Championship battle heats up in the Top End for LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Darwin

Championship battle heats up in the Top End for LIQUI MOLY GT Festival Darwin

GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS heads to the Northern Territory for the first time ever this weekend, with 13 cars set to tackle Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin as part of the fourth round of the 2026 season.

Fresh from an action-packed outing at Queensland Raceway, the championship fight has taken another twist, with Brendon Leitch and Sergio Pires now leading the standings behind the wheel of the Geyer Valmont Racing by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.

The Mercedes-AMG pairing holds a nine-point advantage over teammates Jayden Ojeda and Paul Lucchitti, while reigning champions Broc Feeney and Brad Schumacher sit a further three points adrift in third. Behind them, Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte remain firmly in title contention, with just one point separating them from the reigning champions.

Adding further intrigue to the weekend is the historic visit to Hidden Valley Raceway, where the hot and humid conditions are expected to test both drivers and machinery across the weekend's two one-hour races.

With four manufacturers represented across the grid and both the Pro-Am and Trophy Class championships beginning to take shape, the visit to the Top End is set to provide another pivotal chapter in the 2026 GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS season.

View the full entry list here.

Audi

Audi continues to hold the largest presence of all the manufacturers with six R8 LMS EVO IIs across the Pro-Am and Trophy classes.

Reigning champions Feeney and Schumacher will be looking to reclaim the championship lead on their the #1 Kelso Electrical Team MPC Audi, while fellow Melbourne Performance Centre pairing Valentino Astuti and Darren Currie continue their consistent campaign in the #2 Team MPC Audi as Astuti remains in the hunt for SRO GT Academy honours.

Current Trophy Class contenders Matthew Stoupas and Paul Stokell continue their campaign in the #24 KFC Team MPC Audi, while Team BRM fields three entries in Darwin.

Ryan Wood and Steve Brooks once again line up aboard the #88 Wolfbrook Motorsport Audi alongside Alex Peroni and Mark Rosser in the #268 entry, while Garnet Patterson and John-Paul Drake are back in the series since their maiden round at The Bend.

#1 Kelso Electrical Team 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 Team BRM / Wolfbrook Motorsport Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Ryan Wood & Steve Brooks (Pro-Am)
#268 Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Alex Peroni & Mark Rosser (Pro-Am)
#666 Team BRM Audi R8 LMS EVO II – Garnet Patterson & John-Paul Drake (Pro-Am)

Ferrari

Ferrari heads to Darwin with three 296 GT3s, led by championship contenders Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte.

The ARGT pairing continue to apply pressure to the championship leaders after another strong performance in Queensland and remain well placed to challenge for the overall title.

Joining them are Zagame Autosport's Josh Buchan and Cameron Campbell, who continue their hunt for a maiden first podium together and OnlyFans Racing's Will Davison and Renee Gracie – the pair hoping to add another victory to their impressive run of results in Queensland.

#23 Zagame Autosport Ferrari 296 GT3 – Josh Buchan & Cameron Campbell (Pro-Am)
#26 ARGT Ferrari 296 GT3 – Jaxon Evans & Elliott Schutte (Pro-Am)
#181 OnlyFans Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 – William Davison & Renee Gracie (Pro-Am)

Mercedes-AMG

Mercedes-AMG arrives in Darwin with plenty of momentum itself after taking control of the championship following Queensland Raceway.

Leitch and Pires were the stars of the show at Queensland Raceway as they jumped from fifth to top spot on the standings following a well deserved victory and podium - and the pair will be homing to extend that lead with another visit to the podium at the Top End.

Tigani Motorsport teammates Jayden Ojeda and Paul Lucchitti continue in the #66 Move My Wheels by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, while Oscar Targett and Shane Smollen are back in the #56 Kollosche AMG by Tigani Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO together after the latter returns from missing round three.

Targett also heads to Darwin looking to further strengthen his position in the SRO GT Academy standings as he continues his pursuit of a fully-funded entry into the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

#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)

Porsche

Tigani Motorsport's Luke Youlden and Nathan Halstead once again pilot the field's sole Porsche 911 GT3 R.

The experienced pairing continue their Trophy Class campaign aboard the #71 AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport Porsche and will be aiming to close the gap to the class leaders as the season reaches its halfway point.

#71 AED Consulting by Tigani Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R (991.1) – Luke Youlden & Nathan Halstead (Trophy)

For those unable to attend Hidden Valley Raceway this weekend, all Saturday and Sunday sessions will be broadcast live on FOX SPORTS Australia and Kayo Sports. International viewers can watch via the GT World YouTube channel.

Weekend Schedule*

Friday

  • Free Practice 1 / 12:50pm – 1:50pm
  • Bronze Practice / 3:30pm – 4:10pm
  • Free Practice 2 / 5:25pm – 6:25pm

Saturday

  • Qualifying 1 / 11:40am – 11:55am
  • Qualifying 2 / 12:05pm – 12:20pm
  • Public Grid Walk / 3:20pm – 3:40pm
  • Race 1 / 3:45pm – 4:45pm

Sunday

  • Public Grid Walk / 9:45am – 10:05am
  • Race 2 / 10:10am – 11:10am

*All times ACST.