![\"Supermarket](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/344349330_267987788998581_4609841190227725424_n.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJohn-Paul ‘JP’ Drake of Drakes Supermarkets.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJohn-Paul ‘JP’ Drake of Drakes Supermarkets.<\/p>\n
Drake will join Team BRM in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 carrying #666 alongside Garnet Patterson at the upcoming Liqui-Moly GT Festival The Bend event on May 8-10.<\/p>\n
It marks a graduation to GT3 racing for \u2018JP\u2019 after making his Monochrome GT4 Australia debut last year in a McLaren Artura.<\/p>\n
Although he is perhaps best known for his business exploits, Drake has been a regular in the national racing scene with the Australian Prototype Series and Radical Cup Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m absolutely stoked to be making my GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS debut at The Bend,\u201d said Drake.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something I\u2019ve been looking at for a long time, but now that the opportunity\u2019s come up, I\u2019m just pumped to be part of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cRunning in Monochrome GT4 Australia really gave me the confidence to take this step.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went in thinking it would be a completely different style of car and driving to what I\u2019m used to, but the fundamentals are very similar and that gave me the belief that I can be competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Challenge-Bathurst-Sprints-Patterson-Wolf.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Garnett Patterson just missed out on a sub-two-minute lap in John-Paul Drake\u2019s JAM Motorsport Wolf Mistral.<\/p>\n
Drake and Patterson have worked closely together. In 2024, Patterson nearly broke the Mount Panorama lap record in Drake\u2019s Wolf Mistral.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving Garnet alongside me is a huge boost,\u201d said Drake.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been a big part of my journey so far, and having that continuity as I step into something new is really important.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to have someone in your corner who understands how you work and can help guide you through those early stages.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patterson has previously raced in GT World Challenge Australia, joining Yasser Shahin in an EMA Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.<\/p>\n
![\"Garnet](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Garnet-Patterson-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Garnet Patterson will race for United Autosports in the 2025 European Le Mans Series.<\/p>\n
For the most part, the 33-year-old has been plying his trade outside of Australia with programs in the European Le Mans Series and other one-off GT appearances.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really exciting to be joining JP as he makes the move into GT3 competition \u2013 especially since I\u2019ve worked closely with him for a number of years in a coaching capacity during his time in prototypes, where he\u2019s achieved some strong results,\u201d Patterson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the car arriving close to the event, it means preparation has been a little compressed, so we\u2019ll be using the early part of the event to get comfortable with the package and build our rhythm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always a learning curve with a new car, especially in a category as competitive as this. Fortunately, we\u2019re heading to a circuit we both know well, which will definitely help fast-track that process.<\/p>\n
\u201cFamiliarity with the track allows us to focus more on understanding the car and refining our approach across the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m confident JP will come up to speed quickly. He\u2019s shown he can adapt well, and once he settles in, I think we\u2019ll be in a good position to build pace and consistency together.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pair will be entered in the top Pro-Am division, though Drake is conscious of the challenge that awaits him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I am someone who always wants to win, I know this is a big step and there\u2019s a lot to learn \u2013 from the car itself to race procedures like pit stops and driver changes, so I am realistic in my expectations,\u201d said Drake.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than anything, I\u2019m just really looking forward to the challenge. It\u2019s a fantastic category, and this feels like the right place for me to keep developing, especially with an eye on doing more GT racing in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
GT World Challenge Australia headlines GT Festival The Bend on May 8-10 with support from Monochrome GT4 Australia, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, Motorcraft Mustang Cup, and Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Australasia.<\/p>\n
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