AutoAction
FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINE SIGN UP

SUPERCARS ‘BANS’ TCR

Supercars bans TCR - Photo: InSyde Media

By Bruce Williams

Supercars bans TCR - Photo: InSyde Media

Supercars bans TCR – Photo: InSyde Media

SUPERCARS HAS moved to block rival touring car series TCR Australia’s bid to gain a place on the Adelaide 500 undercard.

By MARK FOGARTY

AUTO ACTION has learned that Supercars has objected to TCR races at the V8s’ traditional season season-opener, citing contract issues.

TCR Australia Series promoter Australian Racing Group and Adelaide 500 organisers are understood to have agreed on the two-litre front-drive hot hatchbacks joining the support race program.

AA can also reveal that a planned announcement yesterday (Monday) was cancelled because of the Supercars opposition.

Local TCR promoter ARG and race organisers had scheduled a launch in the pit lane of the Adelaide Parklands street circuit.

Leading teams from the third round of the TCR Australia Series at The Bend Motorsport Park were due to attend on their way home.

ARG and the Adelaide 500 have done a deal for the opening round of the 2020 TCR Australia Series to join the support race program of the Supercars championship season-opening event from February 20-23.

It is understood TCR will also join Supercars on the undercard of the March 12-15 F1 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne.

The Adelaide 500 is one of the few rounds not promoted by Supercars and can decide what categories appear on the popular event’s support race program, subject to contractual restrictions.

AA understands that Supercars is objecting to TCR’s inclusion on the basis that is a breach of contract, claiming that its agreement with the SA government-backed event has a non-competing category clause.

Despite rumours that Supercars had threatened legal action to stop TCR’s inclusion on the Adelaide 500 program, AA’s investigations indicate that so far it has only “raised an objection”.

According to informed sources, there is a clause in Supercars’ contract with the South Australian Tourism Commission – which underwrites the event – that gives it a say, if not a veto, on support race categories.

Supercars issued a “No comment” response when contacted by AA.

CAMS, which has licensed ARG as the TCR category manager in Australia, is taking a neutral stance in the dispute.

“CAMS is not party to negotiations between the promoters and category managers seeking to take part in the Adelaide 500,” a spokesman said.

Adelaide 500 chief executive officer Alistair McDonald told AA that TCR was among the potential support categories for next year’s event.

“Certainly, they’re one of the groups we’re talking to,” McDonald said. “But there’s no agreement in place at the moment. We’re working towards an agreement. We’re in no rush.”

He was evasive about yesterday’s planned announcement, asserting that “I think that might be one side’s interpretation”.

McDonald re-emphasised that “There’s no agreement in place at the moment”, despite all evidence to the contrary.

ARG director and former Supercars supremo James Warburton admitted that TCR was in active talks to join the Adelaide 500 undercard.
“We have been in positive discussions with the SATC about being part of the event for 2020,” he told AUTO ACTION. “TCR will bring strong manufacturer and corporate support, a younger demographic and a large field with potential competitors from the Asian region, producing some great racing which would add to the spectacle.”

Supercars sources were adamant that no threat of legal action had been made to the Adelaide 500 organisers.

“We’ve pointed out our contract,” said an insider, who agreed that Supercars had “raised an objection” to TCR being on the support trace program.

TCR Australia Series boss Matt Braid, another former senior Supercars executive, conceded that ARG was looking to expand into major events next year.

“Moving forward, we’re looking to add some major events in due course.”

Amid the obfuscation, it is clear TCR Australia Series has at least provisionally done a deal to race in Adelaide and that Supercars is offering robust opposition.

It is the first salvo in another potential Australian touring car racing civil war.

Although ARG has been careful not to position the multi-marque TCR Australia Series as a rival to Supercars – much less a threat – the V8 racing body has been resistant to the worldwide two-litre tin-top category’s arrival.

Supercars rejected approaches from ARG to be on the support race program of selected V8 events, fearing competition from a cheaper touring car class with broad appeal to manufacturers.

TCR Australia, which is backed by a consortium of wealthy investors including reclusive PAYCE boss Brian Boyd, has attracted eight makes with limited or no factory support.

Supercars has just three makes, of which only Ford and Holden are financially engaged.

Supercars has also actively tried to dissuade established V8 drivers and teams from competing in the TCR Australia Series.

While no current star driver is involved, fast-rising young gun Andre Heimgartner is racing for Kelly Racing, which like Garry Rogers Motorsport is running four cars.

Leading Supercars enduro co-drivers Garth Tander, James Moffat, Will Brown, Chris Pither and Tony D’Alberto are TCR Australia Series drawcards, while veteran Russell Ingall came out of retirement for The Bend.

The growing friction between Supercars and TCR Australia is reminiscent of the V8 versus two-litre Super Touring war of the mid-to-late 1990s.

The then V8 Supercars won that split – which resulted in opposing Bathurst 1000s in 1997/98 – but TCR is even more global and cost-effective.

Although not a rival to Supercars in terms of spectacle, TCR is attractive to many more teams because its rigid cost controls make it much more affordable.

It also appeals to motor racing fans because of the diversity of makes and the close competition in short, sharp races.

TCR Australia Series races are shown live on free-to-air network SBS, providing no-cost access to all racing fans.

For more of the latest TCR Australia news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media FacebookTwitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.