Monochrome GT4 Australia will welcome a number of New Zealand debutants for its season finale in 2025, with James Sax the first to confirm his entry.
Behind the wheel of the Mach1 Engineering Mercedes-AMG GT4, Sax will contest the round on his own in the Am class, hoping to gain experience for a 2026 Monochrome GT4 Australia campaign.
With already a couple of years of experience in motorsport, Sax has been progressing through the ranks at a rapid rate, making him a genuine contender for a class podium on home turf.
Starting out in BMW E30s for a season and a half where he learned the basics of the sport, Sax took an extended hiatus from racing to focus on family and his business.
Upon his return in 2023, Sax joined Mach1 to compete in the GT4 class of the GT New Zealand Championship, where he has competed for the past two seasons – his 2024/25 campaign resulting in an overall runner-up finish following an impressive run in the 2024 NZ Endurance Championship where he finished third overall and first in class.
GT Festival Hampton Downs will not only serve as Sax’s Monochrome GT4 Australia debut but also Mach1’s, who may be familiar to SRO Motorsports Australia fans after the team ran in GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS at GT Festival Phillip Island in April.
Based out of Auckland, New Zealand, Mach1 Engineering has been a major presence in the country’s endurance circles since their formation in 2021, taking victories in the North Island Endurance Racing Series and the Highlands 6hour International in 2023.
Mach1 Engineering and Sax will contest the final round of the 2025 Monochrome GT4 Australia season at Hampton Downs on 31 October – 2 November.
Purchase tickets to GT Festival Hampton Downs via speedseries.com.au/tickets
QUOTES
James Sax
Mach1 Engineering Mercedes-AMG GT4 Driver
“I started out doing some low-key racing in BMW E30s for about a season and a half before taking some time away to focus on family life,” Sax said.
“Motorsport has always been in the blood, thanks to my dad racing when I was growing up – that’s where the passion came from. Although I was a bit of a late bloomer, once I committed, things ramped up quickly.
“The GT4 cars are great – reliable and safe, which gives you the confidence to really push. I’m genuinely excited about racing in the Trans-Tasman rivalry, and I’m grateful for the Aussies coming over. Hopefully we can put on a great show.
“Looking ahead, I’m trying to find more opportunities in endurance racing in Australia and am seriously considering a full run in Monochrome GT4 Australia next year. We’re just weighing up options.
“Our car usually goes well at Hampton Downs, but the switch to Pirelli tyres is a bit of an unknown since we haven’t had the chance to test on them yet. Still, I love the track, I know it well, and with all the new cars on the grid, it should be an exciting event. I am hopeful we can be somewhere near the pointy end of the class.”
Ricky Grey
Mach1 Engineering Mercedes-AMG GT4 Team Owner
“James came into racing a little later than most, starting in his late 30s, but he has already shown a lot of progress. He’s raced two seasons in GT4 New Zealand, and last season finished runner-up in the GT4 class of the GT New Zealand Championship,” Grey said.
“We’re really keen to run alongside the Monochrome GT4 Australia field and see how we stack up against the competition over there. It’s something we’ve been looking at for a while, and this is a great chance to benchmark ourselves.
“James will be running as an Am driver and we fully expect him to be competitive against the other Am drivers. With a bit of home-track knowledge and the experience he’s built up over three seasons in GT4, he’s really developing well with both the car and the platform.
“This weekend is a bit of a trial to see how he goes, with the view to potentially join the series full-time next year. He’s been keeping a very close eye on what’s been happening in Australia over the last 12 months, and this is the perfect opportunity to get a feel for it firsthand.
“From my side, I’ve got experience with how SRO events are run and the protocols involved, so that will certainly help us settle in and understand the lay of the land quickly.”
Kiwi James Sax to join Am Class at GT Festival Hampton Downs
