It was a spectacular weekend at Phillip Island, where the Porsche Michelin Sprint Series delivered a thrilling race that saw Kiwi drivers make their mark. With four Kiwis finishing in the top 10, New Zealand’s motorsport talent was on full display, culminating in an impressive second-place finish by Tom Bewley.
Bewley’s Near-Victory Stuns the Crowd:
Tom Bewley (4) from Team Porsche New Zealand /EBM was the star of the show, narrowly missing out on the win in a captivating battle with Jake Santalucia (777).
Bewley’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, finishing a mere 5.9 seconds behind Santalucia after 45 minutes of intense racing. Bewley’s best lap of 1:31.9093 demonstrated his raw speed, and he kept the pressure on Santalucia for the majority of the race, making the competition fierce until the very end.
Kiwi Quartet in the Top 10:
It wasn’t just Bewley’s stellar drive that caught the eye. Three other Kiwis were in the top 10, making it a remarkable day for New Zealand motorsport.
William Exton (42) of Earl Bamber Motorsport finished seventh place. Jackson Rooney (30) of TekworkX secured ninth, and Hunter Robb of Jones Motorsport rounded out the Top 10. These impressive finishes highlight the rising force of New Zealand drivers in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Series, underlining the depth of talent coming out of the land of the long white cloud.
Australian driver Ryan Casha (79) of DNA Autosport claimed the final spot on the podium in third place, with a strong finish 0.8321 seconds ahead of Lachlan Bloxsom (23) from McElrea Racing, who finished in fourth.
The Battle for Podium Glory:
Bewley’s thrilling chase for victory was a highlight of the race, but Casha’s determined drive to secure third kept fans on the edge of their seats. Casha showed incredible composure throughout, maintaining a consistent pace with a best lap time of 1:32.1086, and his podium finish was a testament to his growing skill and confidence in the series.
As Casha and Bewley pushed hard for the top spots, their performances continued to raise the profile of New Zealand drivers, with the Kiwi contingent showing they are more than capable of competing with the best in the business.
After three races in Round One of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, William Exton took the overall round win, with Bewley taking second place ahead of Jake Santalucia. A double Kiwi podium!
A Day for the Kiwi Fans:
With four Kiwis in the top 10, including the standout second-place finish by Bewley, the Phillip Island race will undoubtedly be one to remember for Kiwi motorsport fans. For Bewley, two podiums and one top-5 finish on his debut weekend will undoubtedly be one to remember for the young Kiwi.
The impressive showings from New Zealand’s best reflect the strength of the country’s motorsport scene, and there’s no doubt the Kiwi drivers are poised for even more success in future races.
As the Porsche Michelin Sprint Series heats up, fans can look forward to more exciting performances from the Kiwi contingent, who aim to continue their dominance in the series and fight for the top honours.
Race 3 was just a taste of the talent and potential that New Zealand has to offer, and it’s clear the future of Kiwi motorsport is bright.
The next round of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia is scheduled for May 2–4, 2025, at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Header Image: Supplied
