Monochrome GT4 Australia wrapped up the opening round of the 2026 season with an entertaining opening race, as there was plenty of drama and a number of penalties handed out post-race.
Showing the diversity of the series, every single class enjoyed podiums made up of different manufacturers as the 33 entered cars put on a show.
Silver Cup
Reigning champion Tom Hayman and new co-driver Jett Murray produced an emphatic display behind the wheel of the Method Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 to notch up their first win of the campaign after crossing the line in top spot.
Taking out second place for the class was Miedecke Motorsport With Lubrimaxx’s Blake Tracey and George Miedecke in the Ford Mustang GT4, while series debutant Jensen Shearer ended up rounding out the podium on board his Aperitif Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS – making it three different manufacturers in the top three.
Murray was one of three drivers to get off to a decent start as Multispares Racing’s Aaron Cameron snatched the lead off polesitter Daniel Frougas in the GWR Australia Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO on the opening lap – the Victorian eventually building a handy lead.
Cameron eventually held his own at the front of the field, while behind him Frougas ended up having a massive moment with the second Multispares Racing Ford Mustang GT4 of Mason Harvey after the pair went neck and neck, with the latter ending up in the tyre wall following contact with the Supra.
When Hayman eventually got into the car, the Queenslander produced an incredible run through the field to eventually storm to the lead and build a huge buffer to the rest of the grid, cruising to a victory.
For Tracey and Miedecke, the pair eventually reached the chequered flag inside the top five but were promoted to second place post-race, while Shearer ended up third following the post-race penalties, having originally finished ninth.
Silver Am
Last year’s Silver-Am Cup runner-up finishers Cameron Crick and Dean Campbell also had a productive end to GT Festival Phillip Island as the Method Motorsport Ford Mustang GT4 duo took out the victory.
The pair started Sunday’s race in seventh for the class and eventually finished the race on the podium before being promoted to first place.
Like the Silver Cup, it was three different brands in the top three, with debutants CAMM Quarries & Concrete Racing’s Lachlan Evennett and Andrew Torti classified second in the Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO 2, while Thunder Buddies Racing / Black Diamond’s Ryder Quinn and Daniel Jilesen ended up third.
Starting the race sixth in class, Evennett and Torti were only able to make up one place during the 31-lap affair before their promotion to second, while Quinn and Jilesen produced some solid stints throughout the race following a strong effort on Saturday; however, they eventually crossed the line in sixth for the class.
Am Cup
Race 2 pole sitter Glenn Walker secured his first official class win in the Am Cup after he was promoted to top spot post-race.
Having qualified in pole position, Walker ultimately was handed the win despite finishing in second place after Ryan Sorensen, who crossed the line first, was handed a penalty.
Although he lost his lead during the race, he still produced a stellar performance behind the wheel of the Gomersall Motorsport Ford Mustang GT4 – ending what was an overall solid weekend for the second-year driver.
Finishing behind Walker was Randall Racing’s Peter Lawrence in his BMW M4 GT4 G82, while the Love Racing by TSM Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Bailey and Rob Love completed the podium.
Both Lawrence and the Loves finished the race in fourth and fifth respectively but were promoted to the podium post-race, giving them both their first top three finishes of the year, while Walker’s victory saw him end the round on top of the standings.
Monochrome GT4 Australia now has a six week break before returning for Round 2 at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park for LIQUI MOLY GT Festival The Bend on 8–10 May.