THE PORSCHE GT3 CUP CHALLENGE Australia Series lived up to its mantra of being there for its competitors at Sandown Raceway at the weekend, three drivers all experiencing 'that winning feeling'.

Plenty more also got their time in the sun – or, as it turned out, the Melbourne rain – at the weekend in one of the most open rounds of the 2009 GT3 Cup Challenge season.  

Mark Krashos won all three races outright and the 997 Trophy Class, Jeff Bobik won the round overall and Matt Kingsley completed a remarkable 18-month turnaround from injury to seal the title deal and leave Melbourne as the GT3 Cup Challenge Series Winner.

Though by his standards his Sandown results were not as successful as usual, the Southport (Gold Coast) driver of the #50 Action Tyres Porsche 996 GT3 Cup Car had more than enough up his sleeve to seal the title with one race remaining - appropriately with one of his spectacular charges through the pack.

After dropping to the back in race one after a broken wheel forced him to the pits, Kingsley flew from 15th to 5th in tricky conditions during race two, enough to seal the title.

Even a non-finish in the 20-lap finale’ couldn’t dampen his spirits as he celebrated with his close-knit family team that has supported him across the six rounds.  

“It wasn’t the kind of weekend we had planned!” Kinglsey said with his customary grin.

“In the end though we still had a lot of fun and I guess you can say that it was an interesting way of taking out the Series.

“We are in the GT3 Cup Challenge because of family. We’re a family operation and together we experienced the highs and lows of motorsport together – fortunately there were more highs than lows this year and that’s made it even better.

“The Porsche is a magnificent thing. Every time I get out of it I’m smiling for about four hours afterwards. It’s been a brilliant season and we can’t wait to go again!”

Oh yes, Kingsley rivals - the Action Tyres and More team are planning to return to the series in 2010 though they look set to face an even sterner challenge from an ever growing pack of the newer, 997-model cars entering the battle for next year.

Kingsley’s closest title rival this year, Sven Burchartz, and Sandown winner Jeff Bobik are amongst those stepping up to new metal.

“We’ll be back. I think I was the first to enter for Bathurst (Armor All 12 hour) next year. We’ll be running the 'old jigger' again so hopefully we’ve got the pace to run inside the top ten, because it’s shaping up as a very strong field!”

Adelaidian Mark Krashos completed a remarkable Sandown weekend by winning all three races outright – immediately placing him as a potential favourite for 2010 when his Glenelg East and Woodlakes pharmacies 997 GT3 Cup Car become an outright title contender.

Krashos didn’t have it all his own way on Sunday, however, the final 20-lap race a thrilling topsy-turvy affair that featured no fewer than six different race leaders and eight changes for the lead on-track.

Krashos led early, before Bobik, and then Kingsley each had a turn of the front running. However it was Melbourne driver Jan Jinadasa who was undoubtedly the star in the difficult conditions, jumping to the lead on lap six and leading for nine laps – the first laps in front in his GT3 Cup Challenge career - before he was slowly hauled back in as the track dried out.

Jinadasa held on to finish a superb fourth whilst Krashos, Bobik and Burchartz were able to take out the top three positions in perhaps the race of the season.

With Krashos only eligible for the 997 Trophy Class it was Jeff Bobik who won his second career Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge round after engaging Sven Burchartz in a battle that lasted pretty much the entire weekend.

Burchartz and McDonald’s driver Terry Knight shared second-place points for the round whilst Class A Driver Dean Koutsoumidis was also a standout with a charge towards the front of the pack in the final race.

Earlier in the weekend Steve Kepper and Ivan Klasan had run at the front, as they had done on Saturday, but unfortunate contact in race two forced both out and caused the safety car to halt the racing for several laps.

First-time driver Aaron Silluzio also starred and charged his way to fifth place in the final race of the season.

After a year that saw him demonstrate plenty of raw speed and uncanny wet-weather ability, Matt Kingsley ended the 2009 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia series a winner - but it was his tenacity and positive attitude in bouncing back from serious injuries sustained no more than two years ago that have made him a champion.

“The highlight was just being able to go racing again,” he said.

“We enjoy it and there wasn’t one definite highlight of the year. Everything was a highlight. I’ve never had that much fun in Motorsport before and I can’t wait to keep on having fun.

“That’s why we chose the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series. It gives me as a driver and us as a team and family everything we could possibly want from the sport.”

The opening round of the 2010 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series will be held as part of the Armor All Bathurst 12 hour event on February 12 – 14.

Series Points – Final (Outright)

1. Matthew Kingsley 395
2. Sven Burchartz 358
3. Jeff Bobik 337
4. Terry Knight 277
5. Paul Bolinowsky 230
6. Ray Angus 181
7. Brad Rankin 152
8. Shane Smollen94
9. John Trende 90
10. Tony Quinn 90

997 Trophy Class

1. Roger Lago 327
2. Jan Jinadasa 275
3. Mark Krashos 269
4. Steve Kepper 153
5. Shaun Juniper 150
6. Ivan Klasan 106
7. Nathan Caratti 90
8. Bob Thorn 90
9. Wayne Hennig 69
10. Yuey Tan 54

Class A

1. Dean Koutsoumidis 65
2. Graham Gorman 35
3. Anthony Skinner 26
4. George Bradbury 17
5. Russell Kempnich 9