Reigning GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS Pro-Am champions Broc Feeney and Brad Schumacher will be back to defend their title, with the duo locked in for the 2026 season.
Once again behind the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS EVO II and racing under the Melbourne Performance Centre banner, Feeney and Schumacher will adopt the number one plate for the season as they look to go back-to-back.
The pair won the 2025 Pro-Am title in thrilling circumstances, having snatched the title from fellow contenders Arise Racing during the final race of the season at Hampton Downs, eventually sealing the title by four points.
Despite claiming the victory at the 11th hour, the pair were highly deserving champions, with their title success a result of a consistent campaign where they produced a remarkable run of nine consecutive podiums to finish off the season.
With four victories the main highlights of their overall season results, it was their clean sweep of race wins at GT Festival Hampton Downs which ultimately secured them the title in dramatic fashion.
Their title made Schumacher the first driver in GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS / Australian GT history to win all three primary classes in the series, having also won the Trophy Class in 2021 and the Am Cup in 2023.
Considered one of the strongest Am drivers in the class, the New South Welshman has been in Australian motorsport since 2017, competing at state and club level before making his national debut at the Bathurst 6 Hour in 2018.
He made his Bathurst 12 Hour debut in 2019 behind the wheel of a Ginetta G55 GT4 and scored a Class C GT4 podium before winning the New South Wales Production Sports Car Championship later in the year.
Despite participating in the 12 Hour again in 2020, it wasn’t until 2021 that he enjoyed a full campaign in the Australian GT series, winning the Trophy Class in his first attempt that year and then the Am Cup two years later. During that time, he also competed in every Bathurst 12 Hour, with his best result being fourth place in the Class A (GT3) Pro-Am in 2022.
In 2024, Schumacher had Will Brown join him in his step up to the Pro-Am class, and the pair claimed three race wins and a further two podiums on their way to third overall before bringing Feeney on board last year.
Feeney himself is widely regarded as one of the best drivers in the country, with the Queenslander a star of Supercars, having claimed 28 race wins and another 23 podiums since making his full-time Supercars debut in 2022.
Prior to that, Feeney won the 2019 Super3 Series in a thrilling battle with Jayden Ojeda, sealing the title by 14 points after finishing on the podium in 12 races, before securing the 2021 Super2 Series after dominating the season with five wins and three podiums.
Feeney also has a wealth of experience in GT racing around the world, having made his Bathurst 12 Hour debut in 2022 and finishing with a GT3 Pro-Am class podium – the first of many Bathurst 12 Hour events – while also featuring prominently in GT World Challenge Asia in 2023 and the 2024 Asian Le Mans Series GT class. That same year, he also competed in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Series.
Schumacher and Feeney begin their 2026 GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS title defence at LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Phillip Island on 27–29 March.
QUOTES
Brad Schumacher
#1 Melbourne Performance Centre Audi R8 LMS EVO II
“It’s great to come back and defend the title after taking the crown last year. It’s also fantastic to reunite with Broc Feeney. We had some strong results together, including a nine-podium streak, multiple pole positions and race wins,” Schumacher said.
“Throughout 2025, we continued to improve the Audi platform, and I feel like Broc really brings out the best in me as a driver. We’re confident we can build on that momentum and lift our performance even further heading into the 2026 championship.
“It’s a nice change to start the season at the top with the number one on the car – that’s pretty special. At the same time, last year showed that every result counts in GT World Challenge Australia. The championship came down to the final race in New Zealand, largely due to a DNF in the opening round at Phillip Island, which left us chasing for most of the year.”
“Our focus now is on starting the season strongly and maintaining consistency, rather than having to fight back. While there is a slight mentality shift going in as the hunted instead of the hunter, the goal remains the same – keep improving and perform at our best every weekend.
“This year’s calendar is fantastic. I’ve been competing in GT World Challenge Australia for a while and this is the strongest calendar we’ve had. It’s exciting to see the growth and support for GT3 racing in Australia, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the season unfolds.”
Broc Feeney
#1 Melbourne Performance Centre Audi R8 LMS EVO II
“I’m really excited to be back racing GT again this year,” Feeney said.
“I was a little undecided, but when we clinched the championship I was 100% in to come back and try and defend our title. I had a great time with Brad & the MPC team last year & am looking forward to building on what we finished last year.”