News
Territory’s Thomas Maxwell added to S5000 Darwin grid
TERRITORIAN fans will have one of their own to cheer for when the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship makes its racing debut at the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown next week.
Darwin’s Thomas Maxwell will make his S5000 racing debut amidst a strong field set for the return of big open-wheel racing cars to the Top End.
Maxwell, who turned 24 today, currently races for Matt White Motorsport in the Super2 series – sitting sixth in the championship following the first two rounds.
Despite his youth, Maxwell carries plenty of experience into his S5000 debut including racing internationally in British Formula 3 and the Formula Renault Eurocup, Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and Super2. He last raced on home turf in Carrera Cup in 2019.
Maxwell joins a 12-strong field that will be one of the most competitive of the season.
Returning to the championship will be former Aussie International, John Martin, who will drive for Versa Motorsport.
Martin, who raced in A1GP, World Series by Renault, Superleague Formula and at Le Mans, has been working with the team in a coaching capacity this season however will make a racing return this weekend.
Also returning is young Kiwi rising star Kaleb Ngatoa and Adelaide teenager Sebastien Amadio, who will make his second start of the season following his debut at the Grand Prix earlier this year.
Tim Berryman completes the new additions to the field for the Darwin showdown, which will also decide the 60th Australian Drivers’ Championship.
Defending champion Joey Mawson leads double Gold Star winner Tim Macrow by 55 points heading into the final three races of the season, with James Golding and Cooper Webster also in title contention.
The S5000 field hits the track at the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown for practice on Friday, June 17, ahead of qualifying and three races across Saturday and Sunday.
All the action will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo across the Darwin Supercars weekend.
THOMAS MAXWELL
“Firstly, it’s a big thanks to Barry Rogers at GRM and everyone for putting this deal together,” Maxwell said.
“It’s going to be super exciting to be racing at home again and also enjoying Darwin’s sun.. it should be amazing.
“I drove one of the cars in a quick test back in 2019, but been a few years since then. It’s going to be tricky to try and adapt and learn everything so quickly. It’s an awesome challenge.
“The chance to race at home and fly the flag for the Territory was too good to pass up. We didn’t get to go there with Super2, but to go and race anything at Hidden Valley is always good in front of the home town friends and family.”
ENTRY LIST
S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship – Round 5, Hidden Valley, NT
| 1 | ALABAR/Form700 Team BRM | Joey Mawson | NSW | S5000 | 5200 | Black/Red |
| 3 | ALABAR/Form700 Team BRM | Tim Berryman | NSW | S5000 | 5200 | Black/Red |
| 5 | Versa Motorsport | Thomas Maxwell | NT | S5000 | 5200 | Black |
| 15 | Team BRM | Kaleb Ngatoa | NZ | S5000 | 5200 | Red |
| 18 | Team Valvoline GRM | Aaron Cameron | VIC | S5000 | 5200 | Black/Gold |
| 22 | Amadio Motorsport GRM | Sebastien Amadio | SA | S5000 | 5200 | Black |
| 23 | UCS Group Racing TMR | Tim Macrow | VIC | S5000 | 5200 | Orange/Black |
| 24 | Versa Motorsport | John Martin | NSW | S5000 | 5200 | White |
| 29 | Team Valvoline GRM | Nathan Herne | NSW | S5000 | 5200 | Red/White |
| 31 | Team Valvoline GRM | James Golding | VIC | S5000 | 5200 | Red |
| 37 | Versa Motorsport | Cooper Webster | VIC | S5000 | 5200 | Black/Yellow |
| 48 | Nippy’s | Blake Purdie | SA | S5000 | 5200 | White/Orange |