Michelin

Australian GT Championship Kicks Off in Style

GT racing in Australia made a welcome return to twilight racing at the first round of the 2011 Vodka O Australian GT Championship this weekend at the Clipsal 500.

In a new initiative MICHELIN Australia presented a new trophy, the Michelin Pole Position Award, to the driver who set the fastest time in Thursday evening’s qualifying session.

The inaugural winner of the Michelin Pole Position Award was Klark Quinn in the Mosler.

The first race of the 2011 season began as the sun set on the Adelaide street circuit and as the light faded the action on the track began to heat up. The glowing brakes and bright head lights of the magnificent machines thrilled the spectators.

Close to 30,000 spectators stayed to watch the Friday night race with fireworks both on and off the track.

All weekend the racing was fierce between manufacturers including Mosler, Audi, Dodge Viper, Lamborghini and Porsches, with the Michelin shod Mosler of Klark Quinn taking out the both race wins in addition to pole position.

Greg Crick in the Dodge Viper GT3 and Mark Eddy in the Audi R8 LMS both secured a second and third place in the two races to finish the round on equal points.

In the Challenge class it was a family affair with the Flack brothers dominating. Damien won both races in his Porsche GT3 997 with his brother Adrian second in both races.

Adrian was competing in the newest marque to compete in the category, Ginetta.

Peter Boylan and Tim Poulton each took out a third and fourth place finish in the Challenge class to be tied on third place for the round.

As with every round of the 2011 series, Michelin provide tyres to the entire field of both GT Championship and GT Challenge class competitors in a vast array of magnificent machines.

There is little time for rest between now and the next round for the Michelin Tyre Team with the team will be back on track on Thursday. This week will see the first round of the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Tags: GT Championship, Klark Quinn, Mosler