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Yasser Shahin and Garnet Patterson give Porsche maiden Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS victory
Porsche has joined Mercedes-AMG and Audi as a victorious manufacturer in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS as Yasser Shahin and Garnet Patterson took full advantage of series leader Liam Talbot’s misfortune.
Talbot’s Shannons Insurance Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 led off the line, but an off while holding a handy margin at Turn 7 demoted him to second courtesy of stablemate JAMEC Racing and Geoff Emery.
Bad luck for Talbot continued when lapping Justin McMillan in the M Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3, the pair collided exiting Turn 7 and the resulting damage forced both into retirement.
This opened the door for Shahin and Patterson on account of a shorter pit stop time exiting the lane in the effective lead as an entertaining battle for second was held behind.
Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim held the ascendency from older brother Prince Jefri during the opening stint and as both remained in touch with the leaders when the pit stops were taken at the halfway mark of the 60-minute race.
Jamie Whincup took the reins of the Triple Eight Race Engineering from Prince Abu Bakar, but had a battle for his entire stint as Christopher Mies in JAMEC Racing Audi placed intense pressure on him for lap after lap.
Another concern for the battling duo was Whincup’s teammate Richie Stanaway closing in, but in the end the New Zealander ran out of time.
Jayden Ojeda sharing the Harrolds Volante Rosso Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Ross Poulakis was fifth from Jordan Love and Tony Bates in the similar Makita entry as lead Am Class contender Brad Schumacher followed the duo in his Fuchs Audi.
Matt Stoupas and Paul Stokell placed eighth in the KFC Audi ahead of Garth Walden and Michael Sheargold sharing the RAM Motorsport Mercedes-AMG after a clash, which knocked Ash Samadi off the road inside the last five minutes.
Brett Hobson and Michael Bailey finished just outside the top 10 in the GWR Australia Mercedes-AMG ahead of OnlyFans-supported Renee Gracie in the GT Trophy specification Audi R8 LMS GT3 Ultra, Launch Racing/MC Labour’s Michael Kokkinos were all one lap down on the leaders after the latter was involved in an incident with McMillan delayed him early in the race.
The sole GT4 entry of Mark Griffith finished six laps down to round out the field.
Shahin and Patterson sealed the first Porsche victory in Australian GT racing since 2018, plus the maiden win for the marque in the new era.
The Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS round in Perth continues tomorrow with the final 60-minute race to begin at 10:15am AWST or 12:15pm AEST.