Race Recap GT3-Espresso Cup
Phillip Island Circuit
Tue, Aug 18, 2026Round 13
Photo Finish at Phillip Island Circuit: Tidwell Edges Jonathan Williams13 by +0.23s
Race at a Glance
Field Size
9
Laps
14
Avg Lap Time
1:26.472
Clean Runners
4
Lead Lap Finishers
2
Margin
+0.23s
Winner Spotlight
Bradley Tidwell
P1 Finish
Bradley Tidwell put together a dominant afternoon at Phillip Island Circuit, converting his pole position in the #89 machine into a race win across all 14 laps of Round 13 of the GT3-Espresso Cup. With zero cautions on the day and Lead Changes recorded at zero, Tidwell's laps-led total of 14 from 14 confirms he held the position from start to finish without a serious challenge at the front. The win is his fourth of the season in the series, extending a strong run of form that has him sitting at the top of the standings in the Old Guy Racing League.
The story behind Tidwell's victory, however, was what unfolded through the pack behind him. Jonathan Williams launched the #1 car from sixth on the grid and carved his way to a second-place finish, gaining four positions across 14 laps to claim Hard Charger honors for Round 13. Williams crossed the line as runner-up, his fourth win tally already at three for the season, and the result keeps him breathing down Tidwell's neck in the standings — a threat that is very much alive with 37 rounds still to be run.
Alex Claudio in the #20 completed the podium in third after starting P3, though not without cost — his nine incidents were the highest total on the field and a detail the team will need to address heading into the next round. Alan Purser in the #17 had the toughest afternoon of the frontrunners, slipping two spots from his P2 starting position to finish fourth, while Pernell Hanelt's #11 dropped one spot from P4 to P5. Notably, four drivers — #816 Hays Boughan, #32 Robert Sackett, #77 Kevin Miller, and #7 Mark Sherman — all completed the race without a single incident recorded.
With 37 rounds remaining, the title fight in the GT3-Espresso Cup is far from settled. Tidwell holds the standings lead with Williams directly behind him and Purser and Claudio both within striking range in third and fourth. The gap between the contenders is razor-thin, and Williams' performance in Round 13 — charging from sixth to second — serves as a clear reminder that the #1 car is not going away quietly as the season rolls on.
Top Movers
Jonathan Williams1
▲ +4Finishing Order
| Finish | Start | +/- | Car # | Driver | Inc | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 89 | Bradley Tidwell | 4x | — |
| 2 | 6 | +4 | 1 | Jonathan Williams | 4x | — |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 20 | Alex Claudio | 9x | — |
| 4 | 2 | -2 | 17 | Alan Purser | 8x | — |
| 5 | 4 | -1 | 11 | Pernell Hanelt | 5x | — |
| 6 | 5 | -1 | 816 | Hays Boughan | 0x | — |
| 7 | 7 | 0 | 32 | Robert Sackett | 0x | — |
| 8 | 8 | 0 | 77 | Kevin Miller | 0x | — |
| 9 | 9 | 0 | 7 | Mark Sherman | 0x | — |
