Blancpain champion confirms full Australian GT programme

The Australian won last year’s Blancpain Endurance Am Cup in a Kessel Racing Ferrari with Marco Zanuttini and Vadim Gitlin, while also running a partial Aus GT programme with outings for the Skwirk Audi and Walkinshaw Porsche outfits.

Talbot then teamed up with Walkinshaw GT3 again for the Bathurst 12 Hour earlier this month, winning the Am class with John Martin and Davashen Padayachee.

That relationship will continue for the remainder of the Australian GT season, Talbot signing on with the Melbourne-based team to run the full sprint and endurance championships.

“The Porsche GT3 programme is relatively new when compared with other manufacturers, however when you combine Porsche’s motorsport heritage with the international experience of Walkinshaw GT3 that draws on every category right up to Formula 1 – there is a wonderful pedigree there,” said Talbot.

“The quality of the Porsche 911 GT3 R was shown at the recent Bathurst 12 Hour where I was able to finish the race fourth overall and first in my class. It did not miss a beat all day and the team nailed every pitstop.

“I’ve spent the last two years in Europe cutting my teeth in the Blancpain Endurance Series – the toughest GT category in the world. It has shown me how it is done on some of the greatest racetracks known to man.

“Coming back to Australia will be a little different, but I feel hardened and ready to apply that experience to this campaign.”

Talbot will race with backing from Mega Limited, the fuel wholesaler that will also back Jason Bright’s Prodrive Racing Australia Ford in Supercars this season.