story via TCR Australia
The opening round of this year’s Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at Symmons Plains is guaranteed to be a hotly contested affair.
A field of 20 drivers representing seven different marques will open the season at AWC Race Tasmania.
Bailey Sweeny (bottom right) is seen at Symmons Plains in Tasmania
Defending title holder Chaz Mostert will not return, but in turn his place will be taken by Supercheap Auto TCR Australia’s inaugural series winner Will Brown in a LIQUI MOLY-supported Audi RS3 LMS TCR prepared by Melbourne Performance Centre (MPC).
An exciting new addition also comes out of MPC stable in the form of young gun Jay Hanson’s latest specification Audi RS3 LMS TCR, in what will be the first races contested by the new model in a regional series.
Rounding out the entries for MPC is debutant Eddie Maguire, who brings extensive gravel and tarmac rally experience, headlined by his Targa Tasmania victory last year. He will trade his usual Dodge Viper for a Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR.
Garry Rogers Motorsport ended its season on a high last year by clean sweeping the podium at Bathurst. Major changes during the off-season include the team’s restructure to two manufacturers, dropping Alfa Romeo in favour of its French marques, Peugeot and Renault.
Last year’s series runner up Aaron Cameron continues in a Valvoline sponsored Peugeot, so too Ben Bargwanna in a one featuring support from Burson Auto Parts, but joining the duo is Jordan Cox and Dylan O’Keeffe forming a very strong quartet.
On the Renault side of the garage, James Moffat continues in his LMCT+ Megane R.S. and is joined by rookie Kody Garland following on from his performance during the GRM Combine – Driven by Marcos Ambrose last month.
A dual Supercheap Auto TCR Australia race winner Josh Buchan returns to HMO Customer Racing this season driving one of the team’s three Hyundai i30 N TCRs featuring expanded support from the Korean marque’s performance brand N Performance.
Nathan Morcom will again contest the series, while newcomer Bailey Sweeny rounds out a strong line-up.
Preparing for its third season of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia, Wall Racing features one of the strongest line-ups on the grid. Driving its pair of Civic Type TCRs are Honda-supported Tony D’Alberto and high profile debutant Fabian Coulthard. This marks a reunion between the two after co-driving together on four occasions at Bathurst.
Ashley Seward Motorsport returns with a sole-Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR for former GRM driver Michael Caruso, sporting support from Autoglym.
Brad Shiels in the Tilton Racing Hyundai i30 N TCR leads a strong entry of privateers. Returning rivals consist of Purple Sector Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR of Lachlan Mineeff and Zac Soutar in his family run Honda Civic Type R sponsored by Spicers Australia.
Privateer Audi driver Liam McAdam re-joins for a full-season this year after contesting a number of rounds during 2019 and 2021, while S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship convert Braydan Willmington will debut in the series driving an ex-GRM Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR.
With further entries expected throughout the season, the 2022 campaign for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia promises to be the most competitive one yet.
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Racing will be available to stream ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport, with live coverage also on the Nine Network.