MOTORSPORT: Buchan stars with back-to-back TCR wins

Veteran Michael Caruso won a race but it was rookie Josh Buchan who starred in round three of the 2021 SuperCheap Auto TCR Series at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Buchan broke through for his first TCR victory on Saturday, then backed up with another win and a second on Sunday with his Hyundai i30 N to sweep maximum points from a tough weekend.

Chaz Mostert is still the runaway series leader in his Audi RS3, and bagged two podium places, but the combination of 60kg of success ballast and a tweak to the ‘balance of performance’ settings for the TCR contenders meant he was never a threat for a win and spent more time than usual looking in his mirrors.

“We got away with good points for the weekend. It’s all about being 80 kilos too heavy,” said Mostert.

A solid field of 22 starters produced plenty of variety and action, although the abrasive track surface – SMP is nicknamed ‘The Cheese grater’ – took a heavy toll on the front-wheel drive turbo tiddlers and some of the racing was flat and processional as drivers tried to protect their Michelin tyres.

James Moffat and Dylan O’Keefe proved the undervalued Renault Megane RS could finally be a contender after a massive reliability program at Garry Rogers Motorsport, setting the pace in Friday practice as Moffat finally bagged a second place on Saturday.

He then bungled the first start on Sunday, and O’Keefe – who had engine problems and started the first race from the pit lane – came within five seconds of a podium on Sunday afternoon.

Caruso, who had not won anything for years, was beaming as he celebrated with his family.

“It feels real good. I feel like we’ve found something that suits my driving style after all those years in V8 Supercars,” Caruso said.

But it was Buchan who did the best for the weekend, turning the Hyundai back into a race winner after a troubled start to the season which has seen the cars rarely repeat the form that saw Will Brown romp to the inaugural TCR Australia championship in 2019.

“I always knew I could win but it’s nice to know I can win,” said Buchan. “I have proved I can drive the car as fast as it will go. And I’m up front with the big dogs.”

The 2021 SuperCheap Auto TCR Australia series next visits Morgan Park in rural Queensland from June 25-27.

2021 SuperCheap Auto TCR Australia Series Round 3 results:
RACE 1:
1. Josh Buchan – Hyundai i30 N
2. James Moffat – Renault Megane RS
3. Chaz Mostert – Audi RS3

RACE 2:
1. Josh Buchan – Hyundai i30 N
2. Michael Caruso – Alfa Romeo Giulietta
3. Chaz Mostert – Audi RS3

RACE 3:
1. Michael Caruso – Alfa Romeo Giulietta
2. Josh Buchan – Hyundai i30 N
3. Nathan Morcom – Hyundai i30 N

2021 SuperCheap Auto TCR Australia Series driver standings:
1. Chaz Mostert, Audi – 414
2. Aaron Cameron, Peugeot – 321
3. Luke King, Audi – 306
4. Lee Holdsworth, Alfa Romeo – 293
5. Josh Buchan, Hyundai – 289
6. Nathan Morcom, Hyundai – 283
7. John Martin, Honda – 282
8. Jordan Cox, Alfa Romeo – 266
9. Tony D’Alberto, Honda – 258
10. Jason Bargwanna, Peugeot – 236