Australians Showcase Speed and Claim Silverware Worldwide

Porsche Carrera Cup North America – Long Beach

Tom Sargent temporarily set aside his endurance commitments to join the North American roster for the Porsche Carrera Cup at Long Beach.

Having previously clinched race victories and finishing as runner-up in the championship, Sargent received a late call-up for this weekend’s special event at Long Beach. Team founder and driver James Sofronas was originally scheduled to uphold GMG Racing’s impressive record on the 1.968-mile circuit but had to withdraw due to several broken ribs sustained in a recent accident unrelated to racing.

Sargent wasted no time in showcasing his speed, registering the second and fastest lap times during two practice sessions for GMG Racing—offering a strong signal of what was to come in the race.

He then claimed pole position during the qualifying session with a fastest lap of 1:19.679, securing his front-row start by a narrow three-hundredths of a second.

Sargent dominated Race 1 from start to finish, further extending his impressive form, which includes a podium finish in the Sebring IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, a class victory in the GT World Challenge by AWS at Sonoma, and a win in the European Le Mans Series in Barcelona.

The next day, during Race 2, Sargent quickly established a comfortable lead at the start and maintained a clean race to secure victory by two seconds in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 Cup.

Sargent will return to the GT World Challenge America grid for Round 2 at Circuit of the Americas this weekend.

Radical Cup Europe – Spa-Francorchamps

Australian Radical Cup icon Peter Paddon emerged victorious over the weekend in Belgium, clinching Race 2 in the second round of the Radical Cup Europe.

Paddon’s win was far from typical, as he seized opportunities presented by other competitors’ misfortunes to cross the line first at the legendary Spa circuit.

The race took an unexpected turn when a third safety car coincided with the opening of the pit window. The lead held by the Radical Sweden SR10 vanished after driver Peter Gustafson spun shortly after taking over, plummeting to 16th place.

In the ensuing chaos, the Radical Cup Australia series winner surged to the front, establishing a significant lead. The race ultimately finished under yellow flags following an incident involving Luc Breukers, allowing Paddon to coast to victory as a result.

This win marked a significant comeback for Paddon after a disappointing Race 1, where he failed to finish due to a collision in turn one after starting from fourth on the grid.

Paddon’s fellow Australians, Shaun Hannah and Steve Champion, wrapped up promising weekends, finishing 13th/9th and 16th/13th respectively.

After a weekend of intense competition, the Radical Cup Europe continues to the sun-soaked Circuit Paul Ricard in France for Round 3 at the beginning of June.

China GT Championship – Shanghai

In front of a packed crowd at the Shanghai International Circuit, Bayley Hall impressed during the opening round of the China GT Championship.

Partnering with co-driver Zhou Bihuang for Climax Racing, Hall achieved an outright podium finish in the first race of the season and followed it up with a runner-up position in Race 2 within the GT3 Pro-Am International class.

After a strong showing in qualifying, the team started sixth in Race 1 and second in Race 2, positioning themselves well at the onset of each event.

The results across both races garnered enough points for the #999 car to claim the overall championship for the Shanghai round.

Round 2 of the China GT Championship is set for 22-24 May at the Ningbo International Circuit.

FIA World Endurance Championship – Imola

Yasser Shahin had an outstanding performance at the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, finishing P3 in the LMGT3 class alongside teammates Richard Lietz and Riccardo Pera.

Despite qualifying 11th at the 6 Hours of Imola, the trio needed to pull off something special in the #92 The Bend Manthey Porsche during the main race.

Throughout the 193 laps, the team executed a seamless drive, steering clear of major incidents while competing against the world’s best endurance teams and manufacturers.

An early wake-up call occurred when Shahin had a spin, but the reigning champion Manthey team showcased their typical strategic prowess, launching their defence of the LMGT3 title in style.

Carrera Cup Deutschland – Imola

Notable Carrera Cup participant Dr Sam Shahin reached a significant milestone by winning his first-ever race on European soil, securing the top spot in the Pro-Am class at Imola during the recent Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland round.

Shahin’s journey was fraught with challenges, qualifying 29th outright in Qualifying 1 and finishing last in Qualifying 2. However, he made an impressive recovery during the race, climbing to 22nd overall and first in the Pro-Am class by the end of the 30-minute session.

This class victory was a significant achievement for the South Australian, who went on to finish on the podium again in Race 2, placing 25th overall amidst a session crowded with incidents.

Shahin wasn’t the only Aussie in the mix, as 20-year-old Caleb Sumich also joined the grid.

Sumich was among the rookie contenders, navigating qualifying to clock 23rd and 18th (third fastest among rookies) in both sessions.

He finished 17th in Race 1 and improved to 12th in Race 2 in the #14 Target Porsche 911 Cup (992.2), rounding off a solid performance over the weekend.

International GT Open – Portimão

Christian Mansell put forth an impressive performance at the season opener of the International GT Open held in Portimão, demonstrating strong pace as he transitioned into GT3 machinery with a podium finish.

Teaming up with Maximilian Göetz for Team Motopark, Mansell showed promise throughout practice and qualifying, consistently running within the leading group at the Algarve International Circuit.

In Race 1, Mansell played a crucial role in securing second place overall and in the Pro class. After Göetz’s solid first stint starting from sixth on the grid, Mansell took over and executed a composed drive under pressure.

Though the outright win went to the ZRS Motorsport Porsche, the Motopark team’s P2 result marked a commendable start to the season.

This momentum continued in Race 2, where the duo achieved another second step on the podium, leading all cars on track except for the Greystone GT McLaren after 35 laps.

The International GT Open season continues with Round 2 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps from 15-17 May, where Mansell aims to build on his strong debut in Portimão.

IndyCar – Long Beach

Will Power made a determined effort during the 2026 IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach, showcasing his speed despite facing a tough outcome.

After qualifying seventh, Power was firmly in contention at the front, maintaining a solid track position through the early stages on the Long Beach street circuit.

He stayed within reach of the leaders and utilised pit strategy effectively to temporarily cycle to the front, even leading for two laps as the race progressed.

However, Power encountered difficulties during the pit sequence, leading to a drive-through penalty that disrupted what had the makings of a competitive drive.

Still on the lead lap, Power persevered, showcasing his determination on a circuit where overtaking opportunities are scarce.

Ultimately finishing in 19th place did not accurately reflect his demonstrated pace over the weekend. Nonetheless, he remains upbeat about the positive experiences to carry into the Sonsio Grand Prix in Indianapolis on 9 May, holding steady in 14th place in the Drivers’ Standings with 89 championship points.

Legend Cars Italia – Vallelunga

Lachlan Ward kicked off the Legend Cars Italia season at Vallelunga, finishing on the podium in the final race of the weekend.

Ward’s weekend began positively, concluding practice in P6 and then replicating that speed in qualifying, finishing fourth.

The Australian secured a top-10 finish in the opening race with P9 and the fastest lap, although he was unable to finish the following session due to a collision that ended his race prematurely on the last lap of race two.

Nevertheless, Ward made a robust recovery in the third race, crossing the finish line in third place and earning a trophy for his flight back to Australia.

Ward’s trip to Italy allowed him a brief respite from his responsibilities in Australia, where he will shortly return.

British F4 Championship – Donington Park

George Proudford-Nalder launched his 2026 F4 British Championship campaign with a compelling performance during the season-opening round at Donington Park.

The Australian displayed early speed in qualifying, posting a best lap of 1:05.359, securing a spot within the top five and keeping him in close contention for pole position.

Proudford-Nalder maintained his momentum through the races, recording finishes of P8, P10, and P14 over the course of the weekend.

This consistent performance inside the top 10 bodes well for the young driver, as he adeptly navigated the typical chaos of an opening round.

In a fascinating twist, Proudford-Nalder becomes the 17th Australian to participate in the British F4 Championship since its inaugural season in 2015, with at least one Australian featuring in each season. Australia’s best results in the championship came from Oscar Piastri and Alex Ninovic, both finishing as runner-up in their respective seasons.

Proudford-Nalder’s next challenge lies ahead in Round 2 on 9-10 May at Brands Hatch Indy.