MOTORSPORT: Supercars kick for TCR series return
SuperSeries motorsport revival set to kick off in Tasmania, with Brown shaping up as the one to beatSupercars ace Will Brown is the one to beat as the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series returns as the headline act at the renamed SuperSeries championship for 2022.
Brown already has a TCR title in the bag after winning the inaugural championship with Hyundai in 2019 and will be driving the Audi RS 3 that claimed last year’s crown with Chaz Mostert.
But he’s taking nothing for granted as a growing number of Supercars racers join the turbo tiddler championship for the season opener at Symmons Plains in Tasmania this weekend.
He is facing Fabian Coulthard, a Supercars refugee after the sale of Team Sydney, as well as Tony D’Alberto, James Moffat and Michael Caruso.
“I’m always out to win races. As many as we can. And I feel confident in the Audi,” Brown told carsales.
“There is stronger opposition than my first year in TCR, but that’s good. There will probably be four or five cars at the front each time.”
The SuperSeries package has been picked up by Stan Sport taking it to the Nine Entertainment group, with a focus on paid streaming, at the expense of the Seven team that previously broadcasted the series and continues with Supercars.
The ‘second tier’ series continues to build its support among competitors with bumper entries for the Trans Am touring cars and a growing number of converts, including Supercars main-game driver Tim Slade, in S5000 single-seaters.
Even so, it’s the TCR cars that are the main drawcard and will provide redemption for Coulthard – who is likely to be confirmed soon as a Bathurst co-driver with Walkinshaw Andretti United – if he can rattle the order in his first start with a Honda Civic Type R.
“I’ve been given an opportunity. A good one. An opportunity came up to drive the car with Stan Sport,” Coulthard said.
“I’m a racing driver. I’m going there to put my best foot forward. I’ll be the prepared as best as I can be.
“I’ve never driven a TCR car. I’ve never driven a front-wheel drive car. The odds are stacked against me, but I’ll be doing my best.
“I’m not going to TCR just to drive around. I’d love to be racing in the category full-time. For Stan Sport and myself it’s a toe in the water, but we’ll see what happens.”
Coulthard’s teammate at Wall Racing is his former Bathurst co-driving partner Tony D’Alberto, who is back for his third season in TCR with a bold new look on his Honda.
“I really think the competition will be tougher again this year. There are so many guys who have experience,” D’Alberto told carsales.
“You have Will Brown coming in, and Fabian too. I’m expecting those guys to be tough.”
He knows the Civic struggled for speed at Symmons Plains last year, but is hopeful that the latest ‘Balance of Performance’ – a system to equalise the variety of TCR cars – will help him.
“I’ll enjoy TCR if we’re quick. You want to go to the racetrack knowing you’ve got a shot. Sometimes, last year, we didn’t have that,” he said.
“I enjoy the hustle and bustle of the category. It’s sprint racing. And it’s very different to other stuff I’m doing, like GTs or Supercars.”
Brown, too, knows TCR will be different from his regular ride in Supercars but is relishing the switch from his championship-winning Hyundai i30 N to an Audi.
“I believe we can run up the front with the Audi. So there is no drama there,” Brown said.
“I've aways enjoying racing at Symmons Plains. It will probably be a bit hard to pass. But if we can qualify up the front that will make it easier to win.”
Related: MOTORSPORT: Three Aussie titles still go – for now
Related: MOTORSPORT: Brown takes TCR finale opener
Related: MOTORSPORT: Hyundai takes final TCR bragging rights
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