Honda takes first blood at carsales TCR test day

Tony D’Alberto and Honda have set the 2020 target for the carsales TCR Australia Series by clocking the quickest time at the first hit-out of the season at Winton in rural Victoria.

Last year’s championship runner-up dipped below the lap record on an updated track, but was only a tick quicker than Nathan Morcom and reigning champion Will Brown, both in Hyundai i30N racers.

A total of 15 cars ran at the pre-season test day, with Alfa Romeo and Honda each represented by four cars with three from Hyundai, as the TCR organisers prepare for a 28-car field at the Australian Grand Prix meeting and up to 30 for the rest of the hot-hatch championship.

D’Alberto’s best lap was 1 minute 24.1842 seconds in his Civic Type R, with Morcom 0.0082s slower and Brown only 0.173 further back; the whole field was covered by 3.0091 seconds.

“It’s a good start to everything this year. The car felt good,” D’Alberto told carsales at the end of the day.

“I don’t think it’s a form guide for the year, but it’s still nice. I don’t think we’ll be streaking away from the field and we’ve done some sort of miracle, but I think we’ve made some improvements in the handling of the Honda.”

For Morcom, who ran hot-and-cold through the first TCR season, the Winton result is proof of some personal improvements.

“We want to come out punching this year. I’ve really improved my driving, and got my head around this car,” he said.

“We’re definitely looking like we’re showing some gains already.”

The track times were muddied a little by tyre condition – with some drivers on brand-new Michelin tyres and others on used racing rubber – as well as a number of changes to the Winton layout. Several corners have been opened up with more run-off on the exit, particularly the tricky Turn Three which has seen many crashes in the past.

“Everybody is really impressed with the changes they’ve made. It’s giving the drivers more leeway to explore a bit more. If you don’t get it right you’re not going to be in the fence,” D’Alberto observed.

Although Brown was only third fastest in his Hyundai, he admits he ruined his potential best lap with a mistake at the second-last corner.

“It’s only a test day. You don’t win a trophy or get points,” Brown noted.

“Based on today it will definitely be more competitive this year. I’m not too fussed, and we didn’t put on new tyres like some of the guys. So we are a tiny bit off the pace, but that could have changed with better tyres.”

D’Alberto said he also ran used tyres on his Honda, evening the score.

“It’s nice to be quickest today and the car was much better than when we raced here last year. But there is still a huge amount of work to do to stay at the top.”

Among the TCR rookies at Winton, former Bathurst 1000 winner Jason Bargwanna was happy to get his first laps as he clocked the tenth-fastest time in the Peugeot 308 he will race in 2020.

“I was really happy. It did a good time. And it’s really close,” Bargwanna said.

“The little Peugeot is a real rocket. We’re probably as fast today as I was around here in my V8 Supercar days.”

Winton Test Day Times
1. Tony D’Alberto, Honda, 1:24.1842
2. Nathan Morcom, Hyundai, 1:24.1924
3. Will Brown, Hyundai, 1:24.2097
4. Jordan Cox, Alfa Romeo, 1:24.4154
5. John Martin, Honda, 1:24.4540
6. Aaron Cameron, Peugeot 308, 1:24.4655
7. Zac Soutar, Honda, 1:24.5623
8. Dylan O’Keefe, Renault, 1:24.6794
9. Jay Hanson, Alfa Romeo, 1:24.6800
10. Jason Bargwanna, Peugeot, 1:24.6975