VMRC Round 4 and Viola Private Wealth Winton 300 Deliver Outstanding Weekend of Racing

Brothers Aaron and Matthew Giuntini - winners of the 2026 Winton 300 - Photo credit: Colson Photography

The Victorian Motor Racing Championship (VMRC) returned to Winton Motor Raceway on 29-30 August for Round 4 of the 2026 season, headlined by the ever-popular Viola Private Wealth Winton 300 endurance race. With 37 entries spread across Victorian Tin Tops, Stock Cars Australia and Alfa Romeo Racing, along with a packed 34 car Winton 300 field, competitors and spectators were treated to a fantastic weekend of motorsport action at the Nation's Action Track.

Adding to the excitement, fans around Australia were able to follow all the action live thanks to Blend Line TV's event coverage, while Geoff Colson from Colson Photography once again captured the weekend's most memorable moments trackside.

Top 10 Shootout Delivers Saturday Spectacle

One of the highlights of the weekend was Saturday afternoon's Top 10 Shootout, a unique format that continues to add drama and anticipation to the Winton 300.

With only one warm-up lap and a single flying lap to set their time, drivers had no margin for error as they chased pole position.

The shootout delivered some outstanding performances, with Drew Russell securing pole position in the Randall Industries BMW M3. Benny Tran put together an impressive lap to claim second for BYP Racing and Developments in his Honda Integra, while Aaron Giuntini rounded out the top three for A & M Racing / Truckline in the Honda Civic.

Brothers Finally Conquer the Winton 300

The 2026 Viola Private Wealth Winton 300 produced one of the most emotional stories in the event's history.

After narrowly missing victory in both last year's Winton 300 and the Wakefield 300, brothers Aaron and Matthew Giuntini finally achieved their breakthrough endurance race victory in the Class B, A & M Racing / Truckline Honda Civic.

Starting third on the grid following Saturday's Top 10 Shootout, the brothers delivered a perfectly executed race across 100 laps and 300 kilometres, navigating traffic, pit strategy and a mid-race safety car to emerge victorious by an impressive 91-second margin.

The Winton 300 remains one of Australia's most unique endurance events. Teams of two or three drivers compete over 100 laps, incorporating compulsory pit stops, refuelling and driver changes. Vehicles are classified into time-based divisions, with faster cars required to complete additional and longer pit stops, ensuring competitors from multiple classes have a genuine opportunity to compete for outright honours.

For the Giuntini brothers, the victory was the culmination of years of hard work and near misses. After a podium finish in the shootout and a clean, disciplined drive throughout Sunday's race, Aaron brought the Honda Civic home to a hugely popular victory.

Second outright and second in Class B went to Drew Russell and Peter Lawrence in the Randall Industries BMW M3, backing up Russell's pole position effort with an outstanding endurance race performance.

Completing the outright podium and securing victory in Class C were David Krusza and Marcus Rummler aboard the Parramatta Vehicle Services Toyota 86, showcasing the competitiveness that the Winton 300's class-based format is renowned for.

Elsewhere throughout the field there were plenty of stories worth celebrating. Motorsport Training Australia's Brute Ute successfully completed its first race finish in several years, with drivers Grant Phillips and former student Sean Bennett sharing driving duties in a significant achievement for the team and students involved in preparing the vehicle.

Unfortunately, not every team enjoyed a smooth weekend, with the MTA Hyundai Veloster suffering a mechanical failure during Saturday's running which prevented it from taking any further part in the event.

A special thank you must also go to major event sponsor Viola Private Wealth and Charlie Viola for their continued support of the Winton 300. Charlie's passion for motorsport and commitment to the event once again helped deliver professional live streaming, event promotion and added value for competitors and spectators alike.

VMRC Round 4

Victorian Tin Tops

Victorian Tin Tops delivered four action-packed races across the weekend and belonged to one driver.

Peter Ryder, driving the Rapid Performance Nissan Silvia S13, completed a perfect weekend by winning all four races. Ryder's dominance was highlighted by a fastest lap of 1:29.68 and saw him strengthen his position at the top of Class B (Heavy Metal - Over 2 Litre Slicks).

The outstanding performance also moved Ryder into fourth position in the outright Victorian Tin Tops championship standings.

Ranald Maclurkin finished the weekend as the leading competitor in Class A (Open), while Wayne Always topped Class C (Road Racer Over 2 Litre Treaded). Robert Mikolajewicz completed the class winners by leading Class D (Road Racer Under 2 Litre Treaded).

Stock Cars Australia

Stock Cars Australia once again delivered some of the closest racing of the weekend, with fierce battles between Richard White and Daniel Stubbs entertaining spectators throughout four hard-fought races.

Richard White, driving the HWSafflery.com.au and Brooke Media-backed Chevrolet Camaro, claimed victories in the opening two races while setting a fastest lap of 1:28.78.

Race 2 featured one of the category's defining moments when White and Stubbs ran side-by-side in the opening laps before White emerged ahead into Turn 3 and went on to secure victory.

Stubbs would respond emphatically on Sunday. Piloting the Zentrix Chevrolet Monte Carlo, he captured victories in both Race 3 and Race 4 while setting the category's fastest lap of the weekend, a blistering 1:28.01.

Race 3 proved to be a crowd favourite, with White and Stubbs battling door-to-door for more than two laps in an incredible showcase of close and respectful racing before Stubbs eventually gained the upper hand.

Alfa Romeo Racing

The Alfa Romeo Racing category brought a diverse and passionate field to Winton, with victories shared between two standout competitors.

Simon Grierson opened the weekend strongly by taking Race 1 in his Alfa Romeo Alfetta G, recording a fastest lap of 1:37.64.

Michael Musumeci then stamped his authority on the middle stages of the meeting. Driving the Altitude Facilities Management Alfa Romeo GT, Musumeci claimed victories in both Race 2 and Race 3 while setting the category's fastest lap of the weekend with a 1:35.64.

Grierson would have the final say, returning to the top step of the podium in Race 4 with another polished drive and a fastest lap of 1:36.47 to conclude a highly competitive weekend for the category.

A Weekend to Remember

With strong fields, close racing and an emotional first-time Winton 300 victory for Aaron and Matthew Giuntini, the 2026 Victorian Motor Racing Championship Round 4 and Viola Private Wealth Winton 300 once again demonstrated why it remains one of the standout events on the Victorian motorsport calendar.

From the drama of the Top 10 Shootout and the strategy of the Winton 300, to the close competition across the supporting categories, the weekend delivered memorable moments both on and off the track. Winton Motor Raceway would also like to thank all competitors, officials, volunteers, sponsors, Blend Line TV, Geoff Colson Photography and the many fans who helped make the event such a success.