RAM Motorsport Scores Bathurst 3 Hour Class Win

Mike Sheargold and Garth Walden have taken the Am Class victory and seventh place outright in the GT World Challenge Australia 3 Hour, held at the Bathurst International today.

After qualifying ninth based on combined times from both drivers, Sheargold was installed in the RAM Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the race start. On a wet track, Sheargold drove a sensible and conservative opening stint, with lap times gradually improving as the track dried.

The team was the first to pit for slick tyres, with Walden taking the reins for the second stint and the team’s gamble on an early stop paid dividends, making a net gain of two positions once the first round of pit stops was complete.

Walden ran as high as fifth before handing the car back to Sheargold, who maintained the car’s position at the head of the Am Class before Walden returned to the driver’s seat for the run home.

“The first stint was a case of managing risk versus reward – the track was drying very quickly but I still had to be cautious, because it was damp off the racing line,” Sheargold said.

“Because of Garth’s great second stint, by the time I got back in the car for my next stint, there was a decent buffer back to the next car so all I needed to do was circulate and punch out consistent laps.”

Walden was also pleased with the outcome.

“We struggled a bit with rear grip in my first stint because the car wasn’t looking after its tyres very well, but we made a change for the last stint and it was vastly improved,” Walden said.

“It was really nice to drive, probably the most comfortable I’ve ever felt at the Mountain.”

In addition to the GT 3 Hour, RAM Motorsport was also running the Wolf of Ryan Godfrey in the three Australian Prototype Series races.

Godfrey qualified sixth in a wet session and improved to third in Race 1, and had another strong run to fourth in Race 2.

At the conclusion of the second race, Godfrey’s JAM Motorsport team diagnosed a problem with his Wolf’s engine. While their detection of the issue prevented more serious damage, it unfortunately meant Godfrey was sidelined for Race 3.