Sergio Pires has locked in a return to GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS, with race winner Brendon Leitch to join him at Tigani Motorsport for 2026.
The pair will be behind the wheel of the team’s #44 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the full season, with Leitch switching over from Melbourne Performance Centre, having been there the past few seasons.
In acquiring Leitch as his co-driver, Pires gains an internationally renowned GT driver with experience all around the world and in some of the biggest events on the motorsport calendar.
Starting out in New Zealand Formula Ford and junior formulas before stints in F3 Asia, Leitch transitioned from single-seaters to international GT competition, beginning with Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia.
There, he began to build a name for himself, scoring two wins and eight podiums in the 2019 season to finish runner-up in the Pro-Am Class with Leipert Motorsport. From there, Leitch went on to become a regular in the prestigious 24H Series, which he won in 2021 with three wins from three races.
Since then, Leitch has competed in GT World Challenge Asia, America and Europe events, the Intercontinental GT Challenge, Asian Le Mans, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals, the 24H Series Middle East, the International GT Open and the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
The Kiwi also experienced success in those major series, winning the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe Pro class in 2022 and then the World Finals in 2024.
He made his GT World Challenge Australia debut in 2024 alongside the late Tim Miles, with the pair claiming a famous victory in Leitch and Miles’ debut weekend at Phillip Island before picking up a handful of podiums over the next two seasons, until Miles’ untimely passing midseason last year.
While this month’s season opener at Phillip Island will be their debut together in GT World Challenge Australia, it won’t be their first time driving together, having shared drives in multiple endurance events such as the Bathurst 12 Hour and the Gulf 12 Hour.
As for Pires, he is one of the most experienced Am drivers in the GT World Challenge Australia field, with this year marking his 10th official season racing at a national level in Australia.
The majority of his early seasons in the sport came within the Porsche Sprint Challenge and the CAMS Enduro Series, with his best result being a podium in the latter series during 2019.
During COVID-19, Pires began the transition to GT racing with a sole appearance in 2021, inspiring a regular move in 2022, where he ran in the Super GT and the Bathurst 12 Hour with Valmont Racing before debuting in the GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS Trophy Series, where he scored three wins from four races.
In 2023, Pires drove an Audi R8 LMS Evo II to four podiums in the Am Cup before having a breakout season in the series the following year, with five wins and two pole positions earning him a second-place finish for the year.
Last year, he stepped up to the Pro-Am class and teamed up with George King, where he recorded a trio of top-five finishes – their best result being fourth place at Phillip Island.
The pair begin their first season together at the upcoming LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Phillip Island at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 27-29 March.
QUOTES
Sergio Pires
#44 Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3
“The move to Pro-Am has proven to be a pivotal moment in my development, as the increased level of competition and intensity immediately raised the bar, delivering exactly the kind of challenge I was seeking and laying a solid foundation heading into the new campaign,” Pires said.
“One of the biggest adjustments in Pro-Am has been adapting to the relentless pace and heightened race management demands. With such a competitive field, even minor mistakes come at a cost. Managing traffic, tyre life and delivering consistent stints have become critical components of success, but I am confident I have the ability to meet those demands.”
“I am excited to work with Brendon for the 2026 season. We quickly established a strong working relationship at other events, as Leitch’s professionalism and experience have brought a calm, analytical presence to the team, while his openness in sharing feedback has accelerated development and built a high level of trust within the garage.”
“I’ve been with the Tigani crew since 2022 and haven't looked back. The team operates at a high professional standard, and I feel very supported here. There’s a strong culture and the team is great fun to be around.”
“My personal goal this year is to continue improving every round, refining my consistency, race craft and qualifying pace. If I can keep progressing, there is no doubt we can fight at the front of the Pro-Am class, with podiums and good results to follow.”
Brendon Leitch
#44 Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3
“I’m extremely happy to be back. It’s a fantastic championship, and I’m returning with a strong team and co-driver, which makes it even more exciting,” Leitch said.
“The transition has been very smooth. Nathan has been incredibly welcoming, along with Sergio, Marcel (Zalloua) and Jayden (Ojeda). It’s a great environment to work in, and the team has taken massive steps forward over the past 12 months.”
“Tigani Motorsport feels exactly how a good team should – competitive, motivated and hungry. The crew want to win just as much as we do as drivers.”
“After racing with Tim (Miles), I felt a real hole and wanted to make sure I kept building on the upward trajectory we’d created. Joining Sergio and Tigani Motorsport was a no-brainer. When I was approached to race here, it just felt right.”
“I don’t have much experience driving a Mercedes-AMG at all, having only driven the old Gullwing AMG back in 2018, but it’s a great car to drive. A lot of what makes it so good comes down to the preparation, and the experience so far has been fantastic. It’s a lot of fun — and it sounds awesome too.”
“I think it’s going to work really well. I’ve known Sergio for a couple of years and have always considered him one of the best Bronze drivers in the country, even the world. He’s really fast, we both share the same goal of winning, and he’s great to be around. He’s focused on the details, just like I am.”