This weekend’s (September 1-2) Australian GT Championship Round 6 at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains circuit is set to be a crucial one in terms of deciding the 2007 Championship chase but it could well be a case of what order the chief protagonists follow John Bowe to the chequered flag.

Fresh from his perfect debut of the Team Lamborghini Australia Gallardo GT3 at the last round at Phillip Island where Bowe took pole in qualifying and won all three races, it would be hard to bet against the native Tasmanian on his ‘home turf’ around the 2.4 kilometre Symmons Plains layout. The likelihood of a Bowe victory is not assured however given that his wet weather experience came to the fore at Phillip Island in a high down force car that was totally in tune with the high speed layout.

While the local fans will no doubt be hoping for Bowe to greet the chequered flag first, the real Championship action will be between current points leader Allan Simonsen in the Coopers Racing Ferrari 430 that he debuted at Phillip Island, Bryce Washington in the Natrad Lamborghini Gallardo GT3, and the World of Learning Porsche GT3 RSR of David Wall. Only 69 points separates the three drivers at the top of the points table and good results are vital for all to keep their 2007 championship hopes alive. While Bowe may well be in a position to steal plenty of championship points, Simonsen, Washington and Wall will also have to ‘defend from behind’ with an exceptionally strong performance to be expected by Ian Palmer (Palmer Steel Industries Lamborghini Gallardo).
 

Other set to challenge include Sven Burchartz (Sonic Motor Racing Porsche GT3), Paul Tressider (Pelorus Property Group Porsche GT3 Cup Car), Ross Lilley (Koala Furniture Porsche GT3 R), the exceptionally nimble and quick Urban Arrangement sponsored Lotus Elise of Peter Lucas, and the Lotus Exige GT3 of Angelo Lazaris. The Porsche Drivers Challenge battle is set to intensify at Symmons Plains as Damien Flack continues to fend off arch rival Sven Burchartz who has had dream rounds at Queensland Raceway and Phillip Island. Burchartz is now within 20 points of Flack and will be aiming to climb to the top of the table in Tasmania.

Following Symmons Plains, the GT Championship will head into the final chapters of season 2007 with Round 7 being staged at Oran Park on November 3-4. The 8th and final round of the Championship will be the Sandown GT Classic to be held at Sandown in Melbourne from December 7-9.

2007 Australian GT Championship Positions (After 5 of 8 rounds): Allan Simonsen - Ferrari 430 482 points; Bryce Washington – Lamborghini Gallardo 457; David Wall – Porsche GT3 RSR 413; Damien Flack – Porsche GT3 Cup Car 255; Peter Lucas – Lotus Elise 233.5