MOTORSPORT: Old-timer returns to battle TCR kids

Garth Tander is back, with a vengeance, as the carsales TCR Australia Series resumes at Sandown Park in Victoria this weekend.

The touring car veteran has already won a race in the country’s newest touring car championship and, even as Will Brown looks nearly unbeatable as inaugural series champion, he is keen to shake things up.

Tander is returning to the Audi RS 3 he used to win at Tailem Bend in South Australia and is also doing double-duty in an Audi R8 in sports car competition.

But anyone suggesting he is just using the Sandown starts as a tune-up ahead of the Bathurst 1000, where he will partner with Shane van Gisbergen in a Red Bull HRT Commodore, is off the pace.

“It’s a good thing to be back in the car and I think the Sandown will be a strong Audi track,” Tander tells carsales.

“We’re going there to win, but we’re not expecting to win. That’s the challenge of TCR. Everyone is strong.”

Tander admits the track time will be helpful as he ramps-up for Bathurst, but says it’s more than just laps.

“There is lots of car-to-car combat. That’s the good thing,” Tander says.

“You can do as many laps as you like, but there is nothing like proper racing. One of the attractive things about TCR racing is the pack battles. That’s what keeps you sharp.”

Brown is still the target for the TCR hopefuls in his Hyundai i30N, with Dylan O’Keefe likely to be the quickest with an Alfa Romeo Giulietta that has proven pace on quick tracks with long straights.

But Tander has a different take.

“To be honest, I think the Renault Megane is the fastest car in a straight line,” Tander says.

James Moffat will be hoping he is right at Sandown after a fraught season with his Megane RS.

Car troubles at the most-recent meeting at Winton culminated in a special practice session at Phillip Island on Tuesday as the Garry Rogers Motorsport crew attempted to shake-out the bugs which have prevented him getting the best from the car.

“I’ll be happy if we get to the grid for the races after the trouble at Winton,” says Moffat.

“We know the car can be fast. Now we have to prove it.”

Sandown will also see another overseas raider joining the TCR championship as Honda factory driver Nestor Girolami jumps into one of the three Honda Civic RS hatches fielded by Wall Racing.

Girolami is currently fourth in the World TCR championship with three wins in a Civic fielded from Germany.

He will line up alongside Aussie race winner John Martin, who is also one of the favourites for the S5000 races at Sandown, and Tony D’Alberto, who returns to the repaired Honda he used to run at the front at the start of the season.

Practice at Sandown begins today (Friday), with qualifying and race one on Saturday, and races two and three on Sunday.