Saturday Delivers Non-Stop Action at LIQUI MOLY GT Festival The Bend
The second round of the 2026 Shannons SpeedSeries produced another memorable day of racing at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, with Saturday delivering wheel-to-wheel battles, dramatic moments and standout performances across multiple categories.
Credit: Samuel Densley Photography
Fans packed into The Bend for a full schedule of on-track action as Australia’s premier GT machinery and support categories continued to build momentum in what is shaping as a highly competitive season.
Headlining the day was GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS, where strategy, consistency and outright speed became the difference. Teams faced changing conditions and constant pressure throughout the race, creating a contest where every pit stop and every lap counted. Drivers pushed hard from lights out, producing intense battles through the circuit’s high-speed sections and technical corners.
Elsewhere, Monochrome GT4 Australia again demonstrated why the category continues to grow in popularity. Tight packs of developing talent and experienced campaigners delivered some of the closest racing of the weekend, with overtaking opportunities appearing throughout the field and keeping spectators engaged from start to finish.
Ferrari Challenge Australasia added another layer of excitement to the festival atmosphere. Distinctive Ferrari machinery filled the circuit with colour and sound as drivers fought for class honours in a race that remained unpredictable until the closing stages.
Credit: Samuel Densley Photography
The Motorcraft Mustang Cup Australia also provided plenty of entertainment, with aggressive but controlled racing becoming a theme throughout the afternoon. Several lead changes and close battles highlighted the competitiveness of the category and reinforced the depth of talent competing across the SpeedSeries paddock.
Away from the racing, the event atmosphere remained a major attraction. Fans enjoyed open paddock access, opportunities to get close to the teams and cars, and a festival-style environment that continues to separate the SpeedSeries experience from traditional race weekends.
With Sunday still to come, Saturday’s action ensured competitors would return to the grid with plenty still to fight for. Momentum, championship points and pride were all on the line as The Bend once again delivered the kind of racing spectacle Australian motorsport fans have come to expect.
The 2026 Shannons SpeedSeries continues to prove that GT racing in Australia is entering an exciting new era.