A chilly Sydney Motorsport Park hosted a day/night meeting for round 3 of the 2025 RX8 Cup Season. A strong field of 17 cars rolled out early Saturday morning to Qualify. Again It was the flying South African Stiaan Kriel who would claim his third Revolution Racegear Pole Position of the year with a 1:46.2. This is now the quickest lap we have ever seen around SMSP. Jackson Noakes impressively locked out the front row 0.793 behind Kriel with Bray Bray third fastest. Robert Scott and Aaron Hills rounded out the top five. Debutant to the Series Adam Burgess filling the third row.
Kriel launched perfectly to start Race 1 pulling away from Scott and Noakes. Stiaan set the new RX8 Cup lap record during the second lap a 1:47.0. Behind them, Bray and Hills were locked in a close scrap for third. However, on lap five, Kriel’s dominant run came to a sudden halt as his car coasted to a stop at the end of the main straight with a mechanical failure. Robert Scott inherited the lead but was immediately under pressure from Noakes. Just behind, Bray edged past Hills to take third. Meanwhile, a lively midfield contest saw Maisie Place, Garry Lougher, and Manarth Prasad in a spirited battle. Steven King and Jack Childs also tussled for position. The Victorian Glen Gamble had a mighty spin out of turn 2 with Bailey Scott carefully avoiding the #25 car. In the end, Scott claimed victory, with Noakes second and Bray third. Hills and Burgess rounded out the top five.
Robert Scott made the most of his front-row start to take an early lead in race 2, with Noakes, Hills, and Bray close behind. Kriel, starting from the back, stormed through to seventh by the end of lap one. By lap two, he was up to fourth and by the third lap, he had passed Scott to lead the race. From there, Kriel blitzed the field, lapping 1.1 seconds quicker than anyone else. Unfortunately Maisie Place slowed and eventually retired to the pits as well as Jack Childs who soon followed. In the midfield, Bailey Scott and Steven King engaged in a strong duel. Jake Lougher and Glen Gamble had an awesome battle swapping positions with John Freeland in close pursuit. Kriel cruised to a dominant win, with Scott second and Noakes third. Hills and Bray completed the top five.
Race 3 under the Sydney Motorsport Park lights, and in ideal cold-air conditions, Kriel once again made a perfect getaway, building nearly a one-second lead by the end of lap one. Hills led the chase, followed by Scott and Noakes. Donohue found himself in a fierce scrap with King and Bray, while Burgess and Bailey Scott jostled over positions. But heartbreak returned for Kriel, as another mechanical issue ended his race on lap four. Hills took control, with Scott glued to his rear wing all the way to the flag. Aaron Hills held on in a spectacular finish to win his first RX8 Cup race. Scott finished second, and Noakes fended off Donohue for third. King finished a solid fifth making up 4 spots. The top 8 cars all finished nose to tail only 5 seconds between the leader and 8th position crossing the line.
The final race of the weekend was held late in the evening, Rob Scott and Aaron Hills were slightly eager to get off the front row both jumping the start. The two drivers both receiving 5 second penalties adding to their final race time. Once again from the rear of the field Stiaan Kriel was up to third by the end of lap one. His daring moves included a spectacular double overtake on the outside under brakes just before the final corner. By lap two, he was on the back of Scott, and by lap three, the lead was his. Donohue was on a charge as well, passing Hills and then Robert Scott to take over second. Place and Gary Lougher duelled fiercely, as did Steven King and Bailey Scott in the midfield. Jake Lougher was the race’s only retirement. Late drama struck as Kriel’s exhaust began dragging behind his car, hoping to avoid the black flag. He held on to win by six seconds, with Tom Donohue bringing home his best finish of second and Scott initially third until a five-second penalty dropped him to sixth. Noakes inherited the final podium spot, followed by Bray and Burgess. King finished seventh, Bailey Scott eighth, while Hills and Gamble rounded out the top ten.
Round 3 at Sydney was definitely not short of action with 3 different race winners from 4 races and some drivers finding themselves in a podium position for the first time. Congratulations to Robert Scott for winning the round on count back after being tied on points with Jackson Noakes in 2nd place. Aaron Hills claimed his first ever round podium finishing 3rd for the weekend and winning his first RX8 Cup Race. Thanks to our partners Scott Property Group for their support in 2025.
RX8 Cup Series Points 2025
1st – Robert Scott 320 points
2nd – Jackson Noakes 304 points
3rd – Stiaan Kriel 301 points
4th – Grant Bray 256 points
5th – Aaron Hills 246 Points