Hyundai Elantra to make TCR Australia debut

HMO Customer Racing has announced that it will give the Hyundai Elantra TCR its debut in TCR Australia during the season finale at Bathurst.

Josh Buchan, who currently sits fourth in the standings, will race the car as he makes the switch over from the i30 N TCR that the team has used since the launch of the series back in 2019.

Both Buchan and team-mate Nathan Morcom sampled the car – dubbed the i30 Sedan in the Australian market – for the first time during a shakedown test at Winton Raceway this week.

“It’s very exciting that new cars are being introduced to the category, which shows the growth of the championship and its relevance to manufacturers such as Hyundai,” Buchan said. “I’ve never driven a brand-new anything before – from go-karts and throughout my car racing career – so to be given this opportunity is very special.

“On top of that, to learn that I will then be driving the i30 Sedan N TCR for the first time in competition at Bathurst is phenomenal and a genuine privilege. It’s a real honour to have the support to make this happen from all the team at HMO Customer Racing, including team owner Barry Morcom and my chief engineer Rob Benson, and also Hyundai Australia.

“While it is not ideal that I will be heading to Bathurst with very few laps under my belt, we have already proven how successful the i30 N TCR already is in hatchback form with multiple wins and are confident the i30 Sedan N TCR will be just as competitive, particularly at Bathurst.

“In any case, it is be great to get a better understanding of the car ahead of next year so we can get a head start and hit the ground running for a full title tilt in 2023.”