CAMS BACKS TCR IN AUSTRALIA

New Touring Car Series mooted for 2019.

TCR has a strong presence in Asia already

CAMS’S ANNOUNCEMENT on Thursday that it would back the development of a TCR touring car category in Australia has met with a measured response.

The sport’s governing body said in a statement that it had reached an agreement with WSC Ltd, the parent company of TCR, to develop the category in Australia.

TCR was formed in 2014 as a cheaper Touring Car formula based on the GT3 structure of GT racing and has since attracted a number of manufacturers including Audi, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Opel, Peugeot, Seat and Volkswagen alongside privately developed cars include Alfa Romeo, Renault and Subaru. Further cars being developed include Mini and Volvo for new series in the USA and the WTCR.

Supercars have reacted with surprise to the news that CAMS is involving itself with a new-to-Australia tin-top category.

“We are surprised that CAMS would take on the commercial management of a racing category,” a Supercars spokesman told Auto Action.

“Supercars does not believe that another racing category would be sustainable in this country.”

TCR is growing globally with series run across Europe, Asia and the Americas

AA also sought comment from Adam Hammond, who has been involved with the TCR category since late 2016, who said he wonders whether CAMS is sticking to its job.

“The FIA needs to come down to Australia and have a really good look at what CAMS is supposed to be and what they have turned themselves into, that’s first and foremost,” Hammond told Auto Action.

“In my view and many other people’s view, CAMS should be Australia’s representation for the FIA, meaning they should concentrate on regulations, safety and drumming up interest in motorsport, especially among young and new drivers.

“The FIA needs to put them back in their box.”

Hammond also said that interest was strong from overseas teams and there had been a discussion with Supercars about having cars compete in this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour.

A partnership with the flourishing TCR Asia Series was also muted, with Hammond confident that would work in Australia.

“I have also spoken to the owner of TCR Asia, who was very interested in working together to make sure that Asian drivers had an opportunity to drive in Australian events – a couple of those per year – and we had an opportunity to go over to Asia a couple of times per year because it is very well established in Asia.

“I have emails from some of the top teams saying they are interested.”

CAMS said in its statement that it had a five-year agreement with WSC, the organisation behind TCR, to develop the series locally, starting in 2019. Expressions of Interest are now open, and CAMS said it would “confirm the promoter in due course”.

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