Welcome to the 2026 Fast Friends Australian GT3 iRacing Championship!

This season brings together six of Australia’s fiercest sim‑racers— Andrew, Bastian, Daniel, Mate, Tony and Jarrod—as they battle for supremacy across the continent’s most iconic circuits. All action runs in the high‑performance GT3 class, delivering the same roar, grip, and strategy you’d expect from real‑world super‑cars, but on the precision‑crafted tarmac of iRacing.

The Stage – Six Iconic Australian Circuits

Mount Panorama – Bathurst (Round 1)
The Mountain. 6.213 km of sheer elevation change, hair‑pin bends, and the world‑famous Conrod Straight. A single mistake here can erase a whole weekend’s work, and the track rewards bravery tempered by flawless braking.

Sandown Raceway – Melbourne (Round 2)
The Classic. A fast, flowing layout with a long back straight and a tight, technical “Hairpin” complex. Sandown favors balanced setups—too much downforce kills straight‑line speed; too little, and the corner entry becomes a nightmare.

The Bend – Tailem Bend (Round 3)
The New Frontier. A modern 4.94 km circuit that mixes sweeping high‑speed corners with tight “S” sections. It’s a perfect laboratory for testing GT‑3 aerodynamics and driver confidence.

Winton Motor Raceway – Winton (Round 4)
The “Country Club”. A short 3.0 km track with rapid direction changes, demanding razor‑sharp rhythm and precise throttle control. Overtaking is scarce—qualifying performance is king.

Phillip Island – Victoria (Round 5)
The Jewel. A seaside classic where high‑speed corners kiss the ocean breeze. The circuit’s cambered “Washing Bay” and “Miller’s Corner” reward drivers who can maintain grip while staying aerodynamic.

Adelaide Street Circuit – Adelaide (Round 6)
The Finale. A 3.22 km temporary street track that once hosted Formula 1. Tight walls, unforgiving curbs, and a short sprint format make it a perfect arena for a dramatic championship climax.

Each venue tests a distinct set of skills—braking, tyre wear, race‑craft, and mental stamina—ensuring the championship crowns a complete driver, not just a specialist.

The Plot – A Season of Turning Points

The Opening Gambit (Bathurst)

The season erupts on the unforgiving slopes of Mount Panorama. Mate, armed with his meticulous setup, grabs pole and leads a clean early stint, but Daniel’s daring on the Conrod Straight forces a battle for the lead into the high‑speed “The Cutting”. A late‑race safety car reshuffles the field, and Jarrod, who had lingered in the midfield, uses the restart to surge into the podium. Result: Mate wins, Daniel second, Jarrod third—setting the first points gap and establishing early rivalries.

The Tactical Twist (Sandown)

Sandown’s long straight rewards raw power, but the “Hairpin” penalises poor brake balance. Tony, with his data‑driven approach, identifies a sweet‑spot tyre pressure that lets him brake later, taking pole and the race win. Andrew, meanwhile, runs a flawless pit‑stop strategy that earns him valuable points despite a mid‑race spin. Result: Tony leapfrogs into second place; Andrew climbs to fourth.

The New Frontier (The Bend)

The Bend’s mixed‑character layout becomes the arena for Bastian’s rain‑mastery. Forecasts predict a light drizzle—Bastian switches to an intermediate compound and dominates the wet‑affected laps, taking a surprise victory. Mate’s steady pace keeps him on the podium, while Daniel suffers a puncture after a hard‑brake into the “S” section. Result: Bastian’s first win narrows the championship gap; Daniel drops to fifth.

The Rhythm Test (Winton)

At the “Country Club”, qualifying becomes the decisive factor. Jarrod extracts a perfect lap, securing pole, but the race’s short sprint leaves little room for recovery after a minor contact in turn 3. Andrew’s consistent lap times earn him a podium, while Mate’s aggression pays off with a win after a daring overtake on the final lap. Result: Mate extends his lead; Jarrod slides to sixth after a costly spin.

The Ocean’s Edge (Phillip Island)

The sea‑kissed corners of Phillip Island bring the championship to a boiling point. Daniel, rejuvenated after a weekend of data analysis with Tony, finally finds the perfect balance between downforce and top‑speed, claiming his first win of the year. Bastian’s wet‑track expertise fades under clear skies, and he finishes outside the points. Meanwhile, a late‑race safety car shuffles the order, allowing Jarrod to climb back into the points with a clutch overtaking move. Result: Daniel surges to second overall; the points gap between the top three tightens dramatically.

The Grand Finale (Adelaide Street Circuit)

The final showdown unfolds on Adelaide’s unforgiving streets. Every driver knows that a single mistake can either hand them the championship or hand it to a rival. The race starts with a chaotic start—Tony’s aggressive launch sees him clipped in the first corner, dropping to the back. Mate, leading from the front, must manage tyre wear while fending off Daniel’s relentless chase. In the closing laps, Jarrod’s signature late‑race charge brings him from 9th to a podium position, while Bastian, now a full‑season contender, secures his first points of the year with a daring overtake on the penultimate lap.

The final pit‑stop strategy decides the champion: a split‑seconds decision by Andrew’s crew to double‑stack the pit lane gives him the lead for the last three laps, but Mate’s flawless final stint, combined with a perfect fuel‑mix, sees him cross the line first. The Checkered Flag: Mate clinches the inaugural Australian GT‑3 iRacing title, Daniel finishes a close second, and Tony’s tactical mastery lands him third overall.

What This Season Represents

Evolution of Skill – From raw speed to data‑driven precision, each driver showcases a different path to mastery, reflecting the multifaceted nature of modern GT‑3 racing.

The Battle of Tradition vs. Innovation – Classic circuits like Bathurst and Adelaide test heritage, while newer venues such as The Bend demand fresh thinking and adaptability.

Community & Competition – The championship isn’t just a race; it’s a gathering of Australia’s sim‑racing community, fostering friendships, rivalries, and a shared love of motorsport.

Redemption & Growth – Drivers who struggled early (e.g., Bastian’s wet‑weather dominance turning into all‑conditions competence) demonstrate that perseverance can rewrite a season’s narrative.

Your Role in the Story

As a fan, you’re not merely a spectator—you’re part of the narrative. Follow the live timing, soak in the post‑race analysis, and watch the drama unfold on the tracks that have shaped Australian motorsport for decades. Share your predictions, cheer for your favorite driver, and let the roar of virtual GT‑3 engines echo across the continent.

The 2026 Australian GT‑3 iRacing Championship has begun. Who will write their name into history?

Ready to race?

• Explore the calendar → see when each iconic circuit will host its showdown.
• Meet the drivers → learn their backgrounds, stats, and personal stories.
• Watch live → tune into the live‑timing feed for every lap, every overtake, every heartbeat.

Welcome to the season. Let the battles begin.