Audi dominates GT opener

After wrapping up last year’s Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Championship, Yasser Shahin  with German co-driver, Christopher Mies, were straight back on the pace at the opening weekend of the 2022 season. The two race championship opener at Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit saw the reigning champion narrowly miss the win in the first race, with Chaz Mostert (who enjoyed great success in the Audi RS 3 LMS last year) and Liam Talbot, also driving an Audi R8, snatching the victory after a close fought race.

In race two though, the pair put the result beyond doubt, despite Mostert again starting from pole position. With the German ace, Christopher Mies, behind the wheel of the Audi Sport Australia Team Valvoline R8, the race was a close run affair, with Audi R8s setting the pace. Mies took an early lead from Mostert and was never bested, ultimately handing over the driving duties to Shahin who only built on the lead to take the win.

“Finally a good ending for the first round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia,” Mies said after the second race victory.

“It started not so well, obviously the jet lag kicked in so I was quite tired the first couple of days, but finally we got the car right today and I felt good. Yasser did a great job, so I’m really happy about the outcome.”

With Mostert and Talbot finishing and second and Tony Bates and co-driver, David Reynolds finishing third, the race was a one-two-three Audi R8 lockout on the grid in the outright Pro-Am class and a tremendous success for Melbourne Performance Centre who run Audi Sport customer racing in Australia.,Indeed that success extended to the  AM and GT Trophy classes, with Matt Stoupas and Brad Schumacher also winning in their respective categories in Audi R8s.

The championship now moves to the hallowed ground of Mount Panorama in Bathurst as part of the Bathurst 12 Hour race which will be run much later than usual, from the 13th to the 15th of May.