New Zealand’s Brock Gilchrist leaves the opening round of the 2024 Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia in a tie for the lead off the back of a podium and two fourth-placed finishes at Phillip Island.
McElrea Racing’s Clay Osborne finished on the podium twice before a DNF in Race 3, while Ayrton Hodson recovered from a non-result in Race 1 for two top-ten finishes.
Grove Racing’s Oscar Targett won the first pole of the season, leading Hamish Fitzsimmons home by over two-tenths. Osborne qualified third for the opener, ahead of Gilchrist in fifth and Hodson in tenth.
A startline incident claimed Hodson in Saturday’s sole race, which Targett won from Fitzsimmons and Osborne. Gilchrist managed a late move on Conor Somers for fourth.
Fitzsimmons overcame Targett in Sunday’s enduro, with the pair exchanging the lead several times before a rhythm was established. Osborne joined the duo in a three-car battle for the win, and the Kiwi took second on Lap 14 and the lead with five minutes remaining.
Fitzsimmons retook the position the following circuit and went on to win from Targett, who passed Osborne in the closing stages. A 5-second post-race penalty for the Race 1 winner dropped him to third.
Gilchrist was again fourth, some nine seconds behind the leading trio and four seconds ahead of fifth-placed Caleb Sumich. Hodson recovered from his DNF a day earlier to charge from the back for tenth.
A dramatic finale on Sunday evening saw Sumich walk away with round honours after Osborne and Fitzsimmons tangled while battling for the win.
As they had all weekend, the trio fought amongst themselves for the podium places early, with the Kiwi holding the advantage when a Saftey Car was called.
Targett pounced on the Lap 4 restart but timed his move too early and took the position before the control line, resulting in a 5-second penalty.
Fitzsimmons made contact with Osborne on Lap 5 after dropping two wheels off the circuit on the run into MG corner. Both were forced from the race, with Targett inheriting the lead but still facing a penalty, which dropped him to 12th.
Sumich claimed the win from Aron Shields and Gilchrist. Hodson continued to work forward and was seventh home.
Sumich, Gilchrist and Targett finished the round tied on 132 points, with the latter claiming the win on countback based on the last race’s results.
Osborne’s DNF leaves him 30 points adrift of the leaders in sixth, while Hodson is 11th.
The Porsche Sprint Challenge returns with Round 2 at The Bend on May 31-June 2.
