The 2008 Australian GT Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing competition for closed, production based sports cars which were either approved by the FIA for GT3 competition or approved by CAMS as Australian GT cars. It was the 12th Australian GT Championship to be awarded by CAMS. The Australian GT Sportscar Group Pty Ltd was recognised by CAMS as the Category Manager and Administrator for the 2008 championship.

The championship was won by Mark Eddy driving a Lamborghini Gallardo.

Teams and drivers

The following drivers competed in the 2008 Australian GT Championship.

TeamManufacturerCar modelNoDriver
Maranello MotorsportFerrariF430 GT31Denmark Allan Simonsen Australia John Bowe Australia Nick O'Halloran
80Australia Nick O'Halloran
Property Solutions GroupFerrariF430 Challenge2Australia Kevin Miller
Taplin Real Estate ANZ BankingLamborghini PorscheGallardo 996 GT3 Cup2Australia Dean Grant Australia Andrew Taplin
11
DupontDodgeViper GTS ACR3Australia D'arcy Russell
Koala Furniture InternationalDodge LamborghiniViper GTS ACR Gallardo3Australia Ross Lilley Australia Greg Crick
57
Consolidated Chemical CompanyFerrari Lamborghini360 GT Gallardo4New Zealand Craig Baird Australia Ted Hughlin Australia John Bowe
Superplus RacingPorsche996 GT3 Cup5Australia Simon Froude
Team Aston Martin Abcor Preston General EngineeringAston MartinDBRS97Australia John Kaias Australia Peter Hackett
59Australia John Kaias
VIP PetfoodsAston MartinDBRS97United Kingdom Tony Quinn
Flash Air Daikin Air ConditioninhPorsche996 GT3 RSR8Australia Simon Middleton
Hallmarc DevelopmentsPorsche996 GT3 Cup9Australia Michael Loccisano Australia Marc Cini
Glenelg East Day/Night PharmacyPorsche996 GT3 Cup10Australia Mark Krashos
SMS CommanderLotusExige S10Australia Mark O'Connor
allaboutjesus.comLamborghiniGallardo12Australia Mark Eddy
Echo Ridges WinesPorsche996 GT3 Cup14Australia Greg Ward Jr.
TruelocPorsche996 GT3 Cup18Australia Max Twigg
RoockPorsche996 GT3 Cup19Australia Ash Samadhi
allaboutjesus.comFerrariF430 GT321United Kingdom Hector Lester
Bruce Lynton BMWBMWM323Australia Beric Lynton
Rod WilsonMaseratiTrofeo Light27Italy Ivan Capelli
28Australia Rod Wilson
29Australia Jim Manolios
Warrin MiningPorsche996 GT3 Cup30Australia Adam Wallis
Cooks ConstructionPorsche996 GT3 Cup31Australia Jon Trende
Kirrapak SheetmetalLotusElise Motorsport 20031Australia Scott Bargwanna Australia David Mackie
Kirchner ConstructionsPorsche996 GT3 Cup33Australia Fraser Kirchner
Ultra Finish JaylecPorsche996 GT3 Cup36Australia Peter Fountas Australia Ray Angus
RDS Wall Racing World of LearningPorsche996 GT3 RSR38Australia Des Wall
Brennan Voice Data & ITFerrariF430 Challenge43Australia David Stevens
Kwikmit IMAKLotusExige S51Australia Andrew MacPherson Australia Peter Lucas
IndustrieFerrari360 Challenge53Australia Nick Kelly
Report FactoryLotusExige S55Australia Garth Walden
Drivebathurst.comPorsche996 Clubsport58Australia Richard Kimber
Jocaro MotorsPorsche996 GT3 Cup66Australia Garth Rainsbury
TAG HeuerPorsche996 GT3 Cup67Australia Eric Bana
PR Technology RacingPorsche997 Clubsport68Australia Kim Burke
www.xacarz.com.auDodgeViper GTS ACR69Australia Scott Lyddiard
Equity-onePorsche997 Clubsport71Australia Dean Koutsoumidis Australia Michael Goedheer
Lentini DentalPorsche996 GT3 Cup73Australia Michael Lentini
Bicycle ExpressFerrari360 Challenge74Australia Keith Wong
Creative ColourPorsche996 GT3 Cup75Australia Jeff Bobik
The Oxford Tavern WollongongPorsche996 GT3 Cup77Australia Anthony Kosseris
Urban ArrangementsLotusElise86Australia Angela Coradine Australia Angelo Lazaris
Elise Motorsport 20099Australia Peter Lucas Australia Scott Bargwanna
Industry Central StahlwilleFerrariF430 GT388Australia John Teulan
Macpherson & Kelley LawyersPorsche996 GT390Australia Sven Burchartz
Haden/Smith BrothersPorsche996 GT3 Cup91Australia Graeme Cook
Simply SportscarsLotusExige S97Australia Timothy Poulton
Quintessence ConstructionsLotusElise GT398Australia Angelo Lazaris

Race calendar

The championship was contested over a six-round series.

Rd.NameCircuitLocation / stateDateWinnerCar
Rd 1Eastern Creek RacewaySydney, New South Wales1–3 FebruaryAllan SimonsenFerrari F430 GT3
Rd 2Adelaide Street CircuitAdelaide, South Australia21–24 FebruaryAllan SimonsenFerrari F430 GT3
Rd 3Albert Park Grand Prix CircuitMelbourne, Victoria13–16 MarchMark EddyLamborghini Gallardo
Rd 4Eastern Creek RacewaySydney, New South Wales12–13 JulyJohn KaiasAston Martin DBRS9
Rd 5Phillip Island Grand Prix CircuitPhillip Island, Victoria9–10 AugustJohn BoweLamborghini Gallardo
Rd 6Sandown GT ClassicSandown International RacewayMelbourne, Victoria28–30 NovemberAllan Simonsen Nick O'HalloranFerrari F430 GT3

Points system

Championship points were awarded on a 38-32-28-25-23-21-19-18-17-16-15-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 to the first 25 finishers in each race. Each driver's worst round point score had to be dropped from his/her overall point score.

Drivers competing with a foreign licence and a Foreign Participation Visa under FIA ISC Regulation 18 Para 5 (e.g. Hector Lester) were not allowed to score championship points.

Championship results

GT Championship

PosDriverRound 1 - EASRound 2 - ADERound 3 - ALBRound 4 - EASRound 5 - PHIRound 6 - SANPts
Pos Driver Round 1 - EAS Round 2 - ADE Round 3 - ALB Round 4 - EAS Round 5 - PHI Round 6 - SAN Pts Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 1 Race 2 1 Mark Eddy 4th 4th 3rd 3rd 2nd 1st 2nd 4th 3rd 5th 2nd 2nd 2nd 4th 7th 412 2 Allan Simonsen 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 351 3 Ross Lilley 6th 4th 4th 5th 5th 4th 20th Ret 7th 16th 5th 6th 3rd 3rd 2nd 337.75 4 John Kaias 3rd 2nd 3rd Ret DNS DNS 4th Ret 16th 7th 3rd 1st 1st 3rd 3rd 3rd DNS DNS 323.25 5 John Bowe 1st 8th 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 7th 4th 290.25 6 Peter Lucas 4th 6th 5th 18th 12th 4th 10th 1st 2nd 2nd 220.5 7 Michael Loccisano 11th 6th 8th 9th 7th 5th 9th 10th 9th 169.25 8 Anthony Kosseris 8th Ret 6th 15th 12th 9th 9th 11th 10th Ret 16th 10th 12th 162.5 9 Scott Bargwanna 2nd 2nd 2nd 6th 5th 6th 161 10 John Teulan 5th Ret DNS 6th 3rd 12th Ret 7th Ret DNS 7th 7th 8th 158.75 11 Richard Kimber 11th 12th 10th 5th 8th 8th 14th 12th 150 12 Ted Huglin 19th Ret Ret 20th 15th 14th 15th Ret Ret 7th 7th 4th 144.25 13 David Stevens 9th 8th 5th 6th 3rd 3rd 3rd 143.25 14 Nick O'Halloran 14th 13th 13th 4th 7th 4th 1st 1st 117 15 Mark Krashos 14th 10th 8th Ret 15th Ret 15th 13th 11th 11th 110 Andrew Taplin 13th 7th 7th 9th 8th 110 17 Dean Grant 10th 10th 9th 8th 9th 8th 106.5 18 D'arcy Russell 3rd Ret DNS 5th 4th 6th 5th 102.25 19 Graeme Cook 11th 11th 11th 9th 15th 7th 96 Greg Crick 3rd 2nd 96 21 Craig Baird 2nd 3rd 2nd 92 22 Tony Quinn 2nd 3rd 84 23 Peter Hackett 2nd 4th 4th 82 24 Nick Kelly 9th 7th 8th 15th 17th DNS 14th 80.25 25 Angelo Lazaris DNS 18th 12th 17th 8th 9th 14th 16th Ret 72.75 26 Tim Poulton 17th Ret 16th 11th 9th 10th DNS Ret 72 27 Keith Wong 10th 9th 10th Ret DNS DNS DNS 9th Ret DNS 70 28 Garth Walden 8th 4th 5th 69 29 Fraser Kirchner Ret 20th 14th 18th 12th 11th 13th 66 30 Des Wall 7th 9th 5th 6th 63.75 31 Max Twigg 5th 6th 63 32 Ash Samadi 7th 5th 7th 61 Beric Lynton 10th 6th 6th 61 34 Peter Fountas 12th Ret 13th 17th 21st 17th 19th 13th Ret 53.75 35 Greg Ward Jr. DNS DNS DNS 10th 8th 9th 51 Marc Cini 10th 9th 51 37 Sven Burchartz 8th 5th 20th 11th 50.25 38 Jim Manolios 12th 10th 48 39 Eric Bana 11th 11th 45 40 Garth Rainsbury 13th 10th 14th 44 41 Kevin Miller Ret DNS DNS 12th 16th 11th 13th 41.25 42 Dean Koutsoumidis Ret 13th 39 Michael Goedheer Ret 13th 39 44 Kim Burke 12th Ret DNS 6th Ret DNS DNS DNS 37 45 Simon Middleton Ret Ret Ret 14th 14th 19th 12th 36.75 46 Michael Lentini 13th 13th 13th Ret 30.75 47 David Mackie 14th Ret 11th 29 48 Simon Froude 16th 19th 15th DNS 22.5 49 Adam Wallis 8th Ret DNS 19 50 Mark O'Connor Ret Ret 12th Ret Ret 15 - Hector Lester 7th 6th 6th 2nd 1st 18th 4th 0 - Jon Trende DNS DNS DNS DNS 0 - Scott Lyddiard Ret DNS DNS DNS 0 - Andrew MacPherson DNS DNS DNS 15th Ret 0 - Angela Coradine 15th DNS 0 - Rod Wilson 15th Ret 0 - Ray Angus 13th Ret 0 - Jeff Bobik Ret DNS DNS DNS 0 - Ivan Capelli 5th 6th 0Colour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Points classification Blue Non-points classification Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Retired, not classified (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Withdrew (WD) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Did not arrive (DNA) Excluded (EX)
Race 1Race 2Race 3Race 1Race 2Race 3Race 1Race 2Race 3Race 4Race 1Race 2Race 3Race 1Race 2Race 3Race 1Race 2
1Mark Eddy4th4th3rd3rd2nd1st2nd4th3rd5th2nd2nd2nd4th7th412
2Allan Simonsen1st1st1st1st1st1st1st1st351
3Ross Lilley6th4th4th5th5th4th20thRet7th16th5th6th3rd3rd2nd337.75
4John Kaias3rd2nd3rdRetDNSDNS4thRet16th7th3rd1st1st3rd3rd3rdDNSDNS323.25
5John Bowe1st8th2nd1st1st1st1st7th4th290.25
6Peter Lucas4th6th5th18th12th4th10th1st2nd2nd220.5
7Michael Loccisano11th6th8th9th7th5th9th10th9th169.25
8Anthony Kosseris8thRet6th15th12th9th9th11th10thRet16th10th12th162.5
9Scott Bargwanna2nd2nd2nd6th5th6th161
10John Teulan5thRetDNS6th3rd12thRet7thRetDNS7th7th8th158.75
11Richard Kimber11th12th10th5th8th8th14th12th150
12Ted Huglin19thRetRet20th15th14th15thRetRet7th7th4th144.25
13David Stevens9th8th5th6th3rd3rd3rd143.25
14Nick O'Halloran14th13th13th4th7th4th1st1st117
15Mark Krashos14th10th8thRet15thRet15th13th11th11th110
Andrew Taplin13th7th7th9th8th110
17Dean Grant10th10th9th8th9th8th106.5
18D'arcy Russell3rdRetDNS5th4th6th5th102.25
19Graeme Cook11th11th11th9th15th7th96
Greg Crick3rd2nd96
21Craig Baird2nd3rd2nd92
22Tony Quinn2nd3rd84
23Peter Hackett2nd4th4th82
24Nick Kelly9th7th8th15th17thDNS14th80.25
25Angelo LazarisDNS18th12th17th8th9th14th16thRet72.75
26Tim Poulton17thRet16th11th9th10thDNSRet72
27Keith Wong10th9th10thRetDNSDNSDNS9thRetDNS70
28Garth Walden8th4th5th69
29Fraser KirchnerRet20th14th18th12th11th13th66
30Des Wall7th9th5th6th63.75
31Max Twigg5th6th63
32Ash Samadi7th5th7th61
Beric Lynton10th6th6th61
34Peter Fountas12thRet13th17th21st17th19th13thRet53.75
35Greg Ward Jr.DNSDNSDNS10th8th9th51
Marc Cini10th9th51
37Sven Burchartz8th5th20th11th50.25
38Jim Manolios12th10th48
39Eric Bana11th11th45
40Garth Rainsbury13th10th14th44
41Kevin MillerRetDNSDNS12th16th11th13th41.25
42Dean KoutsoumidisRet13th39
Michael GoedheerRet13th39
44Kim Burke12thRetDNS6thRetDNSDNSDNS37
45Simon MiddletonRetRetRet14th14th19th12th36.75
46Michael Lentini13th13th13thRet30.75
47David Mackie14thRet11th29
48Simon Froude16th19th15thDNS22.5
49Adam Wallis8thRetDNS19
50Mark O'ConnorRetRet12thRetRet15
-Hector Lester7th6th6th2nd1st18th4th0
-Jon TrendeDNSDNSDNSDNS0
-Scott LyddiardRetDNSDNSDNS0
-Andrew MacPhersonDNSDNSDNS15thRet0
-Angela Coradine15thDNS0
-Rod Wilson15thRet0
-Ray Angus13thRet0
-Jeff BobikRetDNSDNSDNS0
-Ivan Capelli5th6th0
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints classification
BlueNon-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired, not classified (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

GT Challenge

The GT Challenge class was won by Richard Kimber driving a Porsche 996 GT3 Clubsport.

GT Production

The GT Production class was won by Tim Poulton driving a Lotus Exige S.

Australian Tourist Trophy

The Confederation of Australian Motorsport awarded the 2008 Australian Tourist Trophy to the winners of the 2008 Sandown GT Classic, which was the sixth and final round of the 2008 Australian GT Championship. The title, which was the nineteenth Australian Tourist Trophy, was won by Allan Simonsen and Nick O'Halloren, driving a Ferrari F430 GT3.

External links

  • As archived at www.webcitation.org