MOTORSPORT: More cars and sponsors for carsales TCR

Talent scout Garry Rogers is looking for the next generation of touring car stars as he doubles-down on the second year of the carsales TCR Australia Series.

The man who launched the careers of more than a dozen Supercars stars, from Garth Tander and Jason Bright to Lee Holdsworth and Jamie Whincup, is spending big on cars and has brought his long-time backer Valvoline along for the ride in 2020.

Rogers’ racing operation has six cars ready to go in the TCR category and has also built 15 of the S5000 single-seaters that will run on the same program for much of the 2.0-litre turbo hot hatch championship.

Rogers says TCR racing delivers better value than Supercars and has the potential to become the new nursery for the next generation of touring car stars.

“I think this is where the growth is going to be,” Rogers told carsales today on the eve of the 2020 carsales TCR Series first test day at Winton (Vic).

“The beauty of this is that we’re bringing more younger racers into what we’re doing. That what we’ve always done at Garry Rogers Motorsport. And they can afford it.”

He also believes it is better value for sponsors as he continues his 30-plus year relationship with Valvoline.

“Valvoline actually came to us. They talked about the Team Valvoline branding, which works with two cars in TCR for Michael Caruso and Aaron Cameron as well as an S5000 for James Golding.”

Rogers owns a total of eight TCR cars but his team will field six: a pair of Renault Megane RS, a pair of Peugeot 308s and two Alfa Romeo Giuliettas.

Rogers’ remaining two Alfas will be run by independent operation, Ash Seward Racing.

Long time team owner, Rogers, says he is spending less in TCR than he did with a two-car team in Supercars and that the grid is a better reflection of new car showrooms.

“Things have changed. Go to a supermarket today and the carparks are filled with small cars and those utes.

“The costs also have some bearing on where we’re going.

“We couldn’t afford to keep going down the Supercars route. This is heaps less, nowhere near what we spent there,” Rogers revealed.

Rogers is confident that close racing and lower costs will create opportunities for younger drivers, as the expense of running a Supercars V8 has already hit the grid size for the second-tier Super2 championship. In the Adelaide opening round of the series just 13 Super2 racers were on the grid.

“Clearly people have realised how expensive it continues to be. To me, TCR just looked like a good business opportunity to encourage people who couldn’t afford to get into the Supercars thing and wanted to have a go,” Rogers opined.

“It’s for guys and girls with a minor budget who are prepared to get into it.”

Still, Rogers believes there is a place for established aces like Caruso in his new Alfa and James Moffat in a Renault RS.

“I don’t think it is a bad thing if you get the odd professional drivers jumping in and out. It gives the youngsters a bit of a benchmark. Caruso and Moffat are both professionals and I think Tim Slade is talking to someone.”

Rogers’ three-brand attack might split his allegiance but he says he will be barracking for anyone doing well.

“History says that I’m very attached to my Renault brand, with my Scenic number plates from the past, but we talked to a number of manufacturers in Europe last year and liked the people and what they were doing.

“These vehicles are relevant to the market of today.

“We used to aspire to a Falcon GT and Holden Monaro, but those times are gone. It’s sad, but true,” Rogers said.

The 2020 carsales TCR Series official test day takes place at Benalla’s (Vic) Winton Motor Raceway tomorrow (Wednesday, Feb 26) and is open to the public.

2020 carsales TCR Australia Series calendar
TCR Asia Pacific Cup: Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, 12-15 March
Round 1: Sydney Motorsport Park, 27-29 March
Round 2: Bathurst 6 Hour, 10-12 April
Round 3: Winton, 1-3 May
Round 4: The Bend Motorsport Park, 12-14 June
Round 5: Morgan Park Raceway, 3-5 July
Round 6: Phillip Island, 21-23 August
Round 7: Sandown, 11-13 September
TCR Bathurst 500: Mount Panorama, Bathurst, 13-15 November