MOTORSPORT: Lynk & Co joins TCR Australia Series

Lynk & Co has already been confirmed for launch in Australia by 2025, but before then the Geely group’s Chinese-Swedish youth brand will hit the local motorsport scene in the 2023 TCR Australia Series.

In fact, apart from Geely models themselves, Lynk & Co is just one of several Geely Auto Group brands that could soon come to Australia, including Radar and its RD6 electric ute, Zeekr and its range of electric models, Geometry and its line-up of SUVs and the new electrified Galaxy sub-brand that is planning seven new models in two years, starting with a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid rival.

Described as a premium, youth- and design-oriented brand offering ‘mobility solutions for the connected generation’, Lynk & Co sells its vehicles in major overseas markets via both subscription-based car sharing and traditional retail models.

For now, the Volvo sister brand’s first foray in Australia will be a single Lynk & Co 03 TCR racer that will be campaigned in the 2023 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series by Autoglym Team ASM (Ashley Seward Motorsport), which will receive customer racing support directly from Geely Group Motorsport.

Based on the Chinese car-maker’s small 03 sedan, the Lynk & Co 03 TCR has already notched up considerable international motorsport success with a total of seven titles since its introduction in 2019 – three years after Lynk & Co’s establishment in 2016.

Lynk & Co won back-to-back WTCR drivers’ titles with French driver Yann Ehrlacher in 2020 and 2021, and also achieved a hat-trick of teams’ championships over 2019-2021.

The 03 TCR also tasted success in TCR Asia where David Zhu led a Shell Teamwork Lynk & Co Racing one-two, and also won the 2022 TCR South America title with Fabricio Pezzini.

Autoglym Team ASM’s Lynk & Co 03 TCR race car is an ex-Cyan Racing car previously raced in the FIA WTCR World Touring Car Cup.

It is currently en route to Australia, where it will undergo a thorough rebuild ahead of its local race debut, which is expected to take place at the second round of the TCR Australia Series at Phillip Island in May.

The Lynk & Co 03 TCR will be piloted by British Touring Car Championship race winner Tom Oliphant, who made his TCR Australia debut at the season-opening round in Tasmania.

Cyan Racing has confirmed its participation in the new-for-2023 TCR World Tour, which includes two rounds alongside the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, including the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International in November. 

Over the past three full TCR Australia seasons, ASM has entered Alfa Romeos for front-running drivers Dylan O’Keeffe (2019), Lee Holdsworth (2021) and Michael Caruso (2022). The team has taken at least one victory in each season.

ASM also competes in the Trans Am Series, plus Porsche racing in both Carrera Cup and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge.

“We are proud to announce a significant new partnership with Geely Group Motorsport which will see Lynk & Co 03 TCR model represented in TCR Australia with our team,” said Autoglym Team ASM principal Ashley Seward.

“We have been working with Geely Group Motorsport for some time on this project and they have been great to deal with throughout. We believe Lynk & Co offers the best TCR customer program in the world and have no doubt we can add to the success the brand has had in the highest levels of TCR globally.

“We feel that Lynk & Co, with our new driver Tom Oliphant and our valued sponsor Autoglym, will be a formidable combination and we can’t wait to get the car to Australia and out on track.”

Geely Group Motorsport customer sport director Ron Hartvelt said: “We are delighted to welcome Ashley Seward Motorsport to our growing Customer Sport family and to see the Lynk & Co 03 TCR race on yet another continent, especially one with such strong motorsport heritage as Oceania.

“TCR Australia is one of the toughest and most professional TCR championships out there and we look forward to supporting Ashley Seward Motorsport in their program, wishing them the best of luck this season.”

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au