MOTORSPORT: Nine TCR events in 2020

Bathurst becomes the jewel in the carsales TCR Australia Series in 2020 as the fledgling touring car series also adds an Asia-Pacific Cup contest at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

Two visits to Mount Panorama will highlight an expanded TCR presence next year, as a seven-race Australian championship series and two non-title events gives a total of nine appearances for the fast growing global category for front-wheel drive hot hatches.

The expanded 2020 calendar opens at the AGP in March and runs through to Bathurst in December, although both are non-championship events with a strong focus on drawing internationals to Australia.

Championship contenders will race at Sydney Motorsport Park and Bathurst in NSW, Winton in Victoria and The Bend in South Australia, before a confirmed date of July 3-5 at a venue that is still to be locked in, and the final two rounds at Phillip Island and Sandown in Victoria.

The new calendar means the TCR series will return to all of the tracks used this year, with the likely exception of Queensland Raceway. But even that could change if negotiations are successful for a comeback round in 2020.

“Bringing Bathurst into our series is going to be a winner for everyone. It will be fabulous to see sprint touring car racing return to the iconic track in almost 25 years too,” says Matt Braid, director of the Australian Racing Group.

“The TCR calendar featuring new and high-profile events, plus the ability for the competitors to race against international competition, further cements TCR Australia as the most international and market-relevant touring car category in the country for drivers and teams alike.”

The TCR series will continue as part of the Shannons Nationals package promoted by CAMS, which is soon to become Motorsport Australia.

Support events for the TCR cars are likely to include races for the S5000, TA-2 TransAm and Touring Car Masters series which are also managed through the Australian Racing Group, although there are no details yet beyond an S5000 appearance at the AGP and plans -- dependent on track safety -- for a guest-star role at Bathurst in April.

TCR Australia says the AGP appearance in March will see cars from Australia, New Zealand, Asia -- and perhaps Europe -- competing in a three-race program.

“The introduction of the TCR Asia Pacific Cup is the perfect way to kick off the new season. There will be a lot at stake when our local teams go up against some of the best TCR drivers and teams from around the world on the biggest stage that this country has to offer,” says Braid.

But it has yet to confirm any details of the second Bathurst appearance next December, at the fifth event sanctioned by Bathurst Council after an open tender in which ARG trumped a rival bid by Supercars Australia.

Even so, the Mount Panorama visit in April will add extra impact to a race weekend which already includes the Bathurst 6 Hour race for production cars.

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