Gracie, while Sergio Pires and Mark Rosser fought side-by-side behind the leading pair.
Pires eventually retained third in the #44 Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3. However, his battle with Rosser slowed both drivers and allowed Gracie to close on Tigani at the front.
Rosser settled into fourth after gaining two places from sixth on the grid in the #268 Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II. Meanwhile, Tigani initially maintained control as the race began to settle.
A Safety Car then interrupted the opening stint after Darren Currie stranded the #2 Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II in the gravel.
Tigani retained the lead at the restart and initially appeared capable of rebuilding his advantage. Nevertheless, Gracie continued to apply pressure before completing the decisive move for first place.
Once ahead, Gracie quickly established control. Tigani remained secure in second, while Pires held third as reigning champion Brad Schumacher worked his way past Rosser and began closing on the Mercedes-AMG ahead.
Gracie builds a gap before the pit window
The leading order stabilised after Gracie took first place. She gradually extended her advantage and led by more than three seconds when the mandatory pit window opened.
Behind her, Tigani maintained a comfortable margin over Pires. Schumacher followed closely in fourth, although the pit-stop phase later altered the order behind the top three.
Gracie handed the Ferrari to Davison, while Oscar Targett replaced Tigani in the #56 Mercedes-AMG and Brendon Leitch took over from Pires in the #44 entry.
The top three retained their positions after the stops. However, Jaxon Evans moved the #26 ARGT Ferrari 296 GT3 into fourth after the Rosser/Alex Peroni and Schumacher/Broc Feeney Audi pairings served success penalties.
Davison completes the victory
Davison emerged from the pit sequence with an advantage of more than four seconds over Targett.
Although the gap later fell below its initial margin, Davison kept it above three seconds for most of the final stint. He therefore faced little direct pressure and guided the #181 Ferrari to the chequered flag.
Targett secured second for Kallosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport, finishing more than three seconds behind the winner. Leitch completed the podium in the sister Tigani Motorsport-run Mercedes-AMG.
However, Leitch faced pressure from Evans during the closing stages. Only eight hundredths of a second separated Targett and Leitch at the line, while Evans finished another half-second behind in fourth.
A close fight behind the podium
Schumacher and Feeney recovered to fifth in the #1 Kelso Electrical Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II. They crossed the line three seconds behind Evans and less than one second ahead of Peroni and Rosser in sixth.
Josh Buchan and Cameron Campbell placed seventh in the #23 Zagame Autosport Ferrari 296 GT3. Meanwhile, Jayden Ojeda and Paul Lucchitti took eighth in the #66 Move My Wheels by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.
Tony D’Alberto and Adrien Deitz finished ninth in the #93 Wall Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3.
Luke Youlden and Nathan Halstead completed the overall top 10 in the #71 AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R. Their result also secured the Trophy Cup victory.
Youlden and Halstead claim Trophy Cup honours
Cameron Rees started from Trophy Cup pole position in the #14 Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3.
However, Youlden remained in contention throughout the opening phase before making the decisive pass for the class lead with 20 minutes remaining.
He and Halstead eventually secured a 10-second Trophy Cup victory in the Porsche. Paul Stokell and Garry Higgon finished second in the #24 KFC Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II, while Rees completed the class podium.
Final Queensland Raceway race ahead
GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS continues with the final race of the Queensland Raceway weekend at 10:25am AEST on Sunday.
FOX SPORTS Australia and Kayo Sports will broadcast the race live.
