MOTORSPORT: carsales TCR Australia Series heads to Bathurst

The battle for Bathurst in 2020 will begin when racing action from the carsales TCR Australia Series goes online for the first time.

Local liveries are being readied for the virtual racers that will compete at Mount Panorama to start 10 consecutive weeks of online action from Thursday, April 2.

The familiar colours will be wrapped around identical digital Audi RS3 TCRs, although later events will see the drivers switching to single-seater Formula 3 cars in the carsales ARG eSport Cup.

The first three cars with Australian colours are picking up the schemes of Nathan Morcom’s HMO Hyundai, Aaron Cameron’s Valvoline Peugeot and Jay Hanson’s Ingal Civic Product Alfa Romeo.

More will follow as the field grows to include TCR drivers and racers from the S5000, Touring Car Masters, Trans Am and V8 Touring Car categories that compete on the ARG program at the Shannons Nationals.

The organisers are promising fun and entertainment during the motorsport shut-down during the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit everything from Formula One to the World Rally Championship and major national events across the world.

The first online meeting will run through a 20-minute qualifying session and two races – a 30-minute feature followed by a 15-minute reverse sprint based on qualifying times.

The full 10-round calendar will be confirmed soon, with all events streamed live and free on TCR Australia’s digital platforms. Look out for more details on how to tune in soon.

Racers are already getting digital practice for the first event, but Aaron Cameron admits he will need help as he rarely races online.

“I’m definitely no expert. I feel I’m better at the real race-car stuff,” Cameron says.

“[But] It is a great way to entertain the fans while we can’t do real racing.”

Cameron knows he is facing a tough challenge, particularly with the first event at Bathurst.

“There’s a lot of walls there, and I’m quite certain that I will end up in a few of them, but that will be a great learning experience.

Morcom, a TCR race winner last year, is also taking a relaxed approach to the online competition.

“I haven’t done much online racing. I did one or two races recently, but honestly, not much at all,” he says.

But he could have one advantage once the cars are changed.

“I actually hold the F3 qualifying lap record in real life around Bathurst -- hopefully that translates to the virtual world!” he said.