MOTORSPORT: TCR’s best coming to Bathurst
Tony D’Alberto claims nail-biting TCR Australia title as TCR World Tour is confirmed for The MountainIt was a red-letter weekend for TCR competition in Australia, with confirmation that the inaugural TCR World Tour will visit Bathurst next year, while category stalwart Tony D’Alberto claimed his maiden Supercheap Auto TCR Australia title, with the series lead swapping multiple times in the final race of the season.
After two years of pandemic-induced delays, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International launched over the weekend, with WSC Group president Marcello Lotti using the event to confirm its place on the reinvigorated World Tour for 2023.
The meet will see at least 16 international entries join the best of the local competitors, with the series to continue locally at another to-be-announced meet.
The tour will also race four times in Europe, twice in America and once in Asia.
“When planning the TCR World Tour, it was a natural decision for us to involve the TCR Australia Series and the Bathurst International as part of it,” said Lotti.
“As soon as I arrived at Mount Panorama this weekend, I realised why this circuit is regarded as one of the best in the world and why all international drivers want to race here.
“I have been for a lap of the track. It is unbelievable and for me it was clear that we have made the right decision to confirm that TCR World Tour will race here next year and beyond.
“Having TCR World Tour come to Bathurst will make many of the world’s best TCR driver’s dreams come true.
“And the fans will be the winners too, seeing a truly international field of cars racing against the very strong TCR Australia Series teams.”
On track, D’Alberto had to fight hard to claim the 2022 title, with his Honda Civic Type R largely outpaced on track by the competition from Hyundai, Peugeot and Audi.
After finishing sixth in the opening encounter, and with the second race on Sunday morning washed out, Supercars regular Will Brown was in a must-win position aboard his Audi RS 3 for the third heat to give himself a chance at the title.
Following a coming together at The Chase between early race leaders Aaron Cameron (Peugeot) and Nathan Morcom (Hyundai), Brown forced his way into the lead with an audacious pass on the grass at the high-speed entry to the same section of the circuit on lap eight of 19.
Bailey Sweeny, however, made his way into the top spot seven laps later, with Brown finally sealing his victory with a last-lap move.
Throughout the race, the points battle ebbed and flowed, with D’Alberto’s 10th-place finish just enough to hand him the championship in the final tally.
Elsewhere on the weekend, Jordan Cox (Peugeot) was in the thick of the points battle, but his hopes took a literal hit in qualifying when he tangled with Garry Rogers Motorsport teammate James Moffat (Renault).
Near the end of the opening race, Cox made contact with Luke King (Hyundai), with the 5sec penalty relegating him to 14th.
Further drama for Cox in the last race saw him finish fourth in the points behind D’Alberto, Brown and Josh Buchan (Hyundai).
Earlier in the weekend, Sweeny won the opener, after Jay Hanson (Audi) crashed out of second place at Reid Park late in the running.
The 2023 TCR Australia season is set to kick off at Symmons Plains Raceway’s Race Tasmania event on February 24-26.
Race 1 – 18 laps
- Bailey Sweeney, Hyundai i30N
- Dylan O’Keeffe, Peugeot 308 TCR
- Nathan Morcom, Hyundai i30N
- Aaron Cameron, Peugeot 308 TCR
- Ben Bargwanna, Peugeot 308 TCR
- William Brown, Audi RS3
- Lachlan Mineeff, Audi RS3
- Teddy Clairet, Peugeot 308 TCR
- Josh Buchan, Hyundai i30N
- Michael Caruso, Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Race 3 – 19 laps
- Will Brown, Audi RS 3
- Bailey Sweeny, Hyundai i30N
- Josh Buchan, Hyundai i30N
- Aaron Cameron, Peugeot 308 TCR
- Lachlan Mineeff, Audi RS 3
- Nathan Morcom, Hyundai i30N
- Teddy Clairet, Peugeot 308 TCR
- Michael Caruso, Alfa Romeo Giulietta
- Michael Clemente, Audi RS 3
- Tony D’Alberto, Honda Civic Type R
Championship points:
- Tony D’Alberto – 711
- Will Brown – 702
- Josh Buchan – 667
- Jordan Cox – 647
- Bailey Sweeny – 610
- Zac Soutar – 588
- Nath Morcom – 582
- Aaron Cameron – 579
- Dylan O’Keeffe – 577
- Jay Hanson – 535
Related: MOTORSPORT: World’s best TCR racers coming to Australia
Related: MOTORSPORT: Pros return to Bathurst 12 Hour
Related: MOTORSPORT: Trio of winners as TCR resumes
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