EXCEL CHAMPION TO SET UP TO TCR IN 2020
Michael Clemente to step up to TCR in 2020 – Photo: Supplied
Michael Clemente will step up to compete in next years TCR Australia Series after purchasing one of the Wall Racing Hondas.
Clemente, a former national Hyundai Excel champion and CAMS future star recipient, has acquired the Honda Civic Type R, last raced to success by Nestor Girolami at the Sandown TCR Australia round.
At that event, Argentinian Girolami qualified on pole and won all three races. The car was also driven during the year by Jordan Cox (Tailem Bend), New Zealand driver Jordan Michels (Queensland Raceway) and Tim Brook (Winton).
Clemente, 18, got his first taste for TCR racing at the driver evaluation test day at Winton in August where he drove one of the Wall Racing Hondas.
“The TCR Australia Series has taken off this year and the amount of support on offer from Wall Racing made the decision easy,” said Clemente.
“While the step to TCR is pretty daunting, there is lots to look forward to and I am really excited to get into the season.
“The team at the Australian Racing Group has been fantastic and have helped make the transition possible with the evaluation day at Winton. That was crucial in giving me the chance to see what the car was like.”
Based on that test, Clemente and his family team decided to purchase the #38 Honda outright and will contest the entire series as a privateer effort, using Wall Racing as a distributor of parts and racing-specific items.
It has been a fast rise from karts to top-line touring car racing for the Sanctuary Lakes, Victoria, resident. After three seasons in state and national-level Excel racing, Clemente is taking the leap into TCR Australia and hopes that his front-wheel drive experience will fast track his TCR learning curve.
“TCR is a category that is going places and one of the few opportunities to showcase a driver on a nationally-televised stage” said David Burn, Team Principal, Michael Clemente Motorsport.
“Michael has clearly got the talent to go further and as a team we made a decision to transition to TCR with him to support him on his journey.”
Clemente will be eligible for the Michelin Cup prize in 2020 which will offer a young, non-professional the chance to test with an international TCR team at the end of the 2020 season.
Clemente will take delivery of the car in the coming weeks with a number of test days planned before the opening event for the TCR Australia field, racing at the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park for the TCR Asia Pacific Cup.
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