2017 Australian GT Championship

The 2017 Australian GT Championship was the 21st running of the Australian GT Championship, a CAMS-sanctioned Australian motor racing championship open to FIA GT3 cars and similar cars as approved for the championship. The championship commenced on 2 March 2017 at the Adelaide Street Circuit and concluded on 19 November at Wakefield Park, with two rounds held in New Zealand.

Following the success of the previous year, a second series for GT3 cars, the Australian Endurance Championship was also contested. A third series for older-specification GT3 and GT4 class cars, the CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series, was also held.

The Australian GT Championship events were held in support of five V8 Supercar events. The Australian Endurance Championship shared an event with the Shannons Nationals, another with V8 Supercars, and its final two rounds were staged at Hampton Downs and Highlands Motorsport Park, both owned by series owner Tony Quinn. The Australian GT Trophy Series2017 Australian GT Trophy Series Sporting and Technical Regulations – Version 1, docs.cams.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org was contested exclusively at Shannons Nationals events.

The Australian GT Championship was won by Geoff EmeryAustralian GT Championship Standings, australiangt.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org driving an Audi R8 LMS.

Series The 2017 season included three separate series: CAMS Australian GT Championship, shorter races for current-specification GT3 cars. CAMS Australian Endurance Championship, longer endurance races featuring multiple drivers and current-specification GT3 cars. CAMS Australian GT Trophy Series, shorter races for older-specification GT3 and GT4 cars.

All competitors are able to enter the Australian GT Championship and the Australian Endurance Championship, and all were eligible to win the championships outright, however only older-specification cars could enter the Australian GT Trophy Series.

Race calendar The Australian GT Championship is contested over five rounds, the Australian Endurance Championship over four rounds and the Australian GT Trophy Series over five rounds. Each race, with the exception of the Australian Grand Prix round of the Australian GT Championship, includes at least one compulsory timed pit stop.

Australian GT Championship

Round Circuit Location Race format Date 1 Adelaide Street Circuit Adelaide, South Australia 3 x 40 min 2–5 March 2 Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit Melbourne, Victoria 4 x 25 min 23–26 March 3 Barbagallo Raceway Perth, Western Australia 2 x 60 min 5–7 May 4 Townsville Street Circuit Townsville, Queensland 3 x 40 min 8–10 July 5 Sandown Raceway Melbourne, Victoria 15–17 September

Australian Endurance Championship

Round Name Circuit Location Race format Date 1 AEC Philip Island 500 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Phillip Island, Victoria 500 km 26–28 May 2 AEC Sydney 501 Sydney Motorsport Park Eastern Creek, New South Wales 18–20 August 3 Hampton Downs 500 Hampton Downs Motorsport Park Waikato, New Zealand 27–29 October 4 Highlands 501 Highlands Motorsport Park Cromwell, New Zealand 10–12 November

Australian GT Trophy Series

Round Circuit Location Race format Date 1 Sandown Raceway Melbourne, Victoria 2 x 50 min 8–9 April 2 Winton Motor Raceway Benalla, Victoria 10–11 June 3 Queensland Raceway Ipswich, Queensland 5–6 August 4 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Phillip Island, Victoria 9–10 September 5 Wakefield Park Goulburn, New South Wales 18–19 November

Australian GT Championship

Teams and drivers Team Vehicle No. Drivers Class Events Audi Sport Customer Racing Ah Apartments Audi R8 LMS 3 Ash Samadi GT All Audi Sport Customer Racing Hallmarc Constructions 9 Marc Cini GT 1–2, 4 Dean Fiore 2 Audi Sport Customer Racing Supabarn Supermarkets 44 Ash Walsh GT All James Koundouris 1–3 Duvashen Padayachee 4–5 Audi Sport Customer Racing JAMEC PEM Racing 74 Geoff Emery GT All Kelvin van der Linde 1–4 75 Steve McLaughlan GT 1, 5 Tim Miles 2 Audi Sport Customer Racing KFC Racing 124 Daniel Gaunt GT 2–3 Gary Higgon McElrea Racing Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX 4 Tim Miles GT 1 McElrea Racing Objective Racing McLaren 650S GT3 11 Tony Walls GT 1–4 GT Motorsport Audi R8 LMS 5 Greg Taylor GT 1, 3 Nathan Antunes 1 Zagame Motorsport Lamborghini Huracán GT3 6 Adrian Deitz GT 2 Cameron McConville Darrell Lea/Keltic Racing McLaren 650S GT3 7 Tony Quinn GT All Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 8 Max Twigg GT All 222 Craig Baird GT 1 Scott Taylor 1–4 PM Motorsport Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX 14 Peter Major GT 1–3 Veloce Motorsport - ULX110 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 15 Keith Wong GT-I 1 Erebus Motorsport Hog's Breath Cafe/Griffith Corporation Mercedes-AMG GT3 19 Mark Griffith GT 1–3, 5 Jake Camilleri 2–3 Rosso Verde Racing Ferrari 458 GT3 21 Hector Lester GT-I 2 Benny Simonsen JBS Australia Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX 23 Roger Lago GT 1–4 David Russell 2 Eggleston Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 24 Tony Bates GT 1–4 Trofeo Motorsport Lamborghini Huracán GT3 29 Dean Canto GT 1 Ivan Capelli 2 Jim Manolios 1, 5 Ryan Millier 2, 5 M Motorsport Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX 48 Justin McMillan GT 1 Glen Wood 1–2, 4 Yasser Shahin 2 AMAC Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3-R 51 Andrew MacPherson GT 1, 4 Brad Shiels 4 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Andrew MacPherson GT 2–3 Brad Shiels 3 Tekno Autosports McLaren 650S GT3 58 Fraser Ross GT 5 59 Fraser Ross GT 1–4 Côme Ledogar 1 Lewis Williamson 2 Michael O'Donnell Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 68 Michael O'Donnell GT-I 1–2 Koala Motorsport Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX 69 Brenton Griguol GT 1 Tim Macrow Triffid Bar Venue Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX 73 Michael Hovey GT 1–2 Daniel Jilesen 1 Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3 88 Peter Edwards GT 2 Fire Rating Solutions Lamborghini Gallardo LP-560 GT3 99 Matthew Turnbull GT-I 2 BMW Team SRM BMW M6 GT3 100 James Bergmuller GT All Steven Richards DJS Racing BMW M6 GT3 101 Danny Stutterd GT 2–3 Mack Roofing Products Ferrari 458 GT3 147 Wayne Mack GT-I 2 Industrie Clothing Audi R8 LMS ultra 199 Nick Kelly GT 2 The Bend Motorsport Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX 777 Yasser Shahin GT 1 Walkinshaw Racing Porsche 911 GT3-R 911 Liam Talbot GT All Class Meaning GT Australian GT Championship GT-I Australian GT Championship (Invitational Class)

Race results Round Circuit Pole position Race winner 1 R1 Adelaide No. 74 JAMEC PEM Racing No. 24 Eggleston Motorsport Geoff Emery Kelvin van der Linde Tony Bates R2 No. 14 PM Motorsport Peter Major R3 No. 24 Eggleston Motorsport Tony Bates 2 R1 Albert Park No. 74 JAMEC PEM Racing No. 74 JAMEC PEM Racing Geoff Emery Kelvin van der Linde Geoff Emery Kelvin van der Linde R2 No. 8 Scott Taylor Motorsport No. 23 JBS Australia Max Twigg Roger Lago David Russell R3 No. 74 JAMEC PEM Racing Geoff Emery Kelvin van der Linde R4 No. 911 Walkinshaw Racing Liam Talbot 3 R1 Barbagallo No. 44 Supabarn Supermarkets No. 911 Walkinshaw Racing James Koundouris Ash Walsh Liam Talbot R2 No. 14 PM Motorsport Peter Major 4 R1 Townsville No. 74 JAMEC PEM Racing No. 911 Walkinshaw Racing Geoff Emery Kelvin van der Linde Liam Talbot R2 No. 48 M Motorsport Glen Wood R3 No. 8 Scott Taylor Motorsport Max Twigg 5 R1 Sandown No. 44 Supabarn Supermarkets No. 74 JAMEC PEM Racing Duvashen Padayachee Ash Walsh Geoff Emery R2 No. 7 Darrell Lea/Keltic Racing Tony Quinn R3 No. 58 Tekno Autosports Fraser Ross

Points system Points are awarded as follows:

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th   11th   12th   13th   14th   15th   16th   17th   18th   19th   20th   21st   22nd   23rd   24th   25th   26th+  Qualifying session 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Rounds 1, 4–5 67 56 47 40 33 27 24 21 19 16 15 13 12 10 8 7 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 Round 2 R1 25 21 18 15 13 10 9 8 7 6 6 5 5 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Round 2 R2 45 38 32 27 23 18 16 14 13 11 10 9 8 7 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 Round 2 R3 50 42 35 30 25 20 18 16 14 12 11 10 9 8 6 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 Round 2 R4 80 67 56 48 40 32 29 26 22 19 18 16 14 13 10 8 6 6 5 5 3 3 1 1 1 1 Round 3 100 84 70 60 50 40 36 32 28 24 23 20 18 15 13 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 2 1

Championship standings Pos Driver ADE ALB BAR TOW SAN Pts R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R4 QP RP R1 R2 QP RP R1 R2 R3 QP RP R1 R2 R3 QP RP 1 Geoff Emery 13 12 9 15 59 1 8 1 3 17 162 4 3 14 144 4 2 4 15 151 1 2 5 8 164 680 2 Liam Talbot 4 4 6 4 111 10 4 10 1 4 129 1 6 13 153 1 3 5 4 151 3 10 2 7 126 670 3 Ash Walsh 6 6 16 14 76 3 6 4 6 10 108 6 2 11 135 5 5 2 14 136 4 5 3 10 130 585 4 Kelvin van der Linde 13 12 9 15 59 1 8 1 3 17 162 4 3 14 144 4 2 4 15 151 516 5 Fraser Ross 8 7 11 6 66 7 2 5 15 7 89 2 9 10 122 10 Ret 14 11 37 2 6 1 5 155 469 6 Max Twigg 21 9 5 57 11 3 11 2 10 126 5 5 4 104 12 8 1 7 108 8 8 9 1 62 457 7 Roger Lago 2 2 2 12 180 4 1 3 4 14 157 Ret 11 5 28 13 6 6 10 76 441 8 Tony Bates 1 3 1 8 189 14 23 12 8 6 48 11 4 83 Ret DNS DNS 6 6 326 9 Peter Major 3 1 4 7 161 12 5 Ret Ret 5 33 13 1 8 126 320 10 James Koundouris 6 6 16 14 76 3 6 4 6 10 108 6 2 11 135 319 11 Glen Wood 11 Ret DNS 15 6 12 9 5 2 75 3 1 3 17 178 268 12 Tony Walls 5 13 3 92 26 11 21 7 42 3 Ret 7 77 8 7 13 57 268 13 Duvashen Padayachee 5 5 2 14 136 4 5 3 10 130 266 14= James Bergmuller 16 Ret 19 1 14 8 17 8 12 5 50 10 7 1 61 11 10 12 1 45 9 4 8 6 86 256 14= Steven Richards 16 Ret 19 1 14 8 17 8 12 5 50 10 7 1 61 11 10 12 1 45 9 4 8 6 86 256 15 Mark Griffith 7 8 8 66 18 14 13 11 36 9 8 3 63 7 9 4 83 248 16 Ash Samadi 15 Ret 10 2 26 16 DNS DNS DNS 4 12 13 5 43 6 4 7 1 92 5 Ret 10 2 51 216 17 Tony Quinn Ret DNS DNS 0 20 21 19 17 14 16 12 30 9 9 9 57 10 1 7 107 208 18 Scott Taylor 10 15 18 4 35 23 7 17 21 26 8 Ret 32 2 13 8 89 182 19 David Russell 4 1 3 4 14 157 157 20 Marc Cini 18 Ret 13 17 5 16 6 9 4 64 7 11 10 55 136 21 Andrew MacPherson 17 DSQ 14 16 24 22 24 18 11 7 10 4 64 Ret 12 11 6 34 125 22 Steve McLaughlan 9 DNS DNS 1 20 6 3 6 3 104 124 23 Jake Camilleri 18 14 13 11 36 9 8 3 63 99 24 Brad Shiels 7 10 4 64 Ret 12 11 6 34 98 25= Daniel Gaunt 2 25 2 23 7 75 15 DNS 7 20 95 25= Gary Higgon 2 25 2 23 7 75 15 DNS 7 20 95 26 Lewis Williamson 7 2 5 15 7 89 89 27 Yasser Shahin WD WD WD 0 6 12 9 5 2 75 75 28 Ryan Millier 13 9 14 Ret 26 11 7 Ret 4 43 69 29 Jim Manolios 22 11 Ret 5 24 11 7 Ret 4 43 67 30 Côme Ledogar 8 7 11 6 66 66 31 Dean Fiore 5 16 6 9 4 64 64 32 Tim Miles 23 5 Ret 36 15 27 18 10 27 63 33 Michael Hovey 14 18 7 41 22 18 22 16 15 56 34 Daniel Jilesen 14 18 7 41 41 35= Brenton Griguol 12 14 12 3 39 39 35= Tim Macrow 12 14 12 3 39 39 36 Craig Baird 10 15 18 4 35 35 37 Nick Kelly 17 10 15 14 32 32 38= Adrian Deitz 9 26 7 20 31 31 38= Cameron McConville 9 26 7 20 31 31 39 Daniel Stutterd 19 13 16 Ret 15 14 Ret 15 30 40 Ivan Capelli 13 9 14 Ret 26 26 41 Greg Taylor Ret 10 Ret 10 26 Ret DNS 0 26 42 Nathan Antunes Ret 10 Ret 10 26 26 43 Dean Canto 22 11 Ret 5 24 24 44 Peter Edwards 21 19 20 13 22 22 45 Justin McMillan 11 Ret DNS 15 15 Invitational class cars ineligible for championship points Keith Wong 19 17 15 0 0 Hector Lester DSQ 15 Ret Ret 0 0 Benny Simonsen DSQ 15 Ret Ret 0 0 Michael O'Donnell 20 16 17 0 28 28 26 24 0 0 Wayne Mack 25 20 23 19 0 0 Matthew Turnbull 27 24 25 22 0 0 Pos Driver R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R4 QP RP R1 R2 QP RP R1 R2 R3 QP RP R1 R2 R3 QP RP Pts ADE ALB BAR TOW SANBold - Pole positionItalics - Fastest lap

Australian Endurance Championship

Teams and drivers