The 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) Australia powered by AWS continued Round 2 at The Bend with a commanding Race 1 performance from Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport. After Pires claimed the ROWE Pole Position Award earlier in the day, he and Leitch controlled the race from start to finish in their Mercedes-AMG GT3 and crossed the line 1.5 seconds clear of Castrol Team BRM’s Thomas Randle and Mark Rosser.
2026 GTWC Australia: Round 2: Tailem Bend: Race 1: Pires and Leitch lead from lights to flag
Pires made the perfect start from pole and immediately guided the Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 cleanly through the opening laps. From there, he built a strong rhythm and kept the field behind him throughout the first stint.
Behind him, Brad Schumacher kept pressure on the leader in the #1 Kelso Electrical Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II he shares with Broc Feeney. Schumacher remained within striking distance early on, sitting between half a second and just over one second behind Pires.
However, the reigning Pro-Am champion made a rare mistake as the race developed. Schumacher ran off the circuit and onto the grass, which dropped him to fourth behind Rosser and Elliott Schutte.
As a result, Pires gained breathing room at the front. Before the pit stop window, he extended his advantage to almost five seconds over Rosser and then handed the Mercedes-AMG GT3 to Leitch with the race firmly under control.
Leitch then completed the job in the second half of the race. Although Randle pushed hard in the Castrol Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II and reduced the margin to 1.5 seconds, Leitch held firm and brought the car home to complete a lights-to-flag victory.
A tight field behind
Randle and Rosser finished second after a strong and composed run, while ARGT’s Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte completed the podium in their Ferrari 296 GT3. Evans had to work late in the race, as Feeney charged towards the Ferrari and finished just six tenths behind in fourth.
Further back, Will Davison and Renee Gracie took fifth in the OnlyFans Racing Ferrari 296 GT3. Ryan Wood and Steve Brooks followed closely in sixth for Team BRM / Wolfbrook Motorsport, finishing seven tenths behind the Ferrari.
Jayden Ojeda and Paul Lucchitti placed seventh in the Move My Wheels by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3. The pair will start Sunday’s final race from pole position, giving Tigani Motorsport another strong chance to add to its successful weekend.
Team BRM’s Garnet Patterson and JP Drake finished eighth in their Audi R8 LMS EVO II after making several solid moves throughout the race. Meanwhile, Oscar Targett and Shane Smollen recovered to ninth in the Kollosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 after receiving an early drive-through penalty.
Despite that setback, Targett still finished as the leading SRO GT Academy driver. He continues his push for the fully funded seat at the 2027 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
Josh Buchan and Cameron Campbell completed the top 10 in the Zagame Autosport Ferrari 296 GT3.
Stokell and Stoupas win Trophy Cup
In the Trophy Cup, Matt Stoupas and Paul Stokell delivered a controlled class victory in the KFC Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II.
The pair produced consistent stints and built a nine-second margin over Luke Youlden and Nathan Halstead in the AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3R.
Alex Gardner and Ben Porter completed the Trophy Cup podium in the Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3. They finished third in class, 35 seconds behind the Porsche ahead.
Final 2026 GWTC Australia race ahead at The Bend
GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS returns on Sunday for the final race of the weekend at The Bend. Race 2 takes place at 2:10pm ACST, with coverage available live and free on FOX SPORTS and Kayo SPORTS in Australia, while international viewers can watch via GT World.
