THE ongoing Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS fight between Audi, Porsche and Mercedes-AMG will continue at a breakneck pace at Sydney Motorsport Park next week. 

A 22-strong field will tackle a pair of 60-minute races alongside the Repco Supercars Championship’s Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight event next week, with a championship finely poised at its halfway point.

The Sydney field is dominated by the three dominant brands of the year to date; Audi, Porsche and Mercedes-AMG.

11 Audi R8 LMS GT3s will go head-to-head with 8 Mercedes AMG GT3s and the lone Porsche 911 GT3R in Sydney.

They’ll be joined by Mark Griffth’s Mercedes AMG GT4 and the returning Invitational class KTM X Bow GT2.

Audi’s attack is headlined by their key 2023 contenders, including points leader Maximilian Hofer who will return to co-pilot the Jamec Racing entry with Geoff Emery.

Emery sits second in the standings following a surge back to the front of the field at Phillip Island last time out.

Their closest pursuer Liam Talbot will have regular co-pilot Fraser Ross alongside him aboard their Shannons-backed Audi.

The Audi fleet is bolstered by the return of the Myland entry driven by Andrew Fawcett and Dylan O’Keeffe, and the new Trophy Class entry of Paul Lucchitti.

Meanwhile, Am class leader Brad Schumacher is also back in a bid to extend his class lead over the KFC-backed entry of Matt Stoupas and Paul Stokell.

Mercedes-AMG adds to their stocks in Sydney thanks to the return of Triple Eight Race Engineering / Johor Motor Racing and their two-car squad, having missed the most recent local round due to overseas racing commitments.

Even more battle-hardened after recent podium finishes in Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia competition, the JMR duo will see Prince Jefri Ibrahim joined by Richie Stanaway, and Prince Abu Ibrahim by seven-time Supercars champion, Jamie Whincup.

New to the Mercedes fleet will be experienced Porsche Carrera Cup racer Tim Miles, who will join Harrolds Racing / Volante Rosso Motorsport for the Sydney round.

Filling in for regular driver Chris Batzios, Miles has significant GT experience though Sydney will be his first drive in a Mercedes-AMG product.

Also new to a Mercedes-AMG GT3 car will be Canberra brothers James and Theo Koundouris, who switch from Audi to the rival German brand in a new AMG GT3 prepared by Tigani Motorsport.

Meanwhile, Justin McMillan’s M Motorsport AMG entry will see the experienced Victorian partnered with Bathurst podium-finishing driver David Russell.

Porsche’s lone hope in Sydney rests with EMA Motorsport and proven race-winning pair Yasser Shahin and Garnet Patterson, already winners this season.

The duo sit a handful of points from the championship lead and well within striking distance of the leading Audi trio in front heading into the second half of the season.

A welcome returnee at Sydney will be the KTM X Bow driven by David Crampton and Trent Harrison, the stunning GT2-specification car to return to the circuit for the first time since a fraught Bathurst 12-Hour campaign that saw it withdrawn and replaced by an Audi before race day earlier this year.

The KTM, always a fan favourite, will run in the Invitational class at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The Sydney round represents a return of top-level GT3 competition to Sydney Motorsport Park since 2018.

Broadcast coverage will be provided via Fox Sports and Kayo Sports on Saturday and Sunday of the Sydney weekend.