Ojeda sets GT testing pace as champ makes big move

Jayden Ojeda ended the GT World Challenge Australia test day on top as reigning champion Liam Talbot made a big switch, while Bentley is set for a comeback.

Both the GT World Challenge and GT4 Australia fields went testing at Phillip Island on Wednesday to warm up for the 2025 season, which starts at the same venue.

After three hours of running, Mercedes backed driver Ojeda ended up on top in resounding fashion.

The Tigani Motorsport driver was the only person to record a 1.25s lap for the entire day.

Ojeda’s 1:25.4927 set the pace by half a second over Jaxon Evans in the early morning session.

Evans was also the next best of the day, not only being the runner-up of test #1, but also the leader of the afternoon session, recording a 1:26.2552 in the Arise Racing Ferrari 296 ahead of Ojeda.

The final session of the day was the closest with the top three covered by just 0.1405s.

Summer Rintoule has enjoyed a fast start to life at Triple Eight. Image: Supplied

An EMA Motorsport Porsche steered by 26-year-old Frenchman Dorian Boccolacci and Shane Smollen emerged on top with a 1:26.4246 over Alex Peroni and Brendon Leitch.

In GT4 Triple Eight new recruit Summer Rintoule impressed in her first outing for the famous team.

Driving the #87 Mercedes she was the driver in the 1m34s window and ended the day on top ahead of Blake Purdie and Cameron Crick.

Of the 12-car GT World Challenge field, the biggest surprise was the return of famous British brand Bentley to Australian circuits.

Valentino Astuti brought the Bentley to Phillip Island. Image: GT World Challenge Australia

Youngster Valentino Astuti drove a Bentley at the test day that was unnamed on the result sheet aside from the #38.

Many will welcome the return of Bentley after it won the 2020 Bathurst 12 Hour.

The 2022 Australian Formula Ford Champion has plenty of GT experience, having took part in 10 races last year steering an Aston Martin.

That brand now has two winners representing it in GT World Challenge Australia.

Reigning champion Talbot has made the big jump from Arise Racing and Ferrari to Aston Martin and Volante Rosso Motorsport.

Joining Talbot for his pursuit of a hat-trick in his third team in three years is Supercars star Declan Fraser.

Fraser has turned to GT to revive his career after being dumped by Tickford and drove a Triple Eight Mercedes in the championship with success last year.

They will steer the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 that was introduced to the championship at Queensland Raceway last year.

Both Talbot and Fraser are excited for the new challenge.

“Volante Rosso Motorsport is an impressive outfit, I’m definitely looking forward to joining the team and getting some amazing results,” said Talbot.

Declan Fraser and Liam Talbot in their new colours. Image: GT World Challenge Australia

“I look forward to getting some great results for Volante Rosso, which is a bit of an underdog in the GT scene and it will be nice to press the team forward to build it into a force to be reckoned with.

“This is a new challenge. The engine is in the front, which I don’t have as much experience with, but I did drive an Aston in 2023, so it won’t take long for me to get a feel for it. I’m looking forward to doing something different, but the bigger the challenge, the harder I fight.”

“To be back racing in GT World Challenge Australia, it’s a privilege to be back and I’m excited to get after it,” Fraser said.

“It’s pretty exciting to be teaming up with Liam. He has won multiple championships and I’ve seen him around the pits and I love the way he goes about his racing. I feel like we’re both fierce competitors – we just want to win as much as possible.”

The GT World Challenge Australia leads a new-look SpeedSeries and starts at Phillip Island on April 4-6.

Images: GT World Challenge Australia

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here or you can purchase a copy of the latest issue from one of our outlets here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.