New Zealander Richie Stanaway featured on the podium with driving partner Prince Jefri Ibrahim in Race 2 of the GT World Challenge at Wanneroo Raceway in Perth, finishing third.
Stanaway and Ibrahim were at the helm of Triple Eight’s #888 Mercedes-AMG GT3, the Kiwi taking the opening stint of Sunday’s race which was run in support of the Perth SuperSprint.
Stanaway ran in the top five throughout the first 30 minutes, not losing touch with the lead bunch and handing over to his co-driver in fifth.
Ibrahim laid down a commanding drive, holding firm and benefitting when his brother, Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim, tapped Ross Poulakis at Turn 4 as the race entered its final stages.
Bakar Ibrahim, partnering with Jamie Whincup in Triple Eight’s #88 Mercedes AMG GT3, was penalised for the contact. In contrast, Poulakis, partnering with Jayden Ojeda in another Mercedes, would eventually drop down the order to finish sixth.
Liam Talbot and Max Hofer won the 60-minute race, converting their pole to victory in the Shannons Insurance Audi R8 LMS Evo 2. It was an Audi one-two in Race 2 as Christopher Mies and Geoff Emery took second, 28 seconds behind the winners.
Saturday’s Race 1 was almost another podium for Stanaway and Jefri Ibrahim. The latter took the opening stint and kept in touch with the leaders by remaining hot on the tail of the #88 with Abu Bakar Ibrahim at the helm.
Stanaway took the wheel and immediately began charging after the leading three, ultimately running out of time with the gap to the podium just 5 seconds.
Race 1’s winners were Yassir Shahin and Garnet Patterson, the duo delivering Porsche their first-ever GT World Challenge Australia win in their 992 GT3R. Whincup was able to improve the #88 Mercedes to second, one second off the winners, while Emery and Mies rounded out the podium a further second behind.
The GT World Challenge Australia returns to Phillip Island over the weekend of May 12-14. Broc Feeney is expected to re-take the wheel of the #888 with Jefri Ibrahim, having sat out in Perth due to his Supercars commitments.
Header Image: GT World Challenge Australia
