GT World Challenge Australia Phillip Island: Ojeda and Lucchitti bounce back to win Race 2

Jayden Ojeda and Paul Lucchitti delivered a flawless comeback drive in the #66 Move My Wheels by Tigani Mercedes-AMG GT3 to win Race 2 at Phillip Island in the GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS, turning disappointment into dominance after their earlier DNF. Starting from pole, Ojeda controlled the race from the lights, setting the tone for a commanding performance that kept rivals at bay.

Ojeda leads the early stages

The race began with Ojeda leading from pole position, quickly pulling away from the #26 ARGT Ferrari 296 GT3 of Jaxon Evans and the #44 Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Brendon Leitch.

After a tough Saturday ending in retirement, Ojeda and Lucchitti bounced back strongly, aided by having no success penalty during the pit stop. They secured Tigani’s first win of the season, finishing 3.3 seconds clear of Evans and Elliot Schutte in the #26 ARGT Ferrari.

The final podium position went to Race 1 winners Brad Schumacher and Broc Feeney in the #1 Kelso Electrical MPC Audi R8 LMS GT3.

Early incidents shake the field

There were a few incidents during the race. William Davison in the #181 OnlyFans Racing Ferrari had a big slide at Turn 1. At the same time, contact from Leitch in the #44 Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Mercedes-AMG sent the #88 Wolfbrook Motorsport Audi of Ryan Wood spinning off the track.

Later, the #15 Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin of Josh Hunt spun at Turn 2, which brought out the safety car. After the restart, Ojeda stayed in control. Not long after that, Davison had contact with Paul Stokell in the #24 KFC Team MPC Audi at Turn 10, forcing the Ferrari out of the race.

Schumacher fights back

A close moment at the entrance to the pits saw Leitch nearly run into the back of Evans when the leading group came in. During the stops, Schumacher took over the #1 Audi from Feeney, but a 15-second success penalty after their Race 1 victory put them on the back foot.

Schumacher fought back from seventh place and attempted a move on Shane Smollen in the #56 Kollosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 at Turn 2, sending the Mercedes into the gravel and bringing out another safety car.

The race restarted with less than four minutes remaining, erasing Lucchitti’s advantage and setting up a short sprint to the finish. Despite the pressure, he held on to secure the win.

Final lap drama for Rosser

Behind them, Mark Rosser in the #268 Castrol Team BRM Audi R8 LMS GT3 was running strongly in fourth. On the final lap, he attempted a late move at Turn 4 on Schutte but collided with Sergio Pires in the #44 Mercedes-AMG ahead.

After the race, Rosser was handed a 40-second penalty for the incident, dropping the #268 Audi, shared with Thomas Randle, down to 10th place.

Update: Post-race, Schumacher was also given a 15-second penalty for his contact with Shane Smollen, dropping the #1 Audi from third to ninth and promoting the #88 Wolfbrook Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3 of Ryan Wood and Steve Brooks to the podium.

Championship and next round

With a pole position, victory and ninth-place finish across the weekend, Brad Schumacher and Broc Feeney leave Phillip Island leading the championship on 30 points.

The GT World Challenge Australia field now heads to The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia near Adelaide on 8-10 May, where the early-season momentum continues at one of the country’s fastest and most demanding circuits.

Full Race 2 results