Photo: TCR Australia

20 cars entered for 2022 TCR Australia opener

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20 cars will be on the grid for the 2022 TCR Australia opener at Symmons Plains this weekend, the so far biggest grid of the series.

Reigning champion Chaz Mostert is missing from the grid, with his seat at Melbourne Performance Centre taken over by 2019 champion Will Brown.

Brown is going to drive the same Audi RS 3 LMS that Mostert drove to the title last year, while Brown’s team-mate Jay Hanson is going to drive the new generation Audi RS 3 LMS.

Last year’s runner-up, Aaron Cameron, continues with Garry Rogers Motorsport, a team that will be present with a total of six cars this season, four Peugeots and two Renaults.

Cameron will drive the same Peugeot 308TCR of last year and will definitely be one of the title challengers this year.

Cameron’s team-mate Jordan Cox, who finished third overall, has switched from Alfa Romeo to Peugeot this year as GRM has ditched the Italian manufacturer for 2022.

Another GRM Peugeot driver to watch is Ben Bargwanna, getting full focus from his father Jason Bargwanna who has taken on the role as team manager and mentor instead of driver.

The GRM Renault squad consists of James Moffat, who finished eighth last year for the team, and newcomer Kody Garland.

Supercars Championship front-runner Fabian Coulthard will make a one-off appearance in the series at Symmons Plains, driving a Honda Civic Type R TCR for Wall Racing alongside regular driver Tony D’Alberto.

Michael Caruso has switched from GRM to Ashley Seward Motorsport where he will drive an Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR, coming from a strong final part of the 2021 season where he claimed four podiums from the last five races to finish eleventh overall.

Hyundai team HMO Customer Racing has entered three i30 N TCRs for drivers Nathan Morcom, Josh Buchan and Bailey Sweeney.

While Sweeney is new to HMO, Morcom and Buchan will start their third and second year respectively with the team, having finished sixth and seventh overall last year.

A total of three races will be held over the weekend, the first on Saturday and two on Sunday.

2022 TCR Australia entry list
8 – Dylan O’Keeffe – Schaeffler GRM – Peugeot 308TCR
9 – Jay Hanson – AWC MPC Racing – Audi RS 3 LMS TCR
10 – Michael Caruso – Ashley Seward Motorsport – Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR
11 – Nathan Morcom – HMO Customer Racing – Hyundai i30 N TCR
14 – Lachlan Mineef – Melbourne Performance Centre – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
18 – Aaron Cameron – Team Valvoline GRM – Peugeot 308TCR
24 – Fabian Coulthard – Stan Sport Wall Racing – Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR
30 – Josh Buchan – HMO Customer Racing – Hyundai i30 N TCR
33 – Jordan Cox – Swyftx GRM – Peugeot 308TCR
34 – James Moffat – LMCT+ Racing GRM – Renault Mégane RS TCR
41 – Kody Garland – Valvoline Racing GRM – Renault Mégane RS TCR
44 – Eddie Maguire – Melbourne Performance Centre – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
50 – Tony D’Alberto – Honda Wall Racing – Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR
71 – Ben Bargwanna – Burson Auto Parts GRM – Peugeot 308TCR
89 – Braydan Willmington – Willmington Motorsports – Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR
97 – Liam McAdam – Forza Brakes Motorsport – Audi RS 3 LMS
110 – Zac Soutar – Team Soutar Motorsport – Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR
130 – Bailey Sweeny – HMO Customer Racing – Hyundai i30 N TCR
333 – Brad Shiels – Royal Purple Tilton Racing – Hyundai i30 N TCR
999 – Will Brown – Liqui Moly MPC Racing – Audi RS 3 LMS

Schedule – Symmons Plains
February 11th
11:10 – Practice 1
13:35 – Practice 2

February 12th
14:20 – Qualifying
16:25 – Race 1

February 13th
14:25 – Race 2
16:20 – Race 3

Times in AEDT (+10h CET)