Arise Racing GT Maintains Championship Momentum at Sandown

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Arise Racing GT strengthened its Pro-Am championship lead with another commanding performance across both races at Sandown Raceway for Round 4 of the 2025 GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS.

In a weekend defined by cold, damp conditions and the constant threat of rain, the team’s Ferrari 296 GT3 entries once again proved their speed and consistency.

Saturday began with a standout qualifying effort from the ARGT squad. Jordan Love led the way in the #77 Ferrari, securing his first pole position of the season in a hotly contested session. Jaxon Evans followed closely, placing the #26 Ferrari third on the grid. In Qualifying 2, Elliott Schutte claimed another pole for the season, while Steve Wyatt rounded out the session in 13th.

The pace carried into Race 1. Schutte launched cleanly from pole and became locked in a tense battle with Schumacher and Talbot through the early corners. Navigating slick conditions and some elbows-out racing, he settled into third by the end of Lap 1. The top five remained tightly bunched throughout the first stint, with just a handful of seconds separating the lead pack. Meanwhile, Wyatt made strong early progress in the #77 Ferrari, gaining four places before the pit window opened.

Following the driver change, Evans moved into the lead thanks to a flawless pit stop, while Love charged through the field. In the closing stages, Evans held off a pair of fast-charging Audis to secure a hard-fought and emotional victory. Love crossed the line in sixth, delivering yet another determined performance. The win was particularly meaningful for Evans, who dedicated it to the late Tim Miles—a cherished family friend and long-time supporter of his racing journey.

Sunday brought a new challenge as rain arrived just before the start, prompting a late switch to wet tyres. Starting from pole and third respectively, Love and Evans faced treacherous conditions. A spin for Love at Turn 3 on the opening lap dropped the #77 to 13th, while Evans held firm in fourth. A Safety Car was deployed soon after to neutralise the field following multiple incidents.

After the restart, Evans fought hard in the top three before handing over to Schutte, who resumed the race in second. Despite serving a 15-second success penalty in the pits, the #26 Ferrari continued to charge. Wyatt also impressed in the #77, pushing forward to claim seventh. In the final laps, Schuttehunted down Lucchitti and pulled off a brilliant last-lap move to secure third, sealing another double podium for the team and extending the championship lead.

Team Principal Jordan Oon was thrilled with the weekend’s outcome, especially given their expectations going in:

“We honestly didn’t expect to be this competitive at Sandown,” Oon admitted. “With other teams having tested here prior, it’s a circuit that traditionally doesn’t favour the strong points of the Ferrari’s, but the team really dug deep this weekend and came together, I’m over the moon to leave the weekend with an extended driver’s championship lead.”

Team Principal Jordan Oon also highlighted the strong progress from the #77 entry:

“The guys in #77 are definitely coming to grips with the car as we progress through the season,” he said. “Despite the finishing positions, they showed real pace - Love’s pole in Q2 was a standout, and for Wyatt to adapt so quickly to a completely new circuit is hugely encouraging. There are plenty of positives to take away from the weekend.”

Arise Racing GT extends sincere thanks to its valued partners - Lance East Exotics, Barbagallo, Iveco Australia, Car Expert, VGW, ORAFOL, Anthem Workwear, Lift Off, OMP, Beta Tools Australia, and VCM Coffee - for their continued support throughout the 2025 season.