Podium Finish Highlights Challenging Queensland Round

Round 3 of the 2026 GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS took ARGT to Queensland Raceway for a weekend that tested the team's resolve. Red flags, a racing incident penalty, and missed opportunities in qualifying created plenty of frustration, but the #26 Ferrari 296 GT3 of Jaxon Evans and Elliott Schutte fought back to secure a hard-earned Sunday podium and remain firmly in the championship hunt.

Early signs were encouraging for ARGT, with Evans and Schutte immediately showing front-running pace to start the weekends racing. The #26 Ferrari regularly featured inside the top five and topped the timesheets during practice, with Queensland Raceway's warm, dry conditions proving well suited to the car. Heading into qualifying, the team looked well placed to challenge at the front.

Qualifying 1 proved frustrating for Evans. Running on a fresh set of tyres and building temperature ahead of a representative lap, the session was interrupted by a red flag before he could complete a flying lap. With limited time available after the restart, Evans salvaged sixth on the grid… a result that failed to reflect the pace the #26 Ferrari had shown throughout practice.

Qualifying 2 brought even greater frustration. Schutte was at the centre of a fiercely contested session, trading fastest times with several rivals and regularly appearing at the top of the timing screens. On his final attempt, he looked set to secure pole position, recording the fastest middle sector by a clear margin and improving on his previous benchmark. However, a competitor's off-track excursion in the final sector triggered a red flag before the lap could be completed, leaving Schutte classified fifth. It was a cruel end to a session in which pole position appeared well within reach.

Starting Race 1 from fifth, Schutte endured a difficult opening stint and slipped to seventh as the field settled into formation on a circuit where passing opportunities are limited. Remaining patient, he recovered to sixth before handing the #26 Ferrari over to Evans during the pit stop window. Evans rejoined in fourth and delivered a measured stint to secure valuable points, but a racing incident from the opening laps resulted in a post-race drive-through penalty that relegated the car to eighth in the final classification. While the result was a disappointing blow, the team quickly turned its attention to Sunday's race.

Sunday's race told a different story. Evans started from sixth and immediately gained a position off the line, joining a closely matched train of front-running cars through the opening laps. The #26 Ferrari showed strong pace throughout the stint, and a clean pit stop saw Schutte rejoin in second position with a genuine shot at the race win.

Chasing down the race leader, Schutte pushed hard throughout the closing stages and produced a remarkable high-speed save through Turn 2, showcasing both his car control and commitment. While he was ultimately unable to challenge for the win and later lost a position to Brooks, he guided the #26 Ferrari home in third place to secure a hard-earned podium finish and valuable championship points.

Jordan Oon, Team Principal, commented:

"It was a weekend where things didn't fall our way, but I couldn't be prouder of how the team and both drivers responded. The pace was there all weekend, practice showed that clearly, and Elliott's qualifying lap before the red flag was on course to be something special.

When Saturday didn't go to plan, everyone kept their heads up and came out on Sunday ready to fight. A podium in Race 2 was the right reward for that attitude. We sit fourth in the championship with the top five having completely reshuffled across this round, and we know we have the car and the people to be right in this fight.”

Evans and Schutte leave Queensland Raceway fourth in the championship standings. With three rounds remaining and the championship battle still wide open, the team heads to round 4 confident in its pace and firmly in the hunt for the 2026 crown.

Round 4 of the GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS is in Darwin for the first time, July 24-26.

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