Aussie Drivers Secure Multiple Podium Finishes

Formula 3

Melbourne’s own James Wharton made a significant mark on Saturday by securing his first Formula 3 victory, marking Australia’s first win in the Championship since 2021 by triumphing in the Spielberg Sprint Race.

Despite qualifying 12th, a reverse grid format allowed Wharton to start from Pole Position, where he aimed to defend his lead on a track known for its overtaking opportunities.

The race was filled with tension, featuring two safety cars and midfield collisions, but Wharton maintained his composure, ultimately finishing ahead of Alessandro Giusti.

Wharton triumphed after 21 laps, delivering an emotional address to his team following a challenging start to the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship season with ART Grand Prix.

“We’ve finally achieved the result we’ve been striving for all season. It’s been a tough beginning, but we’ve put in the effort with the team and behind the scenes to reach this point,” said Wharton.

“Sure, it’s a Sprint Race, but we’re taking it one step at a time. We’ve ticked this box, and now we’ll concentrate on winning a Feature Race as well.”

The following day, Wharton finished 14th in the Feature race and is now gearing up for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Formula 1

Oscar Piastri scored yet another top three finish in the 2025 Formula 1 season, concluding the Austrian Grand Prix in second place behind his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, as they battled for the lead for much of the race in Spielberg.

Piastri’s second-place finish added 18 points to his tally, bringing his total to 216 points, while his lead over Norris has decreased to 15 points, with Norris now on 201 points after 11 rounds.

The race got off to a great start for Piastri, as he quickly pulled ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, creating a two-car contest that lasted to the finish.

Drama unfolded during the event, with Carlos Sainz of Williams forced to retire before even completing a lap due to a fire at the rear of his car. Furthermore, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli collided on the first lap after the latter locked up at Turn 2.

As Round 12 of the Formula 1 season approaches, drivers will make their way to the United Kingdom to compete on the historic Silverstone Circuit for the 2025 British Grand Prix.

Junior WRC

Taylor Gill and Daniel Brkic continue to impress in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship, following a strong showing at the Acropolis Rally Greece over the weekend.

The duo finished in second place in both the Junior WRC category and WRC3, battling against the hot Mediterranean conditions.

However, their journey was not without challenge; the car sustained multiple punctures and faced overheating issues, leaving them in seventh at the end of the first day.

Despite their efforts, the Australian team was unable to bridge the gap and finished behind Ali Türkkan and Oytun Albayrak by five minutes and 52 seconds.

Gill now extends his lead in the Drivers’ Championship standings for the Junior WRC by seven points, whilst Brkic mirrors this in the Co-Drivers standings, with both showing a solid 78 points.

At the top of the WRC3 standings, Gill holds an eight-point advantage over Italian driver Matteo Fontana with 67 points.

The Junior WRC competitors will have a month’s break before heading to Northern Europe to contest the WRC Secto Rally Finland from 31 July to 3 August, marking Round 9 of the FIA World Rally Championship.

McLaren Trophy

A challenging weekend faced Australian racer Jayden Kelly during his latest stint in the McLaren Trophy Europe 2025 season at Spa-Francorchamps.

After securing second place in Qualifying, Kelly found himself in trouble as he was hit from behind, resulting in a 180-degree spin that ended with him being struck head-on and forced to retire prematurely.

Nevertheless, Kelly made a comeback in Race 2, showcasing remarkable driving skills to finish second after starting from the rear of the grid.

He concluded the weekend on a high note, crossing the line behind Eric Behrens and describing the two days at the historic circuit as “crazy” during his post-race interview for Race 2.

Both Kelly and his teammate Michael O’Brien took the top spot for their class, although the results remain provisional.

24 Hours of Spa

A strong contingent of Australian drivers participated in the legendary 24 Hours of Spa, yielding a variety of results for the entrants.

In the Qualifying rounds, Matt Campbell and his Dinamic GT teammates, Bastian Buus and Mathieu Jaminet, clinched P11 after four sessions, securing a spot in Superpole where the team finished P17 ahead of the main race. Unfortunately, they were compelled to retire after 60 laps due to a wheel bearing failure.

Meanwhile, Tom Sargent from Wright Motorsports, along with teammates Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer, qualified P22 and third in class with their Porsche 911 GT3 R. After a solid performance, they ended up finishing P16, narrowly missing the podium in the Gold Cup, concluding fourth after 546 laps.

Optimum Motorsport driver James Allen, in partnership with Largim Ali, Michael Porter, and Oliver Millroy in their McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, qualified P40 and achieved a P10 Gold Cup standing before the main race. They were able to gain one position during the race, finishing 39th overall and seventh in the Gold Cup.

For Jordan Love and his team, which included H.H. Prince Jefri Ibrahim, Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim, and Alexander Sims in their Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3 R, it was a challenging weekend. They qualified 69th outright and 17th in the Bronze Cup but put in a commendable performance throughout the 527-lap race, concluding in P43 and 12th in the Bronze Cup.