In what was a dramatic finish to the Hi-Tec Oils APC Endurance Championship at the Winton Wrap, Hadrian Morrall and Tyler Mecklem scored the final win of the season, but Trent Whyte the outright title.
Pit stops proved critical in the result as Morrall and Mecklem took the lead in their Parramatta Vehicle Services Ford Mustang Mach I following its service to defeat the Thryv Race For A Cure BMW M2 Competition of Ben and Michael Kavich by 9.883s at the end of two hours.
It was disappointment for the CMA Car Mods Australia Ford Mustang GT team of Lindsay Kearns and Brad Carr after the engine failed with just 20-minutes to go. This left the Kearns, who led the title heading into the final race of the season out of the outright battle and dropping to third by the end.
Whyte guided his Ultimate Diesel Tuning Ford Mustang Mach I to title victory in third, but it wasn’t without drama after crossing the line with a puncture.
There was no pressure due to the Team Buccini Racing BMW 340i being two laps behind the Mustang, with Karlie Buccini scoring fourth outright and the Class B2 win alongside father Paul.
An impressive result was the Class I Elk Motorsport Toyota 86 of Luke Van Haerwaarde and Emily Caccaviello, with the duo finishing ahead of many much fancied models.
Winner of Class A1 was the Graeme Wakefield/Martin White GRW Retail Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X in sixth outright ahead of the Class B2 leading Axis Surveys BMW E92 M3 of Richard Shinkfield and Andrew Milford.
Aston Davis won Class D in the ADR All Access Hire Subaru BRZ ahead of the PB Motorsport Services HSV VXR of Troy Derwent and Oskar Butt.
Rounding out the finishers was the FPV GT-F of David Ling and Darren Jenkins after nursing the supercharged V8 home following multiple mechanical problems.
Joining the CMA Car Mods Australia Ford Mustang GT on the retirements list was FG Motorsport’s Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG, which lost Mitch Randall and Chris Gunther any chance of the Class A1 title.
This rounds off the Hi-Tec Oils APC Endurance Championships, with further news on the 2026 season to be revealed soon.
