SANDOWN TGRA86 - SWEENY SECOND IN 34 CAR FIELD ON DAY 1
All 4 Mechanical Erebus Academy driver Bailey Sweeny has hit the track strongly, going second fastest, from the 34 car field, during the opening practice session, on Day 1 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 series at Sandown in Melbourne.
Sweeny clocked the circuit in a best time of 1.28.1835 to miss fastest by zero point 3 of a second.
Three races will be held over the weekend with coverage on Foxtel, Kayo and the Seven Network.
All 4 Mechanical Erebus Academy driver Bailey Sweeny has hit the track strongly, going second fastest, from the 34 car field, during the opening practice session, on Day 1 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 series at Sandown in Melbourne.
Sweeny clocked the circuit in a best time of 1.28.1835 to miss fastest by zero point 3 of a second.
Three races will be held over the weekend with coverage on Foxtel, Kayo and the Seven Network.
ELBOWS OUT - BRAVE DRIVES SEE MAJOR POINTS HAUL FOR BAILEY IN QUEENSLAND
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has produced a stunning weekend, claiming 100 round points and narrowly missing another podium, amongst 3 of the toughest battles with Australia’s best racers, during Round 5 of the 2022 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Queensland Raceway.
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has produced a stunning weekend, claiming 100 round points and narrowly missing another podium, amongst 3 of the toughest battles with Australia’s best racers, during Round 5 of the 2022 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Queensland Raceway.
Sweeny excelled in Qualifying claiming 4th overall to start Race 1 from the second row.
A rough and tough opening corner saw the Batemans Bay local survive a wild ride across the infield grass at over 200kmph , yet he somehow recovered to retain 4th spot.
A reverse grid on Sunday saw him start mid pack and in the heat of the battle Sweeny again showed character to finish 11, in line with HMO customer racing teammates Nathan Morcom and Josh Buchan in 9th, 10th and 11th respectively.
The final race of the weekend saw Sweeny move forward, again charging through the field of experienced professional racers to cement a stunning 5th, behind Supercars driver Will Brown, after starting P11.
With such strong results, Sweeny claimed 100 Round points overall, which now sees him move up to 9th in the national championship.
The team now heads to Victoria and to the ‘home of horsepower’ - Sandown - for Round 6 in September.
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 5
SWEENY SURVIVES WILDEST RIDE - BAILEY TAKES 4TH IN TORRID RACE 1
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has survived the wildest of rides, during Race 1 on Day 2, of Round 4 of the 2022 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Queensland Raceway.
Sweeny had earlier stunned the far more experienced field to Qualify 4th and be the top starting Hyundai.
Starting from Row 2, Sweeny grabbed a strong start but as the field stormed in Turn 1 at over 200kmphr, Sweeny slid on cold tyres, sending him barreling across the grass.
He would later recover, marching back through the pack to eventually finish 5th overall.
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has survived the wildest of rides, to come home 4th, during Race 1 on Day 2, of Round 4 of the 2022 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Queensland Raceway.
Sweeny had earlier stunned the far more experienced field to Qualify 4th and be the top starting Hyundai.
Starting from Row 2, Sweeny grabbed a strong start but as the field stormed in Turn 1 at over 200kmphr, Sweeny encountered traffic, sending him barreling across the grass. Aaron Cameron would later be handed a post race penalty by the stewards for the skirmish.
He would later recover, marching back through the pack to eventually finish 4th overall.
RACE 1 WRAP VIA TCR AUSTRALIA
It was a dominating performance from Wall Racing Honda Australia’s Tony D’Alberto in securing his maiden Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series victory at Queensland Raceway.
D’Alberto converted pole to the win as the privateer Honda of Zac Soutar ghosted the factory Civic Type R TCR as AWC MPC Racing’s Jay Hanson was unable to challenge in his Audi, but rounded out the podium.
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It was a delayed start due to the Valvoline GRM Racing Renault Megane RS TCR of Kody Garland experiencing a power steering, then a clutch problem and stopped short of his grid slot.
The LMCT+ Racing GRM Renault of James Moffat was experiencing a boost fault and elected to pit ahead of the start.
Both Hondas on the front row had a ripping start as behind there was chaos as HMO Customer Racing’s Bailey Sweeny was tapped exiting Turn 1 and turned into the infield to recover after the second corner.
Brown was third until he speared off in the LIQUI MOLY Team MPC Audi RS3 LMS TCR at Turn 3 allowing Hanson in his newer model to take up the chase of the two Hondas in front.
Progressing through the field, Aaron Cameron was fourth in the Valvoline Team GRM Peugeot 308 TCR ahead of Luke King leading the Hyundai charge in his Moutai/ZIP PAY i30 N TCR.
Ben Bargwanna driving the Burson Auto Parts Peugeot was enjoying a string run in fifth as he valiantly defended from Nathan Morcom as contact followed through Turn 4 and 5, but it ended in tears as the two contacted following the brake pedal going to the floor in the 308 TCR at Turn 6.
A safety car period followed as D’Alberto led Soutar, Hanson, Cameron, King, Sweeny, Swyftx GRm’s Jordan Cox, Honda privateer Michael Clemente, new Audi driver Lachlan Mineeff and HMO Customer Racing’s Josh Buchan held the valuable 10th place, which turns into pole for Race 2.
Buchan had a fight on his hands when the race turned green as Brown and Schaeffler GRM Peugeot driver Dylan O’Keeffe were right behind.
Upon the restart on lap 12 of 20, D’Alberto and Soutar moved away as Hanson had Cameron for company around the outside of Turn 3, but it failed to come off.
In the battle for 10th, Buchan was holding on albeit at Turn 6 Brown moved down the inside of both the HMO Customer Racing Hyundai and Mineeff, who as a result dropped to 11th.
At the front, D’Alberto and Soutar continued to hold sway as Hanson was unable to make in roads o the two Civic Type R TCRs.
The battle for sixth was heating up between King, Cox, Clemente and Brown although the positions remained the same it was a close finish.
However, the day was D’Alberto’s as he secured his first Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series victory and extended his title lead to 50-points as Soutar completed a Honda 1-2 in his privateer Civic Type R TCR.
Behind Cameron was lead Peugeot in fourth ahead of the recovering Sweeny, King, Cox, Clemente, Brown and Buchan.
Just missing the pole for Race 2 by 0.395s was Mineeff as Caruso, O’Keeffe and McDougall completed the field.
Tomorrow’s second Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series race featuring the inverted top 10 grid begins at 12:10pm AEST live on Stan Sport.
The SpeedSeries at Queensland Raceway will feature seven racing categories and 12 hours of live and ad-break free coverage on Stan Sport across Saturday and Sunday.
The coverage will be broadcast on Stan Sport between 11am-5pm on Sunday.
New customers can sign up to a Stan Sport 7-day free trial. Sign up now to watch all of the SpeedSeries action, plus the IndyCar Series, World Rally and more motorsport action >>
SUNSHINE STATE - SWEENY HITS THE TRACK FOR DAY 1 AT IPSWICH
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has hit the track for practice on Day 1 of Round 4 of the 2022 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Queensland Raceway.
Sweeny came out of the blocks well, clocking the circuit in a best time of 1:14.3804 to sit 6th overall in the 18 car field and less than a second off pole sitter and V8 Supercar driver Will Brown.
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has hit the track for practice on Day 1 of Round 4 of the 2022 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Queensland Raceway.
Sweeny came out of the blocks well, clocking the circuit in a best time of 1:14.3804 to sit 6th overall in the 18 car field and less than a second off pole sitter and V8 Supercar driver Will Brown.
MPC Team LIQUI MOLY Audi driver Will Brown has topped the timesheets in his Audi RS3 LMS TCR at his home event as Supercheap Auto TCR Australia returned to the track at Queensland Raceway following its mid-season break.
Brown recorded a 1m 13.767s lap to edge out series leader Tony D’Alberto in the Wall racing Honda Australia Civic Type R TCR by 0.013s as the top 11 entries were covered by less than a second.
Supercheap Auto TCR Australia again hits the track at 5:50pm AEST.
The SpeedSeries at Queensland Raceway will feature seven racing categories and 12 hours of live and ad-break free coverage on Stan Sport across Saturday and Sunday.
The coverage will be broadcast on Stan Sport between 11am-5pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Free to air coverage will feature on 9Gem or 9Go! depending on the viewing state. CLICK HERE for all the information.
New customers can sign up to a Stan Sport 7-day free trial. Sign up now to watch all of the SpeedSeries action, plus the IndyCar Series, World Rally and more motorsport action >> http://www.stan.com.au/motorsport
SWEENY THIRD IN TOWNSVILLE P1
Erebus Academy driver Bailey Sweeny has hit the track strongly, going third fastest, from the 31 car field, during the opening practice session, on Day 1 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 series at Townsville.
Sweeny clocked the Queensland circuit in a best time of 1.29.6772
Three races will be held over the weekend with coverage on Foxtel, Kayo and the Seven Network.
Erebus Academy driver Bailey Sweeny has hit the track strongly, going third fastest, from the 31 car field, during the opening practice session, on Day 1 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 series at Townsville.
Sweeny clocked the Queensland circuit in a best time of 1.29.6772
Three races will be held over the weekend with coverage on Foxtel, Kayo and the Seven Network.
SYDNEY - POINTS BAGGED AS QUEENSLAND BECKONS
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has bagged 58 points towards the championship - after 3 races - during Round 4, of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Sweeny now heads to both Townsville and then Ipswich in Queensland, initially for the TGRA86 series, followed by Round 5 of the TCR Australia championship at the iconic circuit up north.
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has bagged 58 points towards the championship - after 3 races - during Round 4, of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Sweeny now heads to both Townsville and then Ipswich in Queensland, initially for the TGRA86 series, followed by Round 5 of the TCR Australia championship at the iconic circuit up north.
RACE 3 WRAP BY TCR AUSTRALIA
Capping off a strong performance all weekend HMO Customer Racing led by Nathan Morcom took the final race win from teammate Josh Buchan at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Recovering from a five place grid penalty prior to Race 1, Morcom took the lead from Jordan Cox on the opening lap and held on despite pressure from initially Luke King before a storming drive from Buchan towards the conclusion.
King held third for a majority of the race, but was pipped by Cox on the final lap.
It was a frantic opening to the final Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series as Swyftx GRM’s Cox started from pole and led the field until Turn 6 when HMO Customer Racing’s Morcom moved through as did Moutai/ZIP PAY’s King in their Hyundai i30 N TCRs.
Challenge Motorsport Audi driver Iain McDougall failed to get off the line quickly, but there were many victims in the opening stanza.
One was the Autoglym Ashley Seward Motorsport Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR of Michael Caruso with a split rim, Stan Sport Wall Racing’s Fabian Coulthard was spun at the penultimate corner in his Honda Civic Type R TCR and there was friendly fire at GRM as James Moffat clashed with Ben Bargwanna at Turn 6.
The contact forced the LMCT+ Racing GRM Renault Megane RS TCR into retirement.
Most importantly though, Tony D’Alberto dropped through the field after contact with Royal Purple Racing’s Brad Shiels bent the steering in his Honda Australia Wall Racing Civic Type R TCR.
Morcom continued to hold the lead by 0.9s from King, Josh Buchan in a Hyundai podium lockout as Cox maintained fourth ahead of GRM Schaeffler stablemate Dylan O’Keeffe in his Peugeot 308 TCR.
AWC MPC Racing’s Jay Hanson was pushing hard in his Audi RS3 LMS TCR after teammate Brown let him through to pursue the top five.
Valvoline Team GRM’s Aaron Cameron was eighth, but was under pressure from the Motul Honda Civic Type R TCR of Michael Clemente and Bailey Sweeny in the final HMO Customer Racing Hyundai, which also rounded out the top 10.
Bargwanna was running 11th after a difficult weekend from Kody Garland enjoying his best run of the season just behind as Shiels led fellow privateer Zac Soutar in the Spicers Australia Honda Civic Type R TCR.
At the front, there was a change as Buchan snatched second off King at Turn 2 as the battle for round honours was heating up.
Cameron meanwhile had been demoted by Clemente, Sweeny, Bargwanna and Garland to be running 12th.
Further back, contact between Purple Sector’s Lachlan Mineeff and the Alfa Romeo of Braydan Willmington enabling many behind including D’Alberto to gain a position as a 10s penalty was given to the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR driver post-race.
In what was turning into an HMO Customer Racing domination as Buchan quickly caught Morcom and was pressuring his teammate, but he held on by 0.5s.
Cox stole the final podium slot from King on the final lap ahead of O’Keeffe, Brown, Hanson, Clemente, Sweeny and Bargwanna.
Scoring his best result for the season, Garland took 11th from Cameron, Shiels, Soutar, Coulthard, D’Alberto, McDougall, Mineeff and Caruso.
The next round of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series at Queensland Raceway on August 5-7 as D’Alberto continues to lead the title by 22-points from O’Keeffe.
SYDNEY - SWEENY HITS THE CIRCUIT FOR OPENING PRACTICE
HMO Cutomer Racing Hyundai TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has hit the circuit for opening practice, on Day 1 of Round 4, of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Sweeny clocked the 3.93KM circuit in a best time of 1.37.566 with Practice 2 still to come later tonight under lights.
The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series will hold its first-ever night race on Saturday evening, held under the sensational illumination of Sydney Motorsport Park.
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has hit the circuit for opening practice, on Day 1 of Round 4, of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Sweeny clocked the 3.93KM circuit in a best time of 1.37.566 with Practice 2 still to come later tonight under lights.
The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series will hold its first-ever night race on Saturday evening, held under the sensational illumination of Sydney Motorsport Park.
Current Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series leader Tony D’Alberto has topped the opening practice session for Round 4 at Sydney Motorsport Park.
A last gasp 1m 34.797s lap put D’Alberto in his Honda Australia Wall Racing Civic Type R TCR at the top of the time sheets, 0.238s clear of inaugural series winner Will Brown.
HOW TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND
It’s a big weekend of racing for the SpeedSeries this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park in association with the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships.
For the second time this year, Stan Sport’s live, uninterrupted and on-demand coverage will be complimented by a two hour live broadcast of the evening session at Sydney Motorsport Park headlined by the maiden race under lights for the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series.
To feature on 9Gem, live free-to-air coverage begins at 5:30pm AEST encompassing the opening event for the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship, Race 2 of the Turtle Wax Trans Am Series and the very first night encounter for the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series.
Stan Sport will cover more than 15 hours of racing this weekend across both Saturday and Sunday as fellow SpeedSeries category Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters also features as part of a packed schedule.
Joining the SpeedSeries at Sydney Motorsport Park is the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series, Australian Production Cars, Australian Prototype Series and Radical Cup Australia.
Coverage on Stan Sport starts from 12:30pm on Saturday going through until 7:30pm, while on Sunday the broadcast begins at 11:00am before finishing at 5:00pm (all times AEST).
New customers can sign up to a Stan Sport 7-day free trial. Sign up now to watch all of the SpeedSeries action plus the Indy500 this weekend >> http://www.stan.com.au/motorsport
International viewers can watch the action via motorsport.tv
To be trackside at Sydney Motorsport Park, CLICK HERE for tickets.
STAN SPORT
BROADCAST TIMES
Saturday, May 28: 12:30pm – 7:30pm
Sunday, May 29: 11:00am – 5:00pm
9GEM
BROADCAST TIME
Saturday, May 28: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Also keep up to date through the SpeedSeries socials:
SPEEDSERIES
https://www.facebook.com/SpeedSeriesAU
https://www.instagram.com/speedseriesaus/
Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series
https://www.facebook.com/TCRAustralia
https://www.instagram.com/tcraustralia/
NATIONAL MEDIA JUMP ON SWEENY SUCCESS
Australia’s oldest and largest motorsport news publication Auto Action has run a significant feature on young gun Bailey Sweeny, following his success at Bathurst.
See the article and feature story here.
Australia’s oldest and largest motorsport news publication Auto Action has run a significant feature on young gun Bailey Sweeny, following his success at Bathurst.
See the article and feature story here.
A STAR IS BORN - BAILEY'S BREAKOUT BATHURST WEEKEND SEES MORE SILVERWARE
HMO Customer Racing TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has broken through with a stunning weekend, walking away with a win - and following that up with a second place - and a lap record - during Round 3 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia championship at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
19 year old Sweeny obliterated the field in Race 2 to take the victory by 11 seconds and his first race win in the TCR Australia championship.
On Sunday the Bateman’s Bay local continued his strong weekend at Australia’s toughest track and against household name drivers with a second place and more silverware for his HMO Customer Racing Hyundai team.
HMO Customer Racing TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has broken through with a stunning weekend, walking away with a win and following that up with a second place - and a lap record - during Round 3 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia championship at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
19 year old Sweeny obliterated the field in Race 2 to take the victory by 11 seconds and his first race win in the TCR Australia championship.
On Sunday the Bateman’s Bay local continued his strong weekend at Australia’s toughest track and against household name drivers with a second place - a lap record - and more silverware for his HMO Customer Racing Hyundai team.
Bailey Sweeny wins at Bathurst
Bailey Sweeny wins at Bathurst
RACE 3 of 3 WRAP story via TCR Australia
Valvoline Team GRM’s Aaron Cameron has capped off a successful weekend for Peugeot by winning the final race of Round 3 for the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series at Bathurst.
Cameron led from start-to-finish in a dominating display, winning from HMO Customer Racing’s Bailey Sweeny and Schaeffler GRM’s Dylan O’Keeffe.
Cameron won the start from polesitter LMCT+ Racing GRM driver James Moffat in his Renault Megane R.S. TCR as Ben Bargwanna in the Burson Auto Parts Peugeot and Dylan O’Keeffe went side-by-side through Hell Corner, continuing up Mountain Straight until the Schaeffler GRM 308 TCR took the ascendency at Griffin’s Bend.
At the end of the opening lap Cameron held a 4s advantage as Moffat held back O’Keeffe, who completed a pass at Murray’s Corner, however the LMCT+ Racing GRM Renault Megane R.S. TCR re-took the position at Hell Corner.
Moffat was holding back a freight train of entries as yesterday’s race winner Bailey Sweeny attempted to overtake Bargwanna at The Chase, but hit the kerb, which sent him sideways momentarily.
LIQUI MOLY Team MPC driver Will Brown was also an early mover, demoting Honda Wall Racing’s Tony D’Alberto, the Autoglym Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR of Michael Caruso and HMO Customer Racing’s Josh Buchan, however a 5s time penalty was imposed due to an incident.
Sweeny was also progressing as he passed Bargwanna on the exit of The Chase and followed this up by passing O’Keeffe to challenge Moffat, which success again at the same point of the circuit.
This led to Moffat and O’Keeffe resuming their battle, but this led to contact between the pair at Griffin’s Bend where the LMCT+ Racing GRM Renault lost out, sliding wide to drop to seventh.
Brown continued his charge by passing Bargwanna into sixth before the Burson Auto Parts Peugeot ran wide at Murray’s Corner dropping position to Buchan, then at Hell Corner letting Moffat back through and giving Royal Purple Racing’s Brad Shiels a chance.
Meanwhile at the front, Cameron held a comfortable 7s lead ahead of Sweeny, who in turn had gapped O’Keeffe as Brown and Buchan continued to battle, although the LIQUI MOLY Team MPC driver had a 5s penalty.
As for Swyftx GRM Peugeot driver Jordan Cox? Well, he didn’t find it as easy as yesterday to move through the field, but did make his way to 10th by the race’s conclusion.
But after setting a stunning pole position, it was Cameron in dominating fashion taking victory from Sweeny in a breakthrough weekend and O’Keeffe, who closes in on series leader D’Alberto.
Due to his penalty, Brown dropped to seventh elevating Buchan, Moffat and Bargwanna.
Completing the 10 were Shiels, D’Alberto and Cox.
D’Alberto still holds the series lead by 28-points from O’Keeffe and Brown is a further nine in arrears.
Supercheap Auto TCR Australia continues at Sydney Motorsport Park as part of a bumper Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships round on May 27-29.
NOTE: Schaeffler GRM Peugeot driver Dylan O’Keeffe was given a 10s post-race penalty, dropping him to ninth.
EVEREST - ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN - BAILEY WINS AT BATHURST
HMO Customer Racing TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has broken through with a storming drive to win Race 2 of Round 3 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia championship at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
19 years old Sweeny obliterated the field to take the victory by 11 seconds and his first race win in the TCR Australia championship.
HMO Customer Racing TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has broken through with a storming drive to win Race 2 of Round 3 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia championship at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
19 years old Sweeny obliterated the field to take the victory by 11 seconds and his first race win in the TCR Australia championship.
TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny after his win at Bathurst
story via Speedcafe
Hyundai rookie Bailey Sweeny has become the sixth different race winner of the 2022 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, charging to victory in Race 2 at Mount Panorama.
Having started on the front-row in the reverse top 10 grid race, Sweeny took the chequered flag with a 11.4742s buffer – but he didn’t exactly have it handed to him on a platter in the early going.
Michael Caruso got his elbows out to keep the lead on the first run through Hell Corner, contact dropping Sweeny to third behind Tony D’Alberto.
He lost a further spot to James Moffat before rebounding to second amid a chaotic opening lap.
By the end of Lap 2, he was into the lead and soon began stretching his legs.
The focus quickly turned to the battle packs behind, with Moffat hanging onto second as Josh Buchan nabbed third from Caruso on the final lap.
Dylan O’Keeffe was the lead Peugeot in fifth, while D’Alberto could only bring it home sixth with his Honda struggling with an apparent straight-line speed deficit.
He did however extend his points lead, with nearest rivals Will Brown, Zac Soutar, and Jordan Cox finishing 10th, 13th, and 11th respectively.
Race 1 winner Aaron Cameron had an eventful run to ninth, having had incidents with Buchan and Cox along the way.
Even after being pushed wide at Murray’s Corner, Cox made up 10 places having started last following a Race 1 DNF.
Tim Slade was the only non-finisher in Race 2, retiring at the end of the opening lap with a brake problem.
Determined by points accumulated across Races 1 and 2, Moffat and O’Keeffe will start on the front row for the third and final TCR race of the weekend from 10:10 AEST tomorrow.
BATHURST DAY 1 - KNIFE'S EDGE - BAILEY ON TOP 5 PACE BUT THE MOUNTAIN CAN BITE (video)
HMO Customer Racing TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has gone 5th fastest overall in the morning and found the teeth of Australia’s most demanding circuit, during practice on Day 1 of Round 3 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia championship at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
Sweeny came out of the box strongly lapping the world famous 6 km mountain course in a time of 02:17.3 in the morning to go fifth fastest overall.
A clip of one of the many Bathurst walls put paid to an early finish during practice 2 however Bailey was unhurt and Saturday sees Qualifying and Race 1 with all races televised live nationally on Stan Sport.
HMO Customer Racing TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has gone 5th fastest overall in the morning and found the teeth of Australia’s most demanding circuit, during practice on Day 1 of Round 3 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia championship at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
Sweeny came out of the box strongly lapping the world famous 6 km mountain course in a time of 02:17.3 in the morning to go fifth fastest overall.
A clip of one of the many Bathurst walls put paid to an early finish during practice 2 however Bailey was unhurt and Saturday sees Qualifying and Race 1 with all races televised live nationally on Stan Sport.
story via Speedcafe
Swyftx GRM Peugeot driver Jordan Cox has backed up his Practice 1 performance by topping the timesheets in the second this afternoon.
Cox considerably lowered his mark from this morning, recording a 2m 14.584s to again lead Garry Rogers Motorsport stablemate Aaron Cameron in the Valvoline-supported Peugeot 308 TCR.
The margin between the two was just 0.166s as both were the only drivers to drop into the 2m 14s bracket as qualifying tomorrow promises to be a close battle between the duo.
Third was reigning Bathurst polesitter Ben Bargwanna completing a clean-sweep of the top three in both sessions for Peugeot.
Impressive work from the Ashley Seward Motorsport team repaired Michael Caruso’s Autoglym Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR after an engine malady during the opening session and he duly rewarded the squad to place it fourth.
Fifth was the fourth GRM Peugeot of Dylan O’Keeffe in the Schaeffler-sponsored entry, while leading privateer Zac Soutar continued his great form to be lead Honda Civic Type R TCR in sixth just ahead of Nathan Morcom in the first HMO Customer Racing Hyundai i30 N TCR.
Stan Sport Wall Racing’s Tim Slade was eighth in his Civic Type R TCR from Brad Shiels in the Royal Purple Racing Hyundai i30 N TCR and Jay Hanson in the spare Melbourne Performance Centre Audi RS3 LMS TCR following his incident this morning.
Just outside the top 10 were series leader Tony D’Alberto in the Honda Australia Wall Racing Civic Type R TCR, the HMO Customer Racing Hyundai i30 N TCR of Josh Buchan and returnee Luke King driving the Moutai Zip entry.
Will Brown was 14th in the LIQUI MOLY MPC Audi RS3 LMS TCR and Lachlan Mineeff in the repaired Purple Sector Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR was next.
Tomorrow’s Supercheap Auto TCR Australia action starts at 12:20pm AEST.
Broadcast of the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour will be live, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets for the event are available at the gate.
BATHURST SCHEDULE CONFIRMED
An action-packed Saturday for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia headlines its role as support to the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour across the Easter weekend on April 15-17.
After making its long awaited debut at the fabled Mountain at the corresponding event last year where reigning Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series winner Chaz Mostert took a clean-sweep in an entertaining battle with Team Valvoline GRM’s Aaron Cameron, Supercheap Auto TCR Australia action commences with two 30-minute practice sessions on the Friday starting, the first starting at 8:50am and the second at 2:00pm.
story via TCR Australia
An action-packed Saturday for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia headlines its role as support to the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour across the Easter weekend on April 15-17.
After making its long awaited debut at the fabled Mountain at the corresponding event last year where reigning Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series winner Chaz Mostert took a clean-sweep in an entertaining battle with Team Valvoline GRM’s Aaron Cameron, Supercheap Auto TCR Australia action commences with two 30-minute practice sessions on the Friday starting, the first starting at 8:50am and the second at 2:00pm.
Saturday will be a frantic day for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia drivers as the regular two-part qualifying starts with the all-in 15-minute segment at 12:20pm before the fastest 10 fight it out in a 10-minute session at 12:40pm.
This leads into what promises to be two exciting Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series events either side of qualifying for the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour.
Race 1 commences at 2:45pm followed by the second to close out the day of action at 5:40pm.
The final race of the weekend leads into the main event on Sunday at 10:10am.
Bailey Sweeny
Entering the third round of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia, Honda Wall Racing driver Tony D’Alberto leads the standings by two-points from Jordan Cox in the Swyftx GRM Peugeot 308 TCR.
A further 21-points behind is race winning privateer Zac Soutar racing the Spicers Civic Type R TCR, while three separate he and recent dual victor Fabian Coulthard in the Stan Sports Wall Racing Honda.
More than 70-entries have been received for this year’s Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour in what is the ultimate production car event, which is joined by the third round of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia and Turtle Wax Trans Am Series, the MRF Tyres Australian Pulsar Racing Association, NSW Historic Touring Cars and NSW HQ Holdens.
All of the action will be live, ad-break free and on demand exclusively on Stan Sport in Australia.
Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Round 3 Bathurst schedule:
COURAGEOUS DRIVE SEES BAILEY HOME IN RACE 1
HMO Customer Racing TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has come through with a courageous drive to claim 14th spot, during Race 1 of Round 2, of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Phillip Island.
In a race of attrition for the fancied runners, Sweeny kept his cool and fought the majority of the race in a battle for the coveted top 10 position, at times switching between 9 and 11 every lap.
Eventually, Sweeny finished the race in 14th overall from the 21 runners and tomorrow’s Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series event at Phillip Island continues, with Race 2 at 1:05pm AEDT live and uninterrupted on Stan Sport. Sweeny will start from the 7th row.
HMO Customer Racing TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has come through with a courageous drive to claim 11th spot, during Race 1 of Round 2, of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Phillip Island.
In a race of attrition for the fancied runners, Sweeny kept his cool and fought the majority of the race in a battle for the coveted top 10 position, at times switching between 9 and 11 every lap.
Eventually, Sweeny finished the race in 11th overall from the 21 runners and tomorrow, the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series event at Phillip Island continues, with Race 2 at 1:05pm AEDT live and uninterrupted on Stan Sport.
Sweeny will start from the 6th row.
story via TCR Australia
AWC MPC Racing driver Jay Hanson has successfully converted his maiden pole into a second Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series victory to kick off Round 2 at Phillip Island.
Hanson led from the second lap to take a 1.71s win from Swyftx GRM driver Jordan Cox and Schaeffler GRM’s Dylan O’Keeffe.
It was Michael Caruso leading in the Autoglym Ashley Seward Motorsport Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR, who led into Turn 1 as both the Challenge Motorsport Audi RS3 LMS TCR of Iain McDougall and Kody Garland driving the Team Valvoline GRM Renault Megane R.S. stalled on the line.
CLICK HERE for results
Caruso continued to lead until Hanson in the latest specification Audi RS3 LMS TCR overtook the Alfa Romeo along the front straight and continued to build a margin.
Meanwhile, Caruso had his hands full as the Forza Brakes Motorsport Audi of Liam McAdam, Cox and O’Keeffe piled on the pressure.
It all came to a head on lap 4 when at Turn 4 under brakes contact was made by McAdam to spin Caruso out of contention, which led to a penalty.
Action towards the back end of the top 10 involved Honda Wall Racing’s Tony D’Alberto and MPC Team LIQUI MOLY Will Brown made contact, which was only the start for the inaugural series winner as he was forced to return to the pits following further contact.
Contact with Brown forced HMO Customer Racing’s Nathan Morcom out as the sister Hyundai i30 N TCR of series leader Josh Buchan also dropped out after damage was caused to his entry as well.
At the front, Hanson continued to hold a comfortable 2.5s lead from Cox, O’Keeffe, the Stan Sport Wall Racing Honda of Fabian Coulthard and Privateer Zac Soutar in his Spicers Civic Type R TCR.
In an impressive performance, Lachlan Mineeff was bettering his debut top 10 from last year by running seventh, but had the Team Valvoline GRM Peugeot 308 TCR of Aaron Cameron closing. On lap 11, Cameron succeeded in taking the position.
With three laps remaining, Cox was closing in on Hanson as he cut the margin to 1.2s, though the young Audi driver responded to steady the gap.
Meanwhile, Cameron continued to climb the field as he displaced D’Alberto to be sixth behind Soutar.
Behind the top three, Coulthard took his best result in fourth ahead of Soutar, Cameron, D’Alberto, Mineeff, returnee Michael Clemente and Ben Bargwanna in the Burson Auto Parts Peugeot 308 TCR completed the top 10.
Tomorrow’s Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series event at Phillip Island continues with Race 2 at 1:05pm AEDT live and uninterrupted on Stan Sport.
The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia field will contest two 16-lap races at Phillip Island tomorrow forming the opening event for the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships together with the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS and Turtle Wax Trans Am Series.
Tickets for the event are on sale now and must be pre-purchased. CLICK HERE to secure your place at Phillip Island.
Live and on-demand coverage will be broadcast via Stan Sport, with six hours of coverage over on Sunday, starting at 11am AEDT. Viewers outside of Australia can watch free on motorsport.tv.
FAST AND FURIOUS - SWEENY QUALIFIES ON 6TH ROW FOR RACE 1 AT PHILLIP ISLAND
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai i30 N driver Bailey Sweeny will start Race 1 from the 6th row of the grid, after qualifying 13th, in the 21 car field, during Round 2 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia championship at Phillip Island.
Sweeny clocked the fast and flowing 4.4km circuit in a best time of 1.37.3 and will line up alongside fellow HMO Customer Racing teammate Nathan Morcom.
Race 1 gets underway at 4.10pm local time with all races shown live on TV through Stan Sport.
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai i30 N driver Bailey Sweeny will start Race 1 from the 6th row of the grid, after qualifying 13th, in the 21 car field, during Round 2 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia championship at Phillip Island.
Sweeny clocked the fast and flowing 4.4km circuit in a best time of 1.37.3 and will line up alongside fellow HMO Customer Racing teammate Nathan Morcom.
Race 1 gets underway at 4.10pm local time with all races shown live on TV through Stan Sport.
Bailey Sweeny
story via TCR Australia
Following on from his maiden win at AWC Race Tasmania last month, Jay Hanson has achieved his first Astrontech Pole Position for Round 2 of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at Phillip Island.
Hanson’s latest specification Audi RS3 LMS TCR will share the front row with Ashley Seward Motorsport driver Michael Caruso in the Autoglym-supported Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR, who fell short of the benchmark 1m 35.8130s by 0.3953s.
It was Fabian Coulthard in the Stan Sports Wall Racing Honda Civic Type R, who set the pace early by finishing atop after the first segment of qualifying with a 1m 36.1219s and was third in the final session until he caused a red flag after getting stuck in the Southern Loop gravel trap. He will start ninth.
Third on the grid is the Schaeffler GRM Peugeot 308 TCR of Dylan O’Keeffe, who lines up alongside impressive privateer Liam McAdam in the Forza Brakes Motorsport Audi RS3 LMS TCR.
Yesterday’s pacesetter Jordan Cox had a moment across Lukey Heights, but recovered to be fifth in the Swyftx GRM Peugeot 308 TCR. Team Soutar Motorsport’s Zac Soutar is sixth in the Spicers Civic Type R TCR, while fellow Honda driver Tony D’Alberto is seventh after being baulked in his pursuit of pole by Lachlan Mineeff’s Purple Sector Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR and both share the fourth row.
Coulthard is joined by MPC Team LIQUI MOLY Audi RS3 LMS TCR of Will Brown on the fifth row.
To be eliminated in the first segment of qualifying were GRM Peugeot pair Ben Bargwanna and Aaron Cameron, all three HMO Customer Racing Hyundai i30 N TCRs and Royal Purple Racing’s Brad Shiels.
The opening race for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at Phillip Island is scheduled to begin at 4:10pm AEDT.
The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia field will contest three 16-lap races at Phillip Island this weekend forming the opening event for the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships together with the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS and Turtle Wax Trans Am Series.
Tickets for the event are on sale now and must be pre-purchased. CLICK HERE to secure your place at Phillip Island.
Live and on-demand coverage will be broadcast via Stan Sport, with a bumper 12 hours of coverage over Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11am AEDT each day. Viewers outside of Australia can watch free on motorsport.tv.
ISLAND ATTACK - SWEENY HITS THE FAST FLOWING PHILLIP ISLAND ON DAY 1
HMO Customer Racing TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has launched out of the blocks and hit the track for practice, on Day 1, of Round 2, of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Phillip Island.
In a tight field of 21 drivers - which includes some of the biggest names in Australian motorsport - Sweeny finished the day to sit just outside the Top 10 - clocking the fast and free flowing Victorian circuit in a best time of 1.37.6918 in his Hyundai I30N TCR car - eventually settling in at 14th overall.
When combined over the 2 sessions, Bailey sits 15th with Qualifying and Race 1 to come tomorrow.
HMO Customer Racing TCR Australia driver Bailey Sweeny has launched out of the blocks and hit the track for practice, on Day 1, of Round 2, of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Phillip Island.
In a tight field of 21 drivers - which includes some of the biggest names in Australian motorsport - Sweeny finished the day to sit just outside the Top 10 - clocking the fast and free flowing Victorian circuit in a best time of 1.37.6918 in his Hyundai I30N TCR car - eventually settling in at 14th overall.
When combined over the 2 sessions, Bailey sits 15th with Qualifying and Race 1 to come tomorrow.
Bailey Sweeny
DAY 1 PRACTICE WRAP BY: TCR AUSTRALIA
Swyftx GRM driver Jordan Cox will enter Saturday’s qualifying and opening race with added confidence after finishing on top in today’s final Supercheap Auto TCR Australia practice session.
In a session where the top 10 drivers were separated by less than a second, Cox finished 0.0237s clear of the Stan Sport Wall Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR of Fabian Coulthard.
Making it two Garry Rogers Motorsport Peugeots in the top three was Team Valvoline GRM’s Aaron Cameron, who finished just clear of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series leader Josh Buchan in the HMO Customer Racing Hyundai i30N TCR.
Dylan O’Keeffe completed the top five driving the Schaeffler GRM Peugeot 308 TCR, while Ben Bargwanna continued the French marque’s strong form in sixth.
CLICK HERE for results.
Rounding out the top 10 were opening practice fast man Jay Hanson, teammate Will Brown, Michael Caruso and Kody Garland in the Team Valvoline GRM Renault Megane R.S. TCR.
In 11th was Nathan Morcom driving the second HMO Customer Racing Hyundai, the privateer Honda of Zac Soutar finished 13th ahead of factory backed Tony D’Alberto in 16th, with LMCT+ Racing GRM’s James Moffat 17th in the second Renault Megane R.S. TCR.
Supercheap Auto TCR Australia action begins at 11:20am for qualifying ahead of Race 1 at 4:10pm both live and uninterrupted on Stan Sport.
The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia field will contest three 16-lap races at Phillip Island this weekend forming the opening event for the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships together with the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS and Turtle Wax Trans Am Series.
Tickets for the event are on sale now and must be pre-purchased.
CLICK HERE to secure your place at Phillip Island.
Live and on-demand coverage will be broadcast via Stan Sport, with a bumper 12 hours of coverage over Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11am AEDT each day. Viewers outside of Australia can watch free on motorsport.tv.
TCR ROUND 2 - PHILLIP ISLAND SCHEDULE RELEASED
Following a thrilling first round of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at AWC Race Tasmania, the schedule has been released for the next stop on the calendar at Phillip Island on March 18-20.
The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series headlines a bumper seven category program for the first Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships round of the season at Phillip Island, where the category makes its third appearance.
Following a thrilling first round of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at AWC Race Tasmania, the schedule has been released for the next stop on the calendar at Phillip Island on March 18-20.
The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series headlines a bumper seven category program for the first Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships round of the season at Phillip Island, where the category makes its third appearance.
Thursday night provides fans the opportunity to mingle with the drivers and get up close to some of the cars of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at a street party located in Cowes from 5:30pm leading into a packed weekend of racing.
On-track action begins on Friday with a pair of practice sessions starting at 11:45am AEDT, while the second is scheduled for 2:35pm AEDT.
Qualifying and the opening race of three for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia occurs on Saturday, with the two part session starting at 11:20am AEDT before the final 10-minute instalment to decide pole following at 11:40am AEDT all being shown live on Stan Sport.
Completing the second day of Shannons Motorsport Australia Championship action is the opening 16-lap encounter for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at 4:10pm AEDT.
Concluding the second round of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia are final two races, with the first scheduled to start at 1:05pm, before the finale at 4:10pm AEDT again live on Stan Sport.
Currently, HMO Customer Racing’s Josh Buchan leads the standings heading to Phillip Island, holding just a two-point advantage from privateer Zac Soutar, who in turn holds the same margin from factory Honda driver Tony D’Alberto in third.
The second round of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia will be part of the opening Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships event of the season at Phillip Island on March 18-20.
CLICK HERE for tickets.
Anyone wishing to attend the event is reminded tickets will not be available for purchase at the gate. Tickets must be purchased via Eventbrite prior to entry. Purchasing your tickets in advance will save you time at the gate.
Schedule
Friday
TimeCategorySession11:45am-12:10pm AEDT (25 minutes)Supercheap Auto TCR Australia SeriesPractice 12:35pm-3:05pm AEDT (30 minutes)Supercheap Auto TCR Australia SeriesPractice 2
Saturday
TimeCategorySession11:20am-11:35am AEDT (15 minutes)Supercheap Auto TCR Australia SeriesQualifying 111:40am-11:50am AEDT (10 minutes)Supercheap Auto TCR Australia SeriesQualifying 24:10pm-4:40pm AEDT (16-laps)Supercheap Auto TCR Australia SeriesRace 1
Sunday
TimeCategorySession1:05pm-1:35pm AEDT (16-laps)Supercheap Auto TCR Australia SeriesRace 24:10pm-4:40pm AEDT (16-laps)Supercheap Auto TCR Australia SeriesRace 3
SWEENY HOME IN 4th AS MONSOONAL RAIN SLAMS SYDNEY
All 4 Mechanical Erebus Academy driver Bailey Sweeny has come home in a strong 4th place - from the 34 car field - during the final race of the opening round of the 2022 Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 championship, at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Conditions throughout the whole weekend can only be described as soaking wet.
So much rain fell during the course of the weekend that Race 2 was set to be cancelled, with both the circuit and the pit area completely under water in parts, however after a delayed start it was run.
Sweeney showed true courage to bring the car home in 4th after battling with Bathurst 1000 podium legend Warren Luff.
All 4 Mechanical Erebus Academy driver Bailey Sweeny has come home in a strong 4th place - from the 34 car field - during the final race of the opening round of the 2022 Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 championship, at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Conditions throughout the whole weekend can only be described as soaking wet.
So much rain fell during the course of the weekend that Race 2 was set to be cancelled, with both the circuit and the pit area completely under water in parts, however after a delayed start it was run.
Sweeney showed true courage to bring the car home in 4th after battling with Bathurst 1000 podium legend Warren Luff.
Round 2 of the TGRA86 series takes place in Townsville, Qld on 8 -1 0 July.
Sweeny’s next race however will be at the wheel of the Hyundai TCR car when when he tackles the Phillip Island circuit on 18 - 22 March, 2022.
Bailey Sweeny is seen at Sydney Motorsport Park
Sydney Motorsport Park is seen underwater on race day.
SWEET SUCCESS - SWEENY SECURES PODIUM + SILVERWARE IN TCR
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR driver Bailey Sweeny has stunned the field to grab a second place podium finish in Race 2 on Sunday, during Round 1 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.
On debut - at a track he has never competed on - in a new team - in a new car - and competing against some of the biggest names in Australian motorsport - 19 year old Sweeny came home just behind winner Jordan Cox.
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR driver Bailey Sweeny has stunned the field to grab a second place podium finish in Race 2 on Sunday, during Round 1 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.
On debut - at a track he has never competed on - in a new team - in a new car - and competing against some of the biggest names in Australian motorsport - 19 year old Sweeny came home just behind winner Jordan Cox.
Bailey Sweeny is seen at Symmons Plains in Tasmania - PIC BY: REDBEARDPHOTOMEDIA
story via TCR Australia
Jordan Cox has replicated his win from last year’s event by securing a frantic second race for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at AWC Race Tasmania.
An even start by Cox and Aaron Cameron resulted in a collision at Turn 1 fighting for the lead, which resulted in the Valvoline Racing GRM Peugeot 308 TCR popping a turbo hose forcing last year’s series runner up into the pits.
CLICK HERE for results
Cox maintained the lead as HMO Customer Racing’s Bailey Sweeny moved to second after diving down the inside of Tony D’Alberto in the Honda Wall Racing Civic Type R TCR at the hairpin.
Will Brown was battling James Moffat for fifth and successfully passed the LMCT+ Renault Megane R.S. TCR at Turn 5, but yesterday’s race winner Jay Hanson was not so lucky as he aimed to take advantage.
In his new Audi, Hanson tried to follow his teammate through entering the front straight, but contact ensued sending Moffat heavily into the tyre wall. Hanson’s Audi also suffered race ending damage.
The safety car boards came out at the perfect time for Cox as Sweeny made a massive play for the lead, but had to slow behind the GRM Peugeot.
A driveline problem for Lachlan Mineeff in the Purple Sector Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR left him stranded exiting Turn 3. Fellow privateer Liam McAdam was also in trouble after finding the gravel trap at Turn 4.
At the restart on lap 15, Cox led Sweeny, D’Alberto, Brown and Soutar, but not for long as the HMO Customer Racing Hyundai i30N TCR of Josh Buchan moved down the inside at Turn 5.
The was drama right at the end of the race as D’Alberto and Brown fought for the final podium spot, with the MPC Team LIQUI MOLY Audi RS3 LMS TCR on the grass on the front straight after sliding down the inside of the Honda at Turn 5.
Despite brake troubles, Cox held on from Sweeny for his first podium finish in the category in just his second race.
D’Alberto, Brown, Buchan, Soutar, Dylan O’Keeffe, Brad Shiels, Ashley Seward Motorsport’s Michael Caruso and Ben Bargwanna.
THIRD ROW START FOR SWEENY ON SUNDAY AFTER SUCCESSFUL TCR DEBUT RACE 1
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR driver Bailey Sweeny will start Race 2 on Sunday from the third row after a solid opening Race 1 saw him finish 15th overall, during Round 1 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.
On debut - at a track he has never competed on - in a new team - in a new car - and competing against some of the biggest names in Australian motorsport - 19 year old Sweeny stunned the vastly more experienced field in qualifying - at one stage leading the pack and on pole position with only 2 minutes to go.
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR driver Bailey Sweeny will start Race 2 on Sunday from the third row after a solid opening Race 1 saw him finish 15th overall, during Round 1 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.
On debut - at a track he has never competed on - in a new team - in a new car - and competing against some of the biggest names in Australian motorsport - 19 year old Sweeny stunned the vastly more experienced field in qualifying - at one stage leading the pack and on pole position with only 2 minutes to go.
Sweeny said after Race 1, ‘I cooked the brakes a bit early on and that lost us some time but the car is fast and I know we will be right in the mix tomorrow…I cant wait’.
Bailey Sweeny competing at TCR Australia in Tasmania - PIC BY: REDBEARD PHOTOMEDIA
story via TCR Australia
AWC MPC Racing’s Jay Hanson has given his new Audi RS3 LMS TCR a dream debut to take a dominating victory at AWC Race Tasmania.
It was Hanson’s first victory in the category and makes him the 16th different driver to do so, winning by 5.2s clear of HMO Customer Racing’s Josh Buchan, while teammate Nathan Morcom took third.
In dramatic circumstances, Jordan Cox spun on the parade lap and was forced to start from pit lane.
CLICK HERE for results.
Hanson bobbled, but still managed to move into the lead from polesitter Nathan Morcom in the debut of his latest specification Audi RS3 LMS TCR.
Another mover of the start was Morcom’s HMO Customer Racing teammate Josh Buchan as slight contact was made with Will Brown in the MPC Team LIQUI MOLY Audi RS3 LMS TCR to secure third from the previous series winner.
James Moffat was aiming to make up for his mistake in qualifying and quickly passed Honda privateer Zac Soutar, then Brown in succession as he began to chase down Buchan in third.
GRM stablemate Aaron Cameron was also scything his way through the field to be fifth behind Moffat, but ahead of Soutar, Brown, the Honda-supported Wall Racing entry of Tony D’Alberto, the Schaeffler Peugeot 308 of Dylan O’Keeffe and Brad Shiels.
The battle for 10th was crucial as it secures pole for tomorrow’s Race 2, but Shiels lost this position to Stan Sport Wall Racing’s Fabian Coulthard at Turn 6, but after experiencing power steering problems throughout the weekend Michael Caruso was pressing in the Ashley Seward Motorsport Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR.
Hanson held a 3.8s lead from Buchan, Morcom and a menacing Moffat on lap 18.
The battle for 10th was intensifying as Shiels paid back Coulthard to pass the Honda into Turn 6 after the latter made a mistake at the hairpin. This put the Stan Sport Wall Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR under pressure from Caruso, who was aiming to continue his charge.
No one could touch Hanson as behind the lead three, Moffat just failed to get his Renault on the podium from Cameron, Soutar, Brown, D’Alberto, O’Keeffe and Shiels, who will start Race 2 from pole position.
Coulthard and Caruso finished just outside the top 10.
Tomorrow’s Race 2 is scheduled to start at 2:25pm AEDT on Stan Sport and 9Gem.
SWEENY STARS IN TASMANIA - QUALIFYING - WILL START RACE 1 FROM 4TH ROW
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR driver Bailey Sweeny has stunned the field in qualifying - at one stage leading the pack and on pole position with only 2 minutes to go - during Round 1 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.
In what was the closest and most ferociously contested qualifying sessions ever in Supercheap Auto TCR Australia, it was Sweeny’s team mate, the Hyundai i30N TCR driven by Nathan Morcom who scored pole position for this afternoon’s season opener.
Eventualy, Sweeny would be relegated to the 4th row - by a mere 0.3 of a second - but the run was a stunning performance - on debut - at the track, in a new car and in a new team.
HMO Customer Racing Hyundai TCR driver Bailey Sweeny has stunned the field in qualifying - at one stage leading the pack and on pole position with only 2 minutes to go - during Round 1 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.
In what was the closest and most ferociously contested qualifying sessions ever in Supercheap Auto TCR Australia, it was Sweeny’s team mate, the Hyundai i30N TCR driven by Nathan Morcom who scored pole position for this afternoon’s season opener.
Eventualy, Sweeny would be relegated to the 4th row - by a mere 0.3 of a second - but the run was a stunning performance - on debut - at the track, in a new car and in a new team.
Bailey Sweeny is seen in his Hyundai TCR car at Symmons Plains - PIC BY: REDBEARDPHOTOMEDIA
story via TCR Australia
In what was the closest and most ferociously contested qualifying sessions ever in Supercheap Auto TCR Australia, it was the Hyundai i30N TCR driven by Nathan Morcom scoring pole position for this afternoon’s season opener.
Morcom set a 55.2931s to edge AWC MPC Racing driver Jay Hanson in the new latest specification Audi RS3 LMS TCR by 0.0128s as the entire top 10 were all within one second.
Will Brown led the first segment of qualifying, but will start third in the MPC Team LIQUI MOLY Audi RS3 LMS TCR alongside Morcom’s HMO Customer Racing teammate Josh Buchan, who scored a debut podium in last year’s opening event.
Superb practice pace translated into qualifying for Honda privateer Zac Soutar as he qualified fifth, while a last lap lock up prevented the LMCT+ Renault Megane R.S. TCR of James Moffat from improving and will start sixth.
In a change of fortunes compared to last year, Honda-supported Tony D’Alberto was just 0.3187s behind Morcom’s pace in the Wall Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR to be seventh from impressive debutant Bailey Sweeny, who made it three HMO Customer Racing Hyundais in the 10 to be seventh.
A last gasp lap enabled Valvoline Racing GRM’s Aaron Cameron to make the second qualifying segment, but starts ninth alongside fellow Peugeot 308 TCR driver Jordan Cox on the final row.
Supercheap Auto TCR Australia race winner Dylan O’Keeffe was pushed out late in his first Peugeot qualifying session and starts 11th, while right behind is Fabian Coulthard in the Stan Sport Wall Racing Honda Civic Type R.
Ashley Seward Motorsport driver Michael Caruso was troubled with a power steering fault and was unable to set a time in the Autoglym Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR.
The opening race of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia season occurs at 4:25pm AEDT on Stan Sport and 9Gem.