The 2026 GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS season has finally arrived with a field of 17 cars entered for the highly anticipated LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Phillip Island.
Taking place at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, this year’s GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS season is shaping up to be highly competitive , with an expanded seven manufacturers to feature throughout the year, and all of whom will be eligible for global manufacturer championship points.
In addition to the diverse mix of the impressive GT machinery in action this weekend, the entry list itself is stacked with some of the best drivers in the country who will undoubtedly put on a show for what is expected to be a strong crowd.
From the many familiar faces returning to the fold, including reigning Pro-Am Champions Broc Feeney and Brad Schumacher, to the handful of series debutants and emerging talents who will be keen to make an impact from the get-go, there is plenty to get excited about when it comes to the opening round of GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS.
Audi
Audi once again has a strong presence on the GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS grid with a handful of Audi R8 LMS EVO IIs entered for the season opener across both Pro-Am and Trophy classes.
Headlining the Audi charge are the reigning champions of Feeney and Schumacher, who will be joined by two cars in the Melbourne Performance Centre stable this weekend with Matthew Stoupas and Paul Stokell in the #24 KFC Audi in the Trophy class, and Valentino Astuti and Darren Currie – the latter steps up into the Pro-Am class from the Am Cup.
Steve Brooks and Ryan Wood return under a new operation in 2026 with the pair now racing under Wolfbrook Motorsport alongside Team BRM, which will again field Mark Rosser for the season. Rosser will have Supercars star Thomas Randle with him in the #268 Castrol Team BRM Audi for the season opener.
#1 Kelso Electrical MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Broc Feeney & Brad Schumacher (Pro-Am)
#2 Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Valentino Astuti & Darren Currie (Pro-Am)
#24 KFC Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Matthew Stoupas & Paul Stokell (Trophy)
#88 Wolfbrook Motorsport Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Ryan Wood & Steve Brooks (Pro-Am)
#268 Castrol Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Thomas Randle & Mark Rosser (Pro-Am)
Aston Martin
One of the late entries for the season sees Volante Rosso Motorsport return in 2026 with its popular Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3. This time though, the #14 Aston Martin will be racing in the Trophy class and piloted by young star Alex Gardner, who makes his return to both the team and series for the first time since 2024, and series debutant, Lee Stibbs.
#14 Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 – Alex Gardner & Lee Stibbs (Trophy)
Ferrari
The famous prancing horse’s representation will double for the 2026 season with two new Ferrari 296 GT3 cars to run a full campaign – highlighted by 2025 Am Cup Champion Renee Gracie’s switch from Audi, whose title charge in the #181 OnlyFans Racing Ferrari will be aided by the acquisition of Supercars great Will Davison.
The second new full-time entry is Zagame Autosport’s #23 Ferrari 296 GT3 featuring Cameron Campbell and Josh Buchan, who debuted together last year in New Zealand.
ARGT once again enters two cars, with last year’s runner-up pairing of Jaxon Evans and Elliot Schutte in the #26, alongside Jordan Love and Steve Wyatt in the #77.
#23 Zagame Autosport Ferrari 296 GT3 – Cameron Campbell & Josh Buchan (Pro-Am)
#26 ARGT Ferrari 296 GT3 – Jaxon Evans & Elliot Schutte (Pro-Am)
#77 ARGT Ferrari 296 GT3 – Jordan Love & Steve Wyatt (Pro-Am)
#181 OnlyFans Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 – Renee Gracie & William Davison (Pro-Am)
Lamborghini
A familiar entry in Wall Racing returns for 2026, with its Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO II to see Tony D’Alberto and Adrian Deitz again sharing the #93 entry in the Pro-Am class – with the pair hoping to improve following a positive Bathurst 12 Hour earlier this year.
#93 Wall Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO II – Tony D’Alberto & Adrian Deitz (Pro-Am)
McLaren
For the first time in a long time, the McLaren has returned to the top level of GT racing in Australia, and it’s Volante Rosso Motorsport who brings back the famous McLaren program. Behind the wheel of the #15 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo will be team boss Josh Hunt and the ever-successful Geoff Emery.
#15 Volante Rosso Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Evo – Josh Hunt & Geoff Emery (Pro-Am)
Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG is again well represented in 2026 with Tigani Motorsport as the new Mercedes-AMG works team getting off to a solid start. Leading the charge will be the returning Jayden Ojeda and Paul Lucchitti in the #66 Mercedes-AMG, while regular Sergio Pires has gained Kiwi star Brendon Leitch in his #44 entry.
The team welcomes series debutant Oscar Targett, who will also be eligible for SRO GT Academy points, and will pair up with proven race winner Shane Smollen in the #56 entry.
Rounding out the team is James and Theo Koundouris, who continue together in the Am Cup.
#44 Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO – Brendon Leitch & Sergio Pires (Pro-Am)
#56 Kollosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO – Oscar Targett & Shane Smollen (Pro-Am)
#66 Move My Wheels by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO – Jayden Ojeda & Paul Lucchitti (Pro-Am)
#47 Supabarn Supermarkets by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO – James Koundouris & Theo Koundouris (Am)
Porsche
Porsche representation comes via the Trophy class, with Tigani Motorsport’s fifth entry – the #71 AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport 911 GT3 R. Luke Youlden and Nathan Halstead will share the #71 entry.
#71 AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R (991.1) – Luke Youlden & Nathan Halstead (Trophy)
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For those who are unable to make the season opener at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, you can follow along to all of Saturday and Sunday’s sessions via the live broadcast on FOX SPORTS Australia and Kayo SPORTS. Viewers outside of Australia will be able to watch via the GT World YouTube Stream.
Weekend Schedule*
Friday 27 March
Practice 1 / 10:10 - 11:10am
Practice 2 / 1:50 - 2:50pm
Saturday 28 March
Qualifying 1 / 11:15 - 11:30am
Qualifying 2 / 11:35 - 11:50am
Race 1 / 3:55 - 4:55pm
Sunday 29 March
Race 2 / 1:40 - 2:40pm