Intercontinental GT Challenge
 
The second round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge for 2023 has been completed with Australian Kenny Habul securing a class victory ahead of fellow Aussies Stephen and Brenton Grove.
 
Following a massive Bathurst 12 Hour earlier in the month, the popular international series continued its 2023 season in South Africa as 13 teams competed in the Nine Hours of Kyalami.

With Habul entered in his Bathurst 12 Hour winning SunEnergy1 Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside Jules Gounan and Yannick Mettler, the trio ended up charging out to fifth place overall and the Pro-Am class win.
 
Behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3-R, the Groves and teammate Earl Bamber were highly consistent throughout the race, but finished two laps behind the class winners.
 
Having qualified in seventh place overall and second in class behind the SunEnergy1 Mercedes, the trio did what they needed to do throughout the race to solidify their podium position.
 
Eventually crossing the line in sixth, the Grove Racing Porsche finished just four laps behind winners Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts in the Team WRT Mercedes-AMG GT.
 
They had also endured a tough battle for second against Reece Barr, Luca Stolz and Miguel Ramos in the SPS automotive performance Mercedes-AMG GT3, but the Groves won in thrilling fashion as just one and half seconds separated the two entries at the chequered flag.
 
The P2 was a remarkable outcome for the Grove Racing trio as they overcame an earlier puncture and two pit lane penalties to snatch second place from the Mercedes within the final 90 minutes.
 
With Brenton behind the wheel, the youngest of the trio made a spectacular move on Barr, which proved the difference.
 
Click here for full results.
 
The next round of the Intercontinental Challenge will be the Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa, which takes place on 29 June – 2 July.



Formula 1
 
With the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship getting underway this week, the stars of the world’s premier racing category completed their final testing sessions in Bahrain.
 
Held over three days, it gave the world a chance to compare teams and drivers before the season begins at the same circuit on Sunday, with Aussie Oscar Piastri getting some important laps in before his highly anticipated F1 debut.
 
Although the pre-season testing meant little in the grand scheme of the season, it was still a tough weekend for Piastri who ultimately finished in P19 overall with his best time almost three seconds off Sergio Perez. 
 
Despite being a fair way off the front running Red Bull, Piastri was only one second off McLaren teammate Lando Norris, having completed 170 laps across the three days.
 
In what was a tough initiation, Piastri’s most difficult day came in the opener where he posted the 18th fastest time overall.
 
However, he bounced back on day two of testing, going ninth fastest in what was his busiest day as he completed 74 laps, while also beating Norris in the process.
 
On day three, he fell a little down the order again, this time recording the 16th fastest lap time. 
 
Although a tough first outing, Piastri said he was now more prepared for his official debut at this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix on 4 March.