Regular Australian Production Cars competitor Chris Lillis is the latest driver to join Monochrome GT4 Australia for the 2025 season with the West Australian to make the switch from American muscle to German finesse for the series.
A class winner in the Australian Production Car Series, Lillis will swap the Jack Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro for a full-Monochrome GT4 Australia campaign in the latest Porsche 718 Cayman RS CS.
Although the aim was to continue with Chevrolet into Monochrome GT4 Australia, Lillis chose the Porsche instead due to the lack of an eligible model after the Camaro’s homologation expired at the end of 2023.
Lillis will be joined by regular co-driver and fellow West Australian Nathan Callaghan for the season as the duo target the Am Cup title in an attack spearheaded by multi-title winning squad Method Motorsport.
The pair recently sampled the Porsche at Carco.com.au Raceway in a successful test ahead of its debut at Phillip Island.
Method Motorsport enjoyed immense success during the inaugural Monochrome GT4 Australia season in 2024 by securing the Silver and Pro-Am Cup titles - the latter of which was won by Lachlan Mineeff and Shane Smollen in the same model Porsche to be shared by the West Australian duo in2025.
Lillis and Callaghan will make their Monochrome GT4 Australia debuts at the 2025 season opener at Phillip Island on April 4-6.
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Chris Lillis
Method Motorsport, Porsche 718 Cayman RS CS
“The reason we went down the Porsche route is it just suits us,” said Lillis.
“In Europe, Porsche is going well and Shane Smollen locally has been very successful with it.
“We knew we wanted to put the car with a team and we chatted with Porsche Motorsport Australia about the support they offer. Being able to get parts and support really made it the best decision to go with Porsche.
“If Chevrolet made a GT4 car, we would have pushed to do that. We did have talks with General Motors about a GT4 and it was said if there was a GT4 program we’d be the pick for that. We then considered running a Camaro GT4 and we saw a few in the US, but then GM isn’t pursuing the homologation from last year.
“The tie-up with Method Motorsport comes from our backing through Mobil 1 and Statewide Oil, which also sponsor Walkinshaw Andretti United. I’ve bumped into Chaz [Mostert] at various Statewide Oil events where we’ve both been.
“When we’ve run our own team for so long, it’s important to join an operation that knows what it’s doing. We got talking to Chaz and Aaron [Reed, team manager], who I’ve known from Production Cars, it was a no brainer.”
“Nathan and I are good mates. We’ve got our businesses within 10 minutes of each other in Mandurah. It’s hard to find someone to drive with that has no ego and is all about looking after the car, so Nathan brings that. We also sit in the same position, we talk the same language and it’s a hobby first, so we want to enjoy ourselves.
“GT4 was attractive to us as although the purchase of the car is dearer, the longevity and maintenance schedule is more economical. Another attraction was the competition and how big the Am Cup is going to be this season.
“Our aim is to repeat what Method Motorsport did last year and win the trophy they didn’t get. Every year we’ve entered Production Cars, we’ve won our class, but in the same token we’re not naive to the competition in Am Cup. We’ll also integrate some of our production car crew to help out on race weekends.
“We have tested the Porsche at Carco.com.au Raceway and felt like cheating because we were missing a pedal!
“Coming from what we’re used to, we feel it gives us an advantage because the Porsche is a lot more drover friendly. We’re also surprised how the Cayman relates to the sim, which we’ve never had and being in Western Australia it’s hard to test, so this will come in handy.”