Ojeda Launches GT Australia Challenge.
Jayden Ojeda has successfully completed his first GT3 races in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia at Perth on the weekend.
Jayden who recently joined Harrolds Volante Rosso Motorsport for the remainder of the 2023 GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS season, lined up alongside Ross Poulakis for round two in Perth Western Australia, in the team’s Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The Perth event was the start of a tremendous opportunity for Jayden to take on some of the best Supercars racers in Australia and GT racers in the world, along with getting an introduction to the rich bloodline of the AMG Customer Sports family, which has seen Volante Rosso alumni Jordan Love promoted to the factory platform this year.
The Harrolds Volante Rosso Motorsport team finished sixth with a solid weekend at the second round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Championship in the Pro-Am category overall with Jayden successfully completing his first GT3 races and Ross Poulakis continuing his development with the team.
The opening race on Saturday saw Poulakis complete his stint from eighth on the grid to hand over to Jayden, who had a spirited battle with West Australian raised AMG Junior driver, Jordan Love, where Jayden managed to hold out Love before moving into the top five late in the race.
The Harrolds Volante Rosso Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 ended in fifth from Jordan Love and Tony Bates in the similar Makita entry as lead Am Class contender Brad Schumacher followed the duo in his Fuchs Audi.
“I’m happy with how the weekend ended up, for me it was a learning experience in racing a GT3 car on a circuit I’ve not been to before, so there was a lot to take in” said Ojeda.
The second race Sunday morning saw a reverse of the two drivers with Ojeda, the designated Pro, taking the wheel with a fresh set of Pirelli tyres. After getting squeezed at turn one and ultimately losing a place, Jayden was unable to break the aero wash of the car in front of him before handing over to Poulakis.
Having made a position during the course of the pitstop, Poulakis’ charge was stymied after a fellow competitor collected him, spinning him off the track. He was able to re-join and complete the race and once post-race penalties were applied, the Harrolds Volante Rosso Motorsport team finished with another fifth place.
“Personally, I achieved what I wanted through that. Yesterday, we had a great battle with Jordan and today, starting the race, I was looking to maximise the advantage of having fresh tyres to start the race” said Jayden.
“We got squeezed at the start which put me a place back rather than achieving my aim of making up a spot, however I was then caught in the aero wash and with the nature of the circuit, I couldn’t make too much ground.” he added.
“Ross did a terrific job through the weekend, and it is unfortunate that he got turned around. Either way we got some decent points and we now head to a circuit that is built for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 style of racecar”.
It leaves the team in good stead heading to round three coming up next month at Phillip Island, a circuit more suited to the GT World Challenge Australia machinery. Heading to Phillip Island, Ross remains sixth on points in the GT World Challenge Australia scorecard.
“Overall, I’m pretty happy, especially with the performance of Jayden, he was absolutely amazing first up to adapt to the Harrolds Volante Rosso Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 and showed what he is capable of. Bring on Phillip Island!” said Ross Poulakis.
“A huge thank you to Ross Poulakis and the Harrolds Volante Rosso team, and my partners City Hino, Johnny H, AJM Transport, Atkinson Pontifex, Nepean Regional Security and That Patio Guy who have supported me on this amazing challenge!” said Jayden.
Phillip Island beckons for the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia drivers and teams as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries bill on May 12-14.
