Aussie Stars Shine on European Stage

European Le Mans Series – Barcelona

Aussie racers have kicked off the 2026 European Le Mans Series season with a bang, securing a class win and several top-ten finishes during the 4 Hours of Barcelona.

Tom Sargent spearheaded the effort in the LMGT3 category, clinching victory with Proton Competition in a stellar opening round. His performance has positioned him as an early contender for the championship, further enhancing his reputation in European endurance racing alongside teammates Matthew Kurzejewski and Richard Lietz.

Another Australian, Garnet Patterson, also achieved podium success, finishing in second place in LMGT3 with United Autosports.

In the LMP2 class, Jack Doohan delivered a steady drive, securing seventh place with Nielsen Racing after leading the race with just 11 laps remaining.

However, as he fought for a podium position on the final lap, Doohan’s car suffered from a broken wishbone, resulting in the Nielsen Racing #24 losing several spots by the chequered flag. Ultimately, Doohan and his team finished seventh in both the LMP2 and overall classifications.

Griffin Peebles was also competitive in the LMP2 class, demonstrating strong pace throughout the race and challenging for the lead.

Running with the frontrunners at various points, the United Autosports entry managed a podium finish, which was a positive result for the team following a disappointing start to the weekend.

Unfortunately, James Allen couldn’t showcase his skills in the LMP2 Pro-Am category when his Nielsen Racing teammate Kriton Lentoudis was involved in an incident on the opening lap, prematurely ending their session.

With the first round concluded, Australia’s influence in the ELMS paddock is already notable, marked by Sargent’s victory and Patterson’s podium finish, while others secured crucial early-season points.

The next round is set to take place at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet in France on Sunday, 3 May.

FIA World Rally Championship – Croatia

Taylor Gill showcased a composed and consistent performance at Rally Croatia 2026, finishing ninth in the WRC2 class and 12th overall in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.

Co-driven by Daniel Brkić, Gill concluded the rally just under five minutes behind WRC2 victor Yohan Rossel, following a largely trouble-free run on the event’s challenging asphalt stages.

He expertly navigated Croatia’s notoriously unpredictable roads, which caught out even some of the leading Rally1 competitors. The pair’s steady mid-pack stage times earned them valuable championship points, despite encountering puncture issues on the first day.

Following his earlier fourth-place finish in Sweden, this result reinforces Gill’s growing maturity and establishment within the highly competitive WRC2 category, while Brkić continues to provide a steady presence with his pacenotes.

The duo is now gearing up for Rally Finland, slated for late June.

GT World Challenge Europe – Paul Ricard

Jayden Kelly and the Greystone GT team had a brief outing at the Circuit Paul Ricard due to an incident on the opening lap of the six-hour race.

This cut short what had seemed to be a promising weekend, following a solid pace displayed by Kelly, Tomas Pinto, and Josh Rattican during their Free Practice session.

The #44 McLaren then achieved the 12th-fastest time in the first qualifying, 10th in the second, and 2nd in the third, placing Kelly on the 13th row of the grid.

In contrast, Calan Williams and the Oman Racing by Century Motorsport team had a more positive experience.

Partnering with co-drivers Ahmad Al Harthy and Javier Sagrera, Williams competed in the Bronze Cup category, finishing sixth overall in the main race, just shy of the podium.

Starting from 47th on the grid, Williams and the team managed to improve their position significantly by the chequered flag, ultimately finishing 29th after 174 laps.

The next round of the GT World Challenge Europe will take place at Brands Hatch from 2-3 May.

GT4 European Series – Paul Ricard

Lachlan Evennett made a splash in his Pro class debut during Race 1 of the European GT4 Series at Circuit Paul Ricard, securing a spot on the podium.

Partnered with co-driver Mees Houbem, Evennett achieved a solid second-place finish after a strong showing in the opening race.

Speedy Motorsport’s Houben handed over the wheel to Evennett from sixth place, and the Australian surged into the podium positions, eventually executing a well-timed pass on Alex Papadopulos into turn one late in the race.

Although they finished P6 in Race 2, Evennett picked up a 10-second post-race penalty for speeding in the pit lane.

Regardless, it was an impressive debut for the 18-year-old from Townsville as he prepares for Round 2 at Monza, scheduled for 29-31 May.