Tigani Motorsport has enjoyed a dream run in GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS qualifying, taking out the Rowe Pole Position Award in both Qualifying 1 and 2.
With Ojeda guiding the Move My Wheels by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 he shares with Paul Lucchitti to Rowe Pole Position in Qualifying 1 and then Pires doing the same in the Geyer Valmont Racing By Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG in Qualifying 2 - it set up a strong position for the New South Wales-based team for the remainder of the weekend.
In the Trophy Class, the honours were split between two teams as Luke Youlden steered the AED Consulting By Tigani Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3R (991.1) he runs with Nathan Halstead in Qualifying 1, and the KFC Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO of Matt Stoupas and Paul Stokell in Qualifying 2.
In what was a thrilling Qualifying 1, Ojeda ended up producing his unbeaten lap towards the second half of the quick-fire session, eventually edging out Pires’ co-driver Brendon Leitch by just two hundredths of a second.
It was an extremely close gap between the two drivers, with Leitch setting his best lap on his fourth attempt before Ojeda edged him out on his fifth lap.
Rounding out the top three a further one tenth off was the #1 Kelso Electrical / Team MPC BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II of Broc Feeney, who just edged out newcomer Garnett Patterson in the #666 Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II he shares with JP Drake by just a tenth.
The gap was even smaller between him and the #268 Castrol Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II of Thomas Randle and Mark Rosser, with the former falling just short of a second row start by eight hundredths of a second.
A similar gap split Randle and SRO Academy Driver Oscar Targett, who was behind the wheel of the Kollosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG.
In Qualifying 2, Pires managed to get the most out of the #44 Mercedes-AMG GT3 to take Rowe Pole Position by an even smaller margin compared to his teammate and Ojeda.
Just over one hundredth of a second separated him and reigning champion Brad Schumacher, who also improved on Feeney’s position in the #1 Audi to secure a front row start.
Randle’s Castrol Team BRM teammate Mark Rosser ended up third for the session a further five tenths off Schumacher, while Targett’s teammate Shane Smollen ended up fourth a further one and a half tenths off.
Making up fifth for the session was the best ranked Ferrari 296 GT3, with ARGT’s Elliott Schutte locking in a top five placing in the field.
As for the Trophy Class, Youlden comfortably posted a lap more than one second faster than another SRO GT Academy driver hopeful in Alex Gardner, who was behind the wheel of the Volante Rosso Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, while Paul Stokell was third in the KFC / Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II.
Despite finishing third in Trophy Class in Qualifying 1, the KFC Audi led the way in Qualifying 2, as Stokell’s teammate Matt Stoupas put the car on pole position for the class.
Gardner’s teammate Ben Porter ended up second in class, while Youlden’s teammate Nathan Halstead rounded out the top three.
GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS now looks towards Race 1, which takes place at 4:20pm ACST, which is available to watch on FOX SPORTS Australia and Kayo Sports.