THE PORSCHE Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series will showcase a near capacity grid for Round 2 of the 2024 series at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at The Bend next week.

Fresh from a hugely competitive 26-strong field that contested the season opener, the series welcomes a 31-car grid for the first Shannons SpeedSeries round to be held on the 3.41km West Circuit on May 31-June 2.

It will be the third time in the last six rounds that the series has attracted 30-plus entries; 30 cars contested the final round of the 2023 series at Mount Panorama while 31 raced at Sydney Motorsport Park last year.

The continued interest in Sprint Challenge comes following a compelling opening round of the series that saw three drivers effectively tie for the Pro class round win at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit last month.

There, Oscar Targett, Brock Gilchrist and Caleb Sumich left the weekend tied on points; the latter claiming the overall victory and therefore the early series lead by countback only thanks to winning the final race.

The round also saw Hamish Fitzsimmons claim his first Sprint Challenge victory, taking the opening Jim Richards Enduro encounter of the new season.

Danny Stutterd won the Pro-Am class over Ramu Farrell and Lachlan Harburg, while Jacque Jarjo took out Class B honours.

The Bend’s grid includes the record 11-strong Michelin Junior field fighting to climb the one-make Porsche Motorsport pyramid.

Additions to the grid already having contested the Phillip Island event are the returning Caspar Tressider, whose Hillcrest Merimbula-supported Pro-Am entry is fielded by Wall Racing, while Travis Knipe also returns to the grid.

South Australian squad Rennen Motorsport, headed up by well-known local Porsche tuner Mark Buik, will field multiple cars with a host of South Australian competitors joining the frey next week.

These include Emanual Palyaris, Pan Boyaci and Keith Dano – the latter making his PSCA debut.

12 cars will compete in the Pro Class and 14 in Pro-Am, both running the 991.2 GT3 Cup Cars, while 5 will compete in Class B for the first-generation 991 GT3 Cup Cars.

Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia has raced at the South Australian Circuit every year since the circuit was opened in 2018, with the track noted for producing outstanding Porsche racing.

Last year, Oscar Targett scored two race wins and Aron Shields the Enduro Cup race, in what is widely regarded as one of the best races in series history.

2024 will mark the first time that the series will have raced on the shorter West circuit, with three races planned for next weekend as part of a bumper Shannons SpeedSeries event.

Coverage will be shown across the screens of Seven next weekend.

ENTRY LIST: Round 2, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia
Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, South Australia