Good news has arrived for GT World Challenge Australia teams searching for replacement drivers for the final round at the Adelaide Grand Final on November 26-29. The series organiser has issued a clarification that opens the door for drivers with an FIA grading above Gold to fill vacant seats.
As previously reported, three line-ups are set to change due to clashes with Supercars commitments. Broc Feeney, Ryan Wood, and Jayden Ojeda will not be available for Melbourne Performance Centre, Team BRM, and Tigani Motorsport respectively. Initially, teams were required to find like-for-like replacements in terms of driver categorisation, effectively precluding Platinum or Gold-rated drivers.
However, ahead of the penultimate round at Sydney Motorsport Park, GT World Challenge Australia issued a sporting clarification and update to Article 10.2 of the series regulations. The clarification states that driver substitution does not necessarily need to be like-for-like in terms of driver categorisation. This gives teams the freedom to recruit top-tier drivers, including factory GT stars.
SRO Motorsports Australia boss Ben McMellan emphasised that there have been no rule changes. "There haven’t been any changes to any rules. There was a sporting clarification that has gone out that just clarifies the rules that were set in place so there is no ambiguity there. Essentially, teams can apply for a replacement driver of their choosing and it goes to the sporting board for approval," he told Speedcafe.
Any driver line-up change for the final round must be notified to the sporting board by October 16. The board has the authority to impose additional penalties, such as weight or time, and to determine whether the car or driver is ineligible for points or awards. The board also reserves the right to accept or reject any new driver or line-up change.
The clarification is expected to alter plans for some teams. Melbourne Performance Centre, currently leading the championship with Brad Schumacher, is still weighing up its options to replace Feeney. The team tested Tim Slade earlier this year but is rumoured to be considering international drivers, with Audi ace Christopher Haase widely tipped as the favourite to join Schumacher.
Meanwhile, Tigani Motorsport is evaluating its options to replace Jayden Ojeda, who will drive for PremiAir Racing. Scott Andrews, a regular in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, has been mentioned as a potential candidate. With the new rule, teams have the opportunity to bring in more experienced international drivers, which will certainly increase competitiveness at the final round.
The final decision will heavily depend on the sporting board's approval, which will consider various factors to maintain competitive balance. One thing is clear: the door is now wide open for factory GT stars to compete at Adelaide, promising a fiercer battle at the season finale.
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