Photo: TCR Australia

Tony D’Alberto claims first 2024 win at Queensland Raceway

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Tony D’Alberto claimed his first TCR Australia win of 2024 in the first race of the weekend at Queensland Raceway.

The Wall Racing Honda driver started from pole thanks to the fact that pole sitter Tom Oliphant (Hyundai) received a five-place grid penalty for changing engine.

D’Alberto made a strong start from pole to head the field from lights to flag.

Ashley Seward Motorsport driver Dylan O’Keeffe stalled on the grid as the lights went out and was towed into the pits without the safety car having to enter the track.

Peugeot driver Aaron Cameron made a strong start from fourth place, but not strong enough to get past D’Alberto.

Oliphant tried making up ground after his grid penalty and passed Brad Harris early in the race for fourth place and later Audi driver Zac Soutar for third.

And that was as high up that the HMO Customer Racing managed to climb from fifth on the grid.

D’Alberto won the race just under a second ahead of Garry Rogers Motorsport driver Cameron, with Soutar close to five seconds behind in third.

Oliphant came home in fourth ahead of Brad Harris and Hyundai driver Josh Buchan.

The second race of the weekend starts at 13:45 local time on Sunday.