Liam Talbot and Jamie Day win GT Festival Sandown Race 2 thriller

Liam Talbot and Jamie Day have secured Volante Rosso’s first win in GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS victory for 2025 after a thrilling conclusion to Race 2 at GT Festival Sandown.

With the changing weather conditions wreaking havoc across the board and bringing out the Safety Car on multiple occasions, the race went down to the final lap as Talbot defended strongly against a determined Brad Schumacher.

Taking over from Jamie Day in the Shannons Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, Talbot wrestled his way into the lead and held firm as Schumacher tried to muscle the Kelso Electrical/Team MPC Audi R8 LMS Evo II past, the pair putting on an entertaining battle to the chequered flag.

Rounding out the podium were series leaders Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte in the Arise Racing GT Ferrari 296 GT3, the pair finishing 32 seconds adrift but securing a valuable result following their emotional victory the day prior.

In the Am Cup, Renee Gracie found herself back on the top step of the podium after an impressive display in the OnlyFans Audi R8 LMS EVO II, while her Team MPC teammates Paul Stokell and Matthew Stoupas scored Trophy Cup honours in the KFC/Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO I.

Ahead of Race 2, a special tribute to the late Tim Miles was held on the grid, with Brendon Leitch completing a commemorative lap in the Dayle ITM Audi R8 LMS Evo II he shared with Miles, the New Zealander receiving a heartfelt applause from those around the circuit.

The emotional tribute set the stage for a dramatic Race 2, as rain began to fall on the formation lap. Pole-sitter Jordan Love was the first to be caught out by the changing conditions, spinning at Turn 3 on the opening lap and hitting the wall, gifting the lead to Realta/Tigani Motorsport’s Jayden Ojeda.

Moments later, disaster struck again at the same corner when Ojeda’s Tigani Motorsport teammate, Theo Koundouris, went off in the Supabarn Supermarkets Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO. Unlike Love, Koundouris’ incident proved terminal, forcing the car’s retirement and prompting the deployment of the Safety Car.

Following the restart, Ojeda wasted no time pulling away, as Lee Holdsworth in the Hallmarc/Team MPC Audi R8 LMS EVO II threw everything at Jaxon Evans in a fierce scrap for second, the Kiwi having just muscled past Broc Feeney in the Kelso Electrical Audi.

With the pit stops complete, Paul Lucchitti aboard the Realta Mercedes-AMG GT3, picked up right where Ojeda left off, leading the field ahead of Team BRM’s Mark Rosser, Schumacher, Talbot, and Schutte.

Talbot rejoined with intent and wasted no time, charging past Schumacher, then Rosser, before reeling in and overtaking Lucchitti in a commanding display.

Drama continued at Turn 3, with Marc Cini sliding the Hallmarc/Team MPC Audi into the wall, moments before Steve Brooks spun the Wolfbrook/Team MPC Audi R8 LMS Evo II at the same corner.

The race built to a thrilling final-lap showdown, with Schumacher throwing everything at Talbot in pursuit of victory. Despite several bold attempts, the Audi couldn’t find a way past, handing Talbot and the Volante Rosso their first win of the 2025 season.

In the Am Cup, Renee Gracie staged an impressive comeback drive from the back of the grid, charging her way to the class win. Grant Donaldson and Darren Currie brought the 111 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO home in second, just ahead of Black Wolf Motorsport’s Ben Schoots and Shane Woodman.

The GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS 2025 season continues with GT Festival The Bend on September 5–7.

The result is HERE