Earl Bamber Motorsport’s rising star Tom Bewley kicked off Round 2 of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia in sensational style, claiming a hard-fought victory in Race 1 at Sydney Motorsport Park after a commanding performance from pole position.
The Kiwi teenager secured the top spot on the grid by an incredibly narrow margin—just 0.0077 seconds—during a nail-biting qualifying session the previous day, setting the tone for a fiercely competitive weekend ahead.
Joining Bewley on the grid were fellow New Zealand rookies William Exton, Jackson Rooney, and Hunter Robb, who lined up 9th, 10th, and 11th, respectively, in the 23-car field.
When the lights went out for the 14-lap opener, Bewley made no mistake from pole, leading the pack and immediately setting a strong pace at the front.
However, the early stages were interrupted by a safety car intervention, which bunched up the field and temporarily neutralised the action.
Once racing resumed, the Kiwi contingent came alive. Jackson Rooney surged forward, climbing four positions to run in 6th place. Hunter Robb also made gains, moving into 9th, while William Exton slipped to 10th—still within striking distance at just 4.8 seconds behind race leader Bewley.
At the front, it became a two-horse race as Bewley and Lachlan Bloxsom broke away from the rest of the field. The duo stretched out a commanding gap of more than three seconds, with Bloxsom locked onto the rear wing of the race-leading Kiwi and keeping the pressure on in pursuit of the win.
Further back, a thrilling intra-Kiwi battle was unfolding between Rooney, Robb, and Exton for 7th through 9th positions. The three rookies were locked in a tight scrap, separated by less than one second in a fierce demonstration of New Zealand’s young talent.
Bloxsom continued to hound Bewley for the top spot as the laps ticked down, refusing to give the Kiwi any breathing room.
Despite relentless pressure, Bewley held his nerve to claim a breakthrough victory in the Porsche Sprint Challenge—a defining moment in his young career.
Bloxsom crossed the line just two-tenths of a second behind, the pair finishing a massive 2.9 seconds clear of the rest of the field in a dominant display.
Although Bewley didn’t set the fastest lap of the race, that honour went to Jake Santalucia, who posted a blistering 1:30.9155 on his way to 5th place—an effort that was seven-tenths faster than Bewley’s best and a clear indicator that he, too, is a serious contender this weekend.
Among the Kiwis, Rooney emerged as the next best finisher behind Bewley, coming home in 7th. Robb was next, in 8th, and Exton was 9th.
With all four New Zealand contenders finishing in the top 10, the message is clear: the Kiwis are not just here to compete but to dominate.
As the weekend continues, all eyes will be on Tom Bewley and the rest of the Kiwi charge as they look to keep the pressure on their Australian rivals across the ditch.
Header Image: Earl Bamber Motorsport
