HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR driver Bailey Sweeny has stunned the field to grab a second place podium finish in Race 2 on Sunday, during Round 1 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.
On debut - at a track he has never competed on - in a new team - in a new car - and competing against some of the biggest names in Australian motorsport - 19 year old Sweeny came home just behind winner Jordan Cox.
Bailey Sweeny is seen at Symmons Plains in Tasmania - PIC BY: REDBEARDPHOTOMEDIA
story via TCR Australia
Jordan Cox has replicated his win from last year’s event by securing a frantic second race for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at AWC Race Tasmania.
An even start by Cox and Aaron Cameron resulted in a collision at Turn 1 fighting for the lead, which resulted in the Valvoline Racing GRM Peugeot 308 TCR popping a turbo hose forcing last year’s series runner up into the pits.
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Cox maintained the lead as HMO Customer Racing’s Bailey Sweeny moved to second after diving down the inside of Tony D’Alberto in the Honda Wall Racing Civic Type R TCR at the hairpin.
Will Brown was battling James Moffat for fifth and successfully passed the LMCT+ Renault Megane R.S. TCR at Turn 5, but yesterday’s race winner Jay Hanson was not so lucky as he aimed to take advantage.
In his new Audi, Hanson tried to follow his teammate through entering the front straight, but contact ensued sending Moffat heavily into the tyre wall. Hanson’s Audi also suffered race ending damage.
The safety car boards came out at the perfect time for Cox as Sweeny made a massive play for the lead, but had to slow behind the GRM Peugeot.
A driveline problem for Lachlan Mineeff in the Purple Sector Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR left him stranded exiting Turn 3. Fellow privateer Liam McAdam was also in trouble after finding the gravel trap at Turn 4.
At the restart on lap 15, Cox led Sweeny, D’Alberto, Brown and Soutar, but not for long as the HMO Customer Racing Hyundai i30N TCR of Josh Buchan moved down the inside at Turn 5.
The was drama right at the end of the race as D’Alberto and Brown fought for the final podium spot, with the MPC Team LIQUI MOLY Audi RS3 LMS TCR on the grass on the front straight after sliding down the inside of the Honda at Turn 5.
Despite brake troubles, Cox held on from Sweeny for his first podium finish in the category in just his second race.
D’Alberto, Brown, Buchan, Soutar, Dylan O’Keeffe, Brad Shiels, Ashley Seward Motorsport’s Michael Caruso and Ben Bargwanna.