GT World Challenge Australia Phillip Island: Ojeda and Schumacher secure pole positions

Qualifying for the opening round of GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS at Phillip Island was held in difficult conditions, with heavy rain affecting Qualifying 1 and several incidents interrupting Qualifying 2.

Qualifying 1: Ojeda Fastest in Heavy Rain

Jayden Ojeda secured pole position in the first qualifying session for #66 Move My Wheels by Tigani Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO with a best lap of 1:39.007 in wet conditions.

#26 ARGT’s Jaxon Evans qualified second in the Ferrari 296 GT3, 0.759 seconds behind, followed by Brendon Leitch in the #44 Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO in third.

William Davison placed the #181 OnlyFans Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 fourth, while Broc Feeney completed the top five in the #1 Kelso Electrical MPC Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II.

#88 Wolfbrook Motorsport, which had topped both Friday practice sessions, qualified sixth with Ryan Wood driving the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II.

Josh Buchan secured seventh in the #23 Zagame Autosport Ferrari 296 GT3, ahead of Thomas Randle in the #268 Castrol Team BRM Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II.

The #56 Kollosche AMG by Tigani Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, driven by Oscar Targett, and the #2 Team MPC Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II of Valentino Astuti completed the top ten.

The session proved challenging for several competitors due to the heavy rain, with large gaps reflecting the difficult track conditions.

Qualifying 2: Schumacher Takes Race 2 Pole

In Qualifying 2, Brad Schumacher put the #1 Kelso Electrical MPC Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II on pole for Race 2 with a lap time of 1:44.628.

Elliott Schutte made it another front row start for #26 ARGT in the Ferrari 296 GT3, while Sergio Pires qualified third for #44 Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.

Shane Smollen placed fourth in the #56 Kollosche AMG by Tigani Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, in a session disrupted by a spin from the same entry that brought out a yellow flag.

The #71 AED Consulting by Tigani Porsche 911 GT3 R also spun in the closing minutes, adding to the interruptions.

Mark Rosser qualified fifth for #268 Castrol Team BRM in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, followed by Geoff Emery in the #15 Volante Rosso Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 EVO.

Renee Gracie secured seventh in the #181 OnlyFans Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, ahead of Paul Lucchitti in the #66 Move My Wheels by Tigani Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.

Steve Brooks placed ninth in the #88 Wolfbrook Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, while Darren Currie completed the top ten in the #2 Team MPC Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II.

Race 1 will run from 15:55 to 16:55 local time as the new season officially gets underway at Phillip Island.