2010 Australian GT Championship

The 2010 Australian GT Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing championship open to closed production based sports cars which were either approved by the FIA for GT3 competition or approved by CAMS as Australian GTs.[1] The championship, which was the 14th Australian GT Championship, incorporated drivers titles in three divisions, GT Championship, GT Challenge and GT Production.[1] The Australian GT Sportscar Group Pty Ltd was appointed as the Category Manager by CAMS for the championship,[1] which was promoted as the "Vodka O Australian GT Championship".[2]

Defending champion David Wall became the first multiple championship winner in the history of the title with a 30-point victory over fellow Porsche driver, James Koundouris. Wall, driving the family team's Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S, won five races and claimed round wins at Adelaide and Eastern Creek. Third places at Albert Park and at Bathurst were enough to hold off Phillip Island round winner Koundouris, even after being excluded from the first race at Sandown. Dean Grant (Lamborghini Gallardo and Mosler MT900) was third in the championship. Other round winners were Porsche driver Max Twigg, at Albert Park, and Tony Quinn. Quinn drove an Aston Martin DBRS9 and a Mosler MT900, winning the Bathurst round in the former and the Sandown round in the latter, allowing him to climb into fourth in the championship.

In the GT Challenge division, Shane Smollen took a 120-point win over fellow Porsche 911 GT3 drivers, Michael Loccisano and Ray Angus.

Chevrolet Corvette driver Paul Freestone came from behind at the final round of the series to defeat Tony Alford (Nissan GT-R) and take victory in the GT Production division. Mark O'Connor (Lotus Exige) was third.

Controversy erupted after two major accidents at the second round of the series, which supported the 2010 Australian Grand Prix. A multi-car accident caused heavy damage to several vehicles at the start of one race and resulted in changes to regulations for rolling restarts, which have had consequences beyond GT racing. Additionally a multi-car accident that occurred under yellow flag conditions saw penalties levied against Porsche drivers Ray Angus and Andrew Taplin after they tangled with a slow moving damaged car and the parked Ascari KZ1-R of John Bowe.[3]

Teams and drivers

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David Wall won the championship driving a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S Type 997
 
Dean Grant placed third driving a Lamborghini Gallardo (pictured) and a Mosler MT900R
 
Mark Eddy placed sixth driving an Audi R8 LMS
 
Ian Palmer placed 13th driving a Dodge Viper GT3
 
Ross Lilley placed 14th driving a Dodge Viper GT3
 
Darren Berry placed 23rd driving an Ascari KZ1-R

The following teams and drivers contested the 2010 Australian GT Championship.

Team Car Division No Driver
Wall Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S Type 997 Championship 1   David Wall
Jocaro Motorsport Lamborghini Gallardo
Mosler MT900R
Championship 2   Dean Grant
Dodge Viper GT3 3   Ross Lilley
Audi R8 GT3 8   Mark Eddy
Consolidated Chemical Lamborghini Gallardo Championship 4   Peter Hackett
Taplin Real Estate Lamborghini Gallardo Championship 5   Andrew Taplin
  Kevin Weeks
Golf Car Solutions Porsche 911 GT3 RS Type 996 Challenge 6   Jordan Ormsby
VIP Petfoods Racing Mosler MT900
Aston Martin DBRS9[4]
Championship 7   Tony Quinn
Mosler MT900 Championship 12   Klark Quinn
Hallmarc Developments Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S Type 997 Championship 9   Marc Cini
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 Challenge 19   Michael Loccisano
  Marc Cini
Dutton Insurance Lotus Exige S Production 10   Mark O'Connor
MJR Airconditioning Lamborghini Gallardo Championship 11   Mark Seamons
Jim Richards Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 Championship 15   Jim Richards
Weeks Building Group Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 Challenge 16   Gary Dann
Inca Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 Challenge 17   Ray Angus
Twigg Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S Type 997 Championship 18   Max Twigg
Magnapool Dodge Viper GT3 Championship 20   Ian Palmer
  Greg Crick
Interauto Motorsport Lamborghini Gallardo Championship 21   Ross Zampatti
Beta Tools Mosler MT900R Championship 22   Ash Samadi
Freestones Transport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Production 25   Paul Freestone
Excen Corporate Centre Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Production 26   Barrie Nesbitt
Maranello Motorsport Ferrari F430 GT3 Championship 27   Nick O'Halloran
Trofeo Motorsport Maserati Trofeo GT3 Challenge 29   Jim Manolios
Maserati GranTurismo GT3 Championship
Kirrapak Sheetmetal Lotus Elise HPE Challenge 31   Tim Mackie
32   David Mackie
Bayside Church Ferrari F430 GT3 Championship 37   Hector Lester
Pelorus Property Group Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 Challenge 39   Paul Tresidder
Supabarn Supermarkets Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S Type 997 Championship 47   Theo Koundouris
69   James Koundouris
DFO Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 996 Challenge 50   Calvin Pusterla
AMAC Motorsport Mosler MT900R Championship 51   Andrew MacPherson
Donut King Racing Nissan GT-R Production 54   Tony Alford
Castrol Dodge Viper GTS ACR Championship 55   Greg Crick
McGrath Estate Agents Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 Challenge 56   Shane Smollen
Adrenalin.com.au Dodge Viper GTS ACR Championship 58   Richard Kimber
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 996 Challenge
Austral Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 996 Challenge 63   Richard Green
Globe Lamborghini Gallardo Championship 66   Peter Hill
Pick Up Truck Pictures Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 996 Challenge 67   Eric Bana
ULX 110 Proven Custom Blend Oil Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Type 996 Challenge 74   Keith Wong
  Graeme Cook
Kiang Kuan Wong
Dodge Viper GT3 Championship 75   Rob Sherrard
One of a Kind Lotus Exige S Challenge 77   Timothy Poulton
Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 360 Challenge Challenge 77   Peter Edwards
Vic Air Supplies Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Type 996 Challenge 88   Simon Middleton
Lamborghini Gallardo Championship
Clipper Motoryachts Ascari KZ1-R Championship 89   Darren Berry
  John Bowe
World Link International Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 Challenge 89   Ivan Klasen
Pariah Motorsport Lotus Exige GT3 Championship 98   Angelo Lazaris
Livi Bathroom Tissue Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 Challenge 99   Damien Flack
  Adrian Flack

Race calendar

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The championship was contested over a six-round series.[1]

Rd. Circuit Location / state Date Winner
Championship Challenge Production
Rd 1 Adelaide Street Circuit Adelaide, South Australia 11–14 March David Wall Jordan Ormsby Mark O'Connor
Rd 2 Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit Melbourne, Victoria 25–28 March Max Twigg Damien Flack Mark O'Connor
Rd 3 Eastern Creek Raceway Sydney, New South Wales 20–30 May David Wall Damien Flack
Adrian Flack
Paul Freestone
Rd 4 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Phillip Island, Victoria 10–11 July James Koundouris Shane Smollen Tony Alford
Rd 5 Mount Panorama Circuit Bathurst, New South Wales 7–10 October Tony Quinn Shane Smollen Paul Freestone
Rd 6 Sandown Raceway Melbourne, Victoria 19–21 November Tony Quinn Shane Smollen Paul Freestone

Points system

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Points were awarded in each division at each race according to the following table.[1]

Position 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th
Two race format 57 52.5 49.5 48 46.5 45 43.5 42 40.5 39 37.5 36 34.5 33 31.5 30 28.5 27 25.5 24 22.5 21 19.5 18 16.5 15 13.5 12 10.5 9 7.5 6 4.5 3 1.5
Three race format 38 35 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Within each division, each driver could count only his/her best five round results.[1]

Championship standings

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Pos Driver Car Round 1 – Ade[5] Round 2 – Alb[6] Round 3 – Eas[7] Round 4 – Phi[8] Round 5 – Bat[9] Round 6 – San Pen. Pts
[10][11][12]
Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 1 Race 2 Race 1 Race 2 Race 1 Race 2 Race 1 Race 2
GT Championship
1 David Wall Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S Type 997 1st 1st 1st 6th 3rd 1st 1st 16th 5th 3rd 3rd DSQ 5th 475.5
2 James Koundouris Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S Type 997 Ret 7th 4th 2nd 2nd Ret 5th 1st 1st 5th 4th 2nd 2nd 445.5
3 Dean Grant Lamborghini Gallardo
Mosler MT900R
11th 6th 9th 5th 5th 7th 4th 2nd 3rd 8th 7th 19th 8th 440.5
4 Tony Quinn Mosler MT900
Aston Martin DBRS9
9th Ret Ret 4th 17th 5th 3rd 1st 1st 1st 1st 406
5 Peter Hackett Lamborghini Gallardo 4th 3rd 3rd 3rd 4th 2nd 6th 3rd 4th Ret 10th Ret DNS 397
6 Mark Eddy Audi R8 GT3 DNS 16th 12th 8th 7th 3rd 2nd 9th 8th 3rd 3rd 386.5
7 Greg Crick Dodge Viper GT3 3rd 2nd 2nd 11th 6th 15th Ret 5th 6th 4th Ret Ret 10th 338
8 Max Twigg Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S Type 997 2nd Ret 5th 1st 1st Ret Ret 4th 2nd 6th 5th Ret DNS 334
9 Simon Middleton Lamborghini Gallardo 19th 11th 9th 9th Ret 8th 12th 14th 9th 7th 327
10 Marc Cini Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S Type 997 7th 5th 6th 12th DNS 8th Ret 11th 11th 5th 6th 322.5
11 Ash Samadi Mosler MT900R 8th 12th 13th 18th DNS 8th 7th Ret DNS 16th Ret 4th 4th 316
12 Peter Hill Lamborghini Gallardo 25th 14th 15th 10th DNS 6th 8th 6th Ret 6th 15th 307.5
13 Ian Palmer Dodge Viper GT3 Ret 15th 17th 15th 13th 15th Ret 15th 7th 10 203
14 Ross Lilley Dodge Viper GT3 5th 4th 7th 14th 9th 7th DNS DNS DNS 10 174.5
15 Theo Koundouris Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S Type 997 12th 9th 10th Ret Ret DNS DNS 7th 6th 165.5
16 Andrew Macpherson Mosler MT900R 22nd 20th Ret DNS DNS 23rd Ret 11th 11th 154
17 Richard Kimber Dodge Viper GTS ACR 16th 25th DNS 18th 17th 14th Ret 151
18 Jim Richards Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 10th 8th 11th 9th 8th 134
19 Kevin Weeks Lamborghini Gallardo 4th Ret Ret DNS 10th 9th 127.5
20 Klark Quinn Mosler MT900 DNS DNS DNS 2nd 2nd 105
21 Andrew Taplin Lamborghini Gallardo 6th 10th 8th 13th 14th 30 101
22 Mark Seamons Lamborghini Gallardo Ret DNS 15th 17th 75
23 Darren Berry Ascari KZ1-R Ret Ret 24th Ret 21st 54.5
24 Ross Zampatti Lamborghini Gallardo 28th 24th 38
Nick O'Halloran Ferrari F430 GT3 23rd 29th 38
Rob Sherrard Dodge Viper GT3 27th 25th Ret DNS 38
27 Jim Manolios Maserati GranTurismo GT3 31st 30th 34
28 Angelo Lazaris Lotus Exige GT3 15th 31.5
29 John Bowe Ascari KZ1-R 7th Ret 29
NC Hector Lester Ferrari F430 GT3 22nd 10th
GT Challenge
1 Shane Smollen Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 18th 13th 16th Ret 23rd 12th 10th 12th 9th 14th 15th 12th 9th 20 516
2 Michael Loccisano Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 14th 22nd 20th Ret 20th 19th 14th 11th 10th 19th Ret 10th Ret 396
3 Ray Angus Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 20th 17th 19th 20th 15th 14th Ret 20th 16th 20th 20th 30 377.5
4 Paul Tresidder Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 Ret 21st 11th 12th 17th Ret 13th 13th 286.5
5 Damien Flack Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 17th 12th 10th 11th 10th 13th 283
6 Adrian Flack Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 10th 11th 10th 13th 210
7 Keith Wong Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Type 996 Ret DNS DNS 21st 16th 20th 13th 14th Ret Ret DNS 10 191.5
8 Jordan Ormsby Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Type 996 15th 11th 14th 16th Ret 147
9 Gary Dann Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 13th 18th 18th 103
10 Eric Bana Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 996 13th 11th 96
11 Peter Edwards Ferrari 360 Challenge 20th 19th 94.5
12 Simon Middleton Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Type 996 17th 19th 21st 93
13 Marc Cini Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 19th 14th 91.5
14 Jim Manolios Maserati Trofeo GT3 24th 26th 25th 87
15 Richard Green Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 996 29th 27th 58
16 Ivan Klasen Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 997 9th Ret 96
17 Graeme Cook Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Type 996 20th 13th 48
18 Richard Kimber Dodge Viper GTS ACR 13th Ret 48
19 Kiang Kuan Wong Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Type 996 14th Ret 45
20 Tim Mackie Lotus Elise HPE Ret 19th 31
21 David Mackie Lotus Elise HPE 25th Ret 31
NC Calvin Pusterla Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 996 DNS DNS 0
GT Production
1 Paul Freestone Chevrolet Corvette Z06 23rd 23rd 23rd 24th 28th 16th 15th 13th 13th 7th 12th 510.5
2 Tony Alford Nissan GT-R 21st 24th DNS 30th 26th 17th 16th 17th 12th 21st Ret 17th 18th 452
3 Mark O'Connor Lotus Exige S 19th 21st 22nd 26th 18th 21st Ret Ret DNS 15th 12th 8th 14th 449.5
4 Barrie Nesbitt Chevrolet Corvette Z06 18th 17th 24th 18th 18th 20th 292.5
5 Timothy Poulton Lotus Exige S 32nd 22nd 67
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
  • Note: Within each division, each driver could count only his/her best five round results.[1]
  • Note: No points were awarded for Race 2 at the Albert Park round due to the race being declared with under 50% of the scheduled distance completed.[4]
  • Note: Hector Lester competed on an International licence and was not eligible for championship points.[4]

Australian Tourist Trophy

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The 2010 Australian Tourist Trophy was awarded by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport to the driver accumulating the highest aggregate points total from the Eastern Creek and Phillip island "endurance" rounds of the championship.[13][14] The title, which was the 21st Australian Tourist Trophy, was won by David Wall, driving a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S Type 997.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g 2010 Australian GT Championship Sporting & Technical Regulations – Version 4, www.australiangt.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
  2. ^ Stefan Bartholomaeus, Gone Large – Vodka O Australian GT Championship, The Annual – Australian Motorsport, Number 8/2010, pages 78–80
  3. ^ CAMS HEARING RESULT – ROUND 2 AGP, www.australiangt.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
  4. ^ a b c Round Points – GT Championship, www.australiangt.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
  5. ^ "Adelaide Parklands Circuit 14/03/2010 2010 Clispal 500 Adelaide". National Software. 14 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 April 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  6. ^ "Albert Park Grandd Prix Circuit 28/03/2010 2010 Formula 1 Qantas Australian Grand Prix". National Software. 28 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  7. ^ "Eastern Creek International Raceway 30/05/2010 Sports Car Carnival 2010". National Software. 30 May 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  8. ^ "Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit 11/07/2010 2010 Australian GT Championship – Round 4". National Software. 11 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  9. ^ "Mount Panorama – Bathurst 10/10/2010 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 – 2010 V8 Supercars – Race 18". National Software. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  10. ^ GT Championship points, www.australiangt.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
  11. ^ GT Challenge points, www.australiangt.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
  12. ^ GT Production points, www.australiangt.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
  13. ^ a b Australian Titles, docs.cams.com.au As archived at www.webcitation.org on 16 July 2014
  14. ^ Long distance dual for Vodka O Australian GT Championship at Phillip Island & the CAMS Australian Tourist Trophy, 23/07/2010, www.australiangt.com.au, as archived at www.webcitation.org
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