Mixed Weekend for Steven Richards Motorsport in Sydney

Steven Richards Motorsport endured a mixed weekend during the annual ‘Pro-Am’ race at Sydney Motorsport Park as part of the popular Porsche Rennsport Australia Festival. On the one-hand the #12 Laser Racing Porsche of Richards and Dean Grant suffered at the hands of fate whilst running strongly in the final race, whilst for SRM team-mates James Bergmuller and Garth Tander, they enjoyed a fantastic weekend, claiming second outright for the event at the close of the two 34-lap races.

Starting from position 17 (starting position was the aggregate qualifying time of the two drivers), Grant held on comfortably until the compulsory mid-race stop, handing the car to Richards who was aided by a new set of control Michelin tyres.

With new Michelin rubber under the Laser Racing Porsche once again, Richards charged off the line for race two and quickly worked his way past a string of V8 Supercar stars to be in second place and right on the tail of the leader on his way into the pits to hand over to Grant.

Grant continued to run strongly, holding down fifth position late in the race, before a Safety Car intervention bunched up the field, and with just a handful of laps remaining, the former GT star was quickly swamped, dropping back to 12th at the flag.

Round four of the 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship sees a return to Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin on 17-19 June to an event which is always a popular addition to the calendar for those coming from the southern states.

2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship

Rnd#3 – Porsche Rennsport Australia Festival (29 April-1 May)

Qualifying – Challenge Class Drivers (20-minutes) – 30 April

1. Geoff Emery (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup) – 1:30.9823
2. Shane Smollen (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup) – 1:31.0164
3. Adrian Flack (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup) – 1:31.5434
4. Roger Lago (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup) – 1:31.5653
5. Dean Grant(Laser Racing Porsche 991 GT3 Cup) – 1:32.9363

Qualifying – Pro Drivers (20-minutes) – 30 April

1. Matt Campbell (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup) – 1:29.3520
2. Tim Slade (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup) – 1:30.0492
3. Alex Davison (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup) – 1:30.1853
4. Nick Percat (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup) – 1:30.2270
5. Steve Richards(Laser Racing Porsche 991 GT3 Cup) – 1:31.2894

Race#1 (34-laps) – 30 April

1. Matt Campbell/Geoff Emery (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup)
2. James Bergmuller/Garth Tander (pricepressure.com.auPorsche 991 GT3 Cup)
3. Tony Bates/David Reynolds (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup)
4. David Wall/Adrian Flack (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup)
5. Steven Richards/Dean Grant (Laser Racing Porsche 991 GT3 Cup)

Race#2 (34-laps) – 1 May

1. Matt Campbell/Geoff Emery (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup)
2. Nick McBride/Dylan Thomas (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup)
3. Shane Smollen/Nick Percat (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup)
4. Shane van Gisgbergen/Paul Kelly (Porsche 991 GT3 Cup)
5. Steven Richards/Dean Grant (Laser Racing Porsche 991 GT3 Cup)

2016 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia (points after three rounds of eight)

1. Matt Campbell (456.5-points), 2. Nick McBride (420), 3. Alex Davison (368), 4. Ashley Walsh (276), 5. David Wall (275), 6. Michael Almond (258), 7. Steven Richards (257), 8. Fraser Ross (225.5), 9. James Bergmuller (190.5), 10. Duvashen Padayachee (182.5)

To keep up with Steven Richards Motorsport and the 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup

Australia Championship visit www.laserracing.com.au and www.facebook.com/LaserRacing for updates as they emerge.