MOTORSPORT: TCR for 2020 AGP

A roadblock in Adelaide has accelerated a TCR injection into the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix that could see 30 or more of the new-age touring cars competing at Albert Park next March.

With Supercars resisting a guest-star slot for the 2.0-litre racers at the Adelaide 500 in 2020, TCR chiefs had no hesitation in driving onto the AGP program in a move that will ensure the Melbourne weekend opens the hot hatch racing category’s second championship season in Australia.

Confirmation of TCR’s AGP slot, which we forecast last week, comes as Renault gives its first serious commitment to the carsales TCR Australia Series and at least three more cars are dispatched to race in Australia, bringing the car count to beyond 25.

Renault will back the Megane RS racer of James Moffat in the next round of the series at Queensland Raceway in a fortnight as a toe-in-the-water contribution, but team owner Garry Rogers has already shown his commitment by ordering another Megane from Europe to put three of the French cars on the grid.

Rogers also intends to land another three Alfa Romeo Giuliettas and, with news of a pair of Seat Leons also likely for a new entrant in the series, the number of TCR cars Down Under is growing rapidly.

“We won’t have any trouble getting to that 30 number,” said TCR Australia managing director, Matt Braid.

While the TCR chief is happy to have the Grand Prix deal, he admits that the Adelaide event could still be in the category’s future.

“This is a great opportunity so we grabbed it. To be a supporting category at the Grand Prix, and to make it the opening race of our season, is a great opportunity,” Braid told carsales.

“We’ve already got 20-plus cars in Australia and more coming. There are also cars in New Zealand and, with the iconic nature of the event, we also hope to get some teams and drivers from international series.

“The Grand Prix is the largest and most significant international motorsport event to be held in Australia and it will be fantastic to showcase the TCR category on the Albert Park circuit.”

The TCR championship is evolving quickly, with talk of a Pro-Am category in 2020 and ongoing plans to involve Australia in the global evolution of the category and any potential regional championship.

But, despite the failure on the Adelaide front, Braid is still not talking about being a threat to Supercars.

“It’s not a competition. We’re doing the best for TCR Australia.

“It’s not meant to sound arrogant, but I haven’t even thought about it.”

He also says TCR Australia will continue to work towards an Adelaide 500 involvement for 2021 or beyond, without talking about the resistance from Supercars.

“We’ve talked to Adelaide and definitely want to be there. It’s definitely not going to happen for 2020 but we want to keep the conversation going,” says Braid.

“We’re not getting into that [Supercars] too much. We’re moving on.

“Our discussions with South Australian Tourism show they want us there, and we want to be there, but there are some issues that are delaying or preventing that.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that there is no disrespect to the SA Tourism Commission. They are good people to deal with, but in this instance we had to make a call and move on. We’ll talk to them about 2021 and beyond.”

Meantime, Braid says the AGP deal is currently only for 2020 despite potential plans for the involvement at Albert Park.

“The deal was done pretty quickly. At this stage it’s just for one year. But that’s the way they roll.”

The carsales TCR Australia Series continues at Queensland Raceway over August 2-4.