THE PRESIDENTS REPORT - ROUND 3 PREVIEW
17 Cars are entered for this round, the third round of the 2023 944 Challenge Championship at the famed Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
The first round of the 2023 944 Challenge season featured one of the most dramatic races in 944 Challenge history, with Adam Brewer (#3) leading into the final corner of the race from Chris Lewis-Williams (#37) and Cameron Beller (#55) just behind having come from the rear of the grid – only for Brewer to run wide, allowing Lewis-Williams and Beller through, with Beller using the momentum to edge ahead by the smallest of margins at the chequer.
At Round 2 held at Winton Raceway 4 weeks ago, Beller continued his recovery as he made it a clean sweep with 3 wins from 3 races as he moved himself back up the championship Points ladder to 2nd and 3rd in the State Championship and 944 Challenge Championships respectively.
Finishing the Winton weekend in third overall was Lewis-Williams, which was enough to keep him at the top of both Championships heading to Phillip Island this weekend, a position he will be hoping to maintain by the end of the weekend.
Adam Brewer continued his consistent start to the season as he finished fourth outright for the Round at Winton as he sits in 3rd and 2nd positions n the State Championship and 944 Challenge Championships respectively.
Moving up to 4th in the 944 and State Championships after also having another strong round at Winton is Mr Lasagne, Joey Kellock (#77). Fifth for the weekend helped him move up one position on the points tables, as he moved just ahead of his stablemate Mark Verdino (#44) Mark had a good first two races at Winton before it came undone in Race 3 with a couple of spins that put him to the back of the pack which cost him the fourth position in the series points to Kellock as he slips to 5th.
Moving up to sixth position in the 944 points after Winton is Mark Taubitz (#74) despite another frustrating round, after another good qualifying position in 6th, a spin in Race 1 dropped him to the back before recovering to 10th, a few spots gained to 8th in Race 2 but a neat stall at the start of Race 3 saw him have to recover again to move back to 8th by then end of the race and finish 9th for the round.
Making his return to the 944 Challenge for the first time since 2017 was Ryan Woods (#17) – and a triumphant return it was, with Ryan stringing together a weekend of second position finishes in qualifying and all three races in the newly acquired ex Peter Doherty car. This collection of results sees Ryan vault up to 7th in the State Championship, and 9th position in the 944 Championship points despite missing the first Round.
Another solid round at Winton for Keith Marriner, (#64) a trio of solid races in the thick of the action earning him enough points to move him up to to 9th in the State Championship, and 7th position in the 944 Championship points after the second Round.
Having a career best weekend by virtue of scoring his best race and round results to date at Winton was Carter Fox (#7) finishing 8th outright for the round, his performance moves him up to 8th position outright in both championships and full of promise for more to come heading back to the Phillip Island circuit.
Slipping back to 10th position in the points by virtue of a DNF in Race 2, and being unable to take the grid for Race 3 is Andrew Jackman. Alternator issues curtailed his weekend as he failed to finish the final lap of Race 2, the loss of points dropping him back from 5th going in to the round, he will look to get back on track with some good results at the track he enjoys so much in Phillip Island.
Returning to the track after being absent while partaking in some overseas venture when Round 1 was held, is series stalwart Tony Westaway (#50). Tony was in the thick of the battles all weekend with a 6th position in Race and a pair of seventh places despite stalling on the grid in the final race saw him classified 6th outright for the round and just outside the top ten in the series points in eleventh position.
Making the trek back over to the Eastern side of the country is West Australian Tim Wolfe (#66) – fresh from competing in the Sprint Challenge series at Symmons Plains last weekend. Tim returns to the site where he earned a third place finish for the round at Island Magic last year, and will be looking to pick up that pace again on his return to Phillip Island in the wheel of his 944 and move into contention in the points battle after missing the last round at Winton.
Also making his second appearance of the year is Josh Brisbane (#56), with the Viper Green 944 returning to Phillip Island where he was unfortunately involved in contact following a spin at MG corner last year at Island Magic. Josh was able to bank some good points at Round 2 and Winton and like Wolfe will be looking to gain some more good points this weekend and move up the points ladder.
Another troublesome weekend was had by veteran Dick Howe (#8) whose season hasn’t gotten off on the right foot, only finishing 1 race over the Winton weekend as he struggled to find a misfire on his car that hampered his weekend. At Phillip Island where horsepower matters, look for Dick to return to the pointy end if he has solved his engine issues.
Also coming across from WA is Andy Tudor (#15) as he returns to the site of his unfortunate spin and contact with the tyre wall at the Southern Loop corner on his last visit to Phillip Island at the final round of the Vic State Series last year. Andy also missed the Winton event due to work commitments and will look to get some good solid results this weekend and a nice straight car to put back onto the trailer!
A sigh of relief from everyone after seeing John Vainoras (#32) complete the weekends racing with his fuel issues seemingly behind him, and finishing the weekend 12th on points for the round With that issue now being solved, we expect to see John able to focus on continuing to improve his pace at the seaside circuit that he calls home.
Last – but most certainly not least – we will see the familiar site of the Martini liveried #46 of Jim Mitchell on track – but with a different, yet familiar name on the window and behind the wheel. Reigning champion Jamie Westaway returns for a cameo appearance this round and will no doubt be looking to throw a cat amongst the pigeons that is the 2023 championship – and he will have his eyes set on wins, rather than points. Can he take another win in a third different 944 Race car this weekend?
Toni Andreevski (#27) & Lyndon Watson (#5) are both sadly missing from this round also, as well as Vlad Kennedy (#23) Unfortunately, we won’t see the return of Michael Westaway (#45) and Andy Jones (#33) who are still finalising their car repairs to make their series returns, as well as Manny Mezzasalma (#10) who has a conflicting engagement this weekend preventing him from making his return.
If you like what you see on the circuit and want to get on board with the Porsche 944 Challenge series, the series is enjoying a resurgence with a couple of cars available for purchase and others returning to competition, along with some freshly built cars being finalised with some of those for lease, or sale.
Get in touch with the guys in the series if you'd like to get on track and join in the action.
