A SUPER DEBUT from their brand-new Mazda 3 MPS has given Grand Prix Motorsport even more reason to be excited about this year's Australian Manufacturers Championship. With just one day of testing under their belt before hitting the high-speed Phillip island circuit, the team had every reason to expect a challenging weekend - but the results proved that the preparation of the new car was spot-on as the team scored a solid haul of points and a class win from the first round.

Driver Jake Camilleri qualified the new car on the front row with an impressive qualifying lap, and was fighting the Class B BMW of Peter O'Donnell in race one before a tyre was cut after slightly clipping a kerb at the turn four hairpin as the pair diced. Not wanting to make an unscheduled pit stop - with the team already having to make one compulsory stop as part of the race regulations - Camilleri slowed the car and was able to enter pit lane just seconds after the siren sounded, opening the pit window. The excellent timing saved the team more than a minute and kept them in the hunt for a strong finish despite the dramas. With a new tyre, the car finished strongly and scored a first-up finish of fifth place, second in class C.

Race two went much smoother, Camilleri bringing the car home comfortably first in class and second outright, an outstanding debut for a brand-new car in only its fourth ever day of on track action. To make matters even more challenging, Camilleri was sick for a majority of the weekend however the results were enough reason to give him a big smile at the end of the weekend.

Grand Prix Motorsport's next challenge will be the Phillip Island Six Hour - round two of the Australian Manufacturers Championship - to be held on May 28-29.