Podium Finish at The Bend Keeps ARGT in Championship Hunt

Round 2 of the 2026 GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS took place at Shell V-power Bend Motorsport park, which saw ARGT's #26 Ferrari 296 GT3, driven by Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte, produce a consistent weekend taking away some valuable points, securing a podium finish and leaving the venue firmly in contention for the championship.

The circuit was welcomed with cool weather and the occasional light rain throughout practice, which occasionally interrupted practice across the opening days of the event.

After overnight rain, the track dried up for Qualifying and Evans took the car into the opening session.

Following an overnight issue found with the brakes, the early stages were spent bedding in new rotors and pads, putting added pressure on the closing stages of Qualifying 1. Unfortunately, traffic on the final lap prevented any further improvement, with Evans doing well to maximize what he could and secured P10 on the grid.
Schutte then took over for the second session and had a better session, putting together a good lap and locking in 5th place for his afternoon Race 1 start.

Following qualifying, all Ferrari 296 GT3's were issued an adjusted Balance of Performance, which placed them in a more competitive position leading into the races, albeit with setups which were un-tested.

Race 1 was dry, and Schutte got off the line well and wasted no time moving through the order, climbing from fifth to third in the opening stages. Cold track temperatures and damp patches around the circuit kept the field on its toes, but Schutte handled the conditions with confidence and kept the #26 Ferrari in podium contention throughout his stint.

Evans took over at the pit stop and faced the additional challenge of a 10-second success penalty carried over from the previous round. He absorbed the penalty cleanly and managed a strong stint under pressure, holding off a fast-charging Broc Feeney in the closing laps to secure a third-place finish. Car setup played a key role in the result, with the team's preparation proving decisive across the race distance.

Sunday’s race saw Evans start further back in the field, but an aggressive opening lap helped him climb to seventh in the early stages. Running closely with the pack ahead, he maintained strong pace and pressure throughout his stint. Carrying a five-second success penalty into the pit window, the team executed a clean stop before Schutte rejoined in sixth position.

Schutte set about working through the field, reeling in the pack ahead with measured pace before executing a well-timed late-race pass on Shane Smollen to claim fifth at the flag. It was a disciplined and rewarding close to the weekend for the #26 pairing.

Jordan Oon, Team Principal, commented:

“It was a solid weekend from the team. We made the most of what we had, and both Jaxon and Elliott maximized the car’s potential with near‑faultless performances across every session.
The crew pulled together after qualifying and dialed the car in, giving us the best chance for a podium on Saturday and strong points again on Sunday. The weekend’s results keep us right in the championship fight, which is exactly where we want to be at this stage of the season.”

Evans and Schutte now sit third in the championship standings, just seven points shy of the lead, keeping themselves firmly in contention as the title fight heads into the next round.

Round 3 of the GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS will be at Queensland Raceway on the 12th-14th of June.

ARGT extends sincere thanks to its valued partners; Lance East Exotics, Barbagallo, ORAFOL, Car Expert, Anthem Workwear, Lift Off, OMP and VCM Coffee & Machines, for their continued support throughout the 2026 season.