Giltrap wins maiden Porsche round

Photos: Porsche Motorsport

Marco Giltrap is a Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia round winner for the second consecutive time after leaving Symmons Plains Raceway with an outright victory.
 
The 18-year-old converted pole position into a convincing race win in the opening race of the weekend, having led the entire way while chaos beckoned behind – resulting in two safety car interventions throughout the race.  
 
The battle for the final podium places went down to the wire, with Marcos Flack and Aaron Shields making contact that saw  both drivers going for a spin, while Lachie Bloxsom also got caught up in the mess running into the back of Shields.  
 
Son-of-a-gun Ronan Murphy was able to avoid the mess in front to power his way to second place, while Oscar Targett finished third.

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The second race of the weekend saw Giltrap and his Team Porsche NZ / EBM teammate Zac Stichbury fight for the lead throughout, with Giltrap getting the upper hand after a nice move on the latter to take his second win of the weekend.  
 
Stichbury ultimately settled for second place while Harrison Goodman rounded out the podium places.  
 
Murphy would eventually claim a win of his own as he took out the final race of the weekend – the victory his first win on Australian soil.  

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Initially starting on the second row, the Kiwi made a series of decisive passes at the famous Symmons Plains Turn 4 hairpin to take the lead of the race.  
 
The win meant Murphy had become the third race winner from six different races in the series this year, as well as the first for the Sonic team.  
 
Sam Shahin took top honours in the Pro-Am class, while Brad Carr stood tall as the Class B winner.  
 
Despite a disappointing fourth place in race three, Giltrap was pleased to walk away with the round win.

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“It’s a little bit bittersweet after that last race. You know, we really really struggled,” Giltrap said.  
 
“But it was a good weekend, we can’t let it take away from that pole to race wins, so I’m very happy and have the championship lead and I think it’s pretty wide open – it’s going to be a good season.”
 
The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge will next feature at the Sydney Motorsport Park on 28-30 July.  
 

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