MOTORSPORT: TCR series to climax this weekend

Bathurst and Brown are the focus as the inaugural 2019 carsales TCR Australia series reaches its peak in Adelaide this weekend.

Will Brown has a target on his back at Tailem Bend after clinching the 2019 crown early as a record field assembles at Tailem Bend and planning begins for a born-again Bathurst 500 in 2020.

A field of 21 cars will compete at the grand final, which is sharing top billing in South Australia with the second appearance of the S5000 single-seater racers.

“It’s a big weekend. Of course, for me the objective is to go out with another win,” Brown tells carsales.

But he faces another big challenge as the works Peugeot team from the TCR Europe series, with factory driver Aurelien Comte, fronts up for the first time in Australia.

“It will be a good chance to measure myself. I’ve been up against Audi and Honda factory drivers this year, so this is just another challenge,” says Brown.

The field of 21 cars is a record, and includes a Cupra from the Spanish brand for the first time as well as gamer-turned-racer Matt Simons making his first TCR start in a Subaru WRX.

But more than 50 cars are expected to compete in the new-again Bathurst 500 in the first week of December next year.

The classic contest will take on a new-age flavour with two drivers for each car and teams drawn from TCR championships around the world.

The Bathurst 500 is the pivot point for all-new weekend of motorsport of Bathurst that will include S5000 single-seaters, Touring Car Master historic cars, new-generation TA2 TransAm-style sedans and Le Mans-lookalike LMP3 prototypes.

The only question mark now is the date, as the Australian Racing Group looks to avoid any potential conflict with next year’s Supercars championship.

“This event was presented as a true opportunity to bring a new International focus to Bathurst. Up to now there has been limited opportunities for international drivers to compete at Australia’s best race track in cars they are used to racing in their home series,” says Matt Braid, director of ARG.

“With the variety of categories on offer at the event, and a date that comes after most global series have concluded means the Bathurst International will see international drivers, teams and their cars compete head to head with Australia best drivers across multiple races over the event weekend.”

The Bathurst 500 plan has already won praise from drivers, including international TCR star Andy Priaulx.

He raced Supercars in the Bathurst 1000 a number of times and is now a veteran competitor in the World TCR championship, with plans to join the grid for the new event.

“Bathurst is one of the best racetracks in the world – it’s a kind of mix between Spa and Macau. It will be fantastic to drive there in a TCR car that will perform really well over the top.

“I have very fond memories of my previous experiences on the circuit and I am sure that the TCR race will provide a very exciting show. I’m looking forward to hear all about it.”

Will Brown is already aiming to claim the 500 crown in the Hyundai i30 N he has used to win this year’s inaugural championship.

“The TCR cars will suit the Bathurst circuit, especially across the top of the mountain. It will be a wild ride, and I reckon that that their speed will surprise a lot of people,” says Brown.

Apart from the TCR cars, ARG is also hoping to lure international entries for a muscle car event where they will go up against a local line-up including veteran John Bowe in his Holden Torana and newly-crowned TCM champion Steven Johnson in a Ford Mustang.