Casha wins while Oliphant fumes in TCR Australia Race 2

Garry Rogers Motorsport’s Ryan Casha claimed his maiden TCR Australia victory in the reversed-grid race at Queensland Raceway.

Casha started on pole alongside Wall Racing’s Will Harris, with GRM team-mates Jordan Cox and Ben Bargwanna on row two of the grid.

There was wheelspin for all four off the line, and Bargwanna drew alongside Cox but then had to tuck back in behind as they got to the narrow opening corner.

Casha made the most of clear air up front to manage his tyres, put in a mistake-free drive and pull away, eventually winning by 2.3 seconds.

Bargwanna quickly fell down the order, and HMO Customer Racing’s Josh Buchan moved into fourth then applied intense pressure on Cox who had to push hard on his tyres to keep Buchan at bay. Both cleared Harris, who dropped to eighth, and Buchan also ate into the points lead of Tufflift Racing’s Zac Soutar who finished sixth.

The fastest driver on track was Buchan’s team-mate Tom Oliphant but he only came 11th after serving a drive-through penalty for being found at fault for contact that resulted from a three-wide moment with GRM’s Aaron Cameron and Bargwanna at turn three.

Cameron picked up a puncture from it and had to retire, and Bargwanna’s car was also damaged so he finished over a minute behind the winner.

“It’s an absolute joke. I don’t even know what I’ve been done for,” was Oliphant’s post-race reaction to his penalty after he attempted to speak to race control.

Race 3 is scheduled for 16:15 local time.