Victorian Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 driver Mark Eddy is the new Australian GT Champion following the conclusion of the sixth round of the Series held at Melbourne’s Sandown Park circuit last weekend (November 28-30).

The Jocaro Racing Quarterback sponsored driver took the crown from last year’s GT Champion Allan Simonsen (Ferrari 430 GT3) with Ross Lilley taking third position in the title chase after changing from a Lamborghini Gallardo to a new Dodge Viper GT3 for the final round.

Going into the final round of the Australian GT season three drivers - Eddy, Ross Lilley, and John Kaias (Aston Martin DBRS9) - all had a chance for the title but Kaias was robbed of the opportunity to compete after he was the innocent victim of a Friday practice accident involving the new Porsche GT3 Cup S machine of Kim Burke who also took no further part in the meeting.

The 2008 GT Challenge title was won by Richard Kimber (Porsche 996 GT3/Clubsport) from Michael Loccisano (Porsche GT3 Cup Car), and Max Twigg (Porsche GT3 Cup Car). GT Production honours went to Tim Poulton (Lotus Exige S), from Garth Walden (Lotus Elise), and Beric Lynton (BMW M3).

Qualifying for the two 60 minute ‘legs’ of the Sandown GT Classic saw the Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 430 GT3 of Nick O’Halloran and Allan Simonsen take pole with a lap of 1:11.7061 followed by the Ted Huglin/John Bowe Consolidated Chemical entered Lamborghini Gallardo (1:11.9322) with the Laminex Dodge Viper GT3 of Ross Lilley/Greg Crick third fastest with a time of 1:12.6499. Max Twigg (Porsche GT3 Cup Car) was the fastest of the GT Challenge cars qualifying with a time of 1:14.2683, while Mark O’Connor (Lotus Exige S) was fastest of the GT Production division with a time of 1:20.0886.

Saturday’s first leg of the GT Challenge was won in fine style by the O’Halloran/Simonsen combination aboard the Ferrari 430 from Tony Quinn having an excellent debut in his newly acquired VIP Pet Food Aston Martin DBRS9 with the Ross Lilley/Greg Crick Dodge Viper making its debut Australian GT Championship appearance crossing the line in third. With ultimate Championship points in mind Mark Eddy drove a measured race coming in fourth.

Max Twigg brought his GT Challenge Porsche home in fifth outright (first in class) while former Formula 1 star Ivan Capelli driving the Maserati Trofeo Light was the sixth driver to compete 45 laps of the Sandown layout at the end of the 60 minute race. Michael Loccisano/Marc Cini (Porsche GT3 Cup Car) combined to take second position in the GT Challenge ranks from Eric Bana (Porsche GT3 Cup Car), with the Andrew McPherson/Peter Lucas Lotus Exige S being first home in GT Production.

In ideal conditions the Sunday one hour event at Sandown was again won by the O’Halloran/Simonsen combination to the take the round win, but this time it was the Viper of Lilley/Crick in second from Quinn in the Aston Martin DBRS9 who had a minor off track excursion.

The Huglin/Bowe Lamborghini came home in fourth with Ivan Capelli (Maserati) showing his class with a fine fifth position. Max Twigg again was the first of the GT Challenge cars finishing 6th outright with Mark Eddy finishing 7th and driving under team orders to ensure him of the coveted 2008 Australian GT title after a sensational year that saw a round win at Australian Grand Prix meeting and second places at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide and the Phillip Island rounds. Loccisano and Cini were again in second in the GT Challenge followed by Eric Bana who at the podium ceremony held his third place trophy aloft saying it ‘better than an Oscar”.

The finishing and round order for the GT Production division was Mark O’Connor (Lotus Exige S), Angelo Lazaris/Angela Coradine (Lotus Elise), and Andrew McPherson/Peter Lucas (Lotus Exige S) third. Following the final 2008 Australian GT Championship round the following awards were presented at a gala dinner at the Royal Melbourne Hotel.