TRANS AM TUG O’ WAR

Trans Am Tug O’ War

Peace talks have begun to try to settle the dispute over control of the popular second-level TA2 V8 muscle car racers, which are also at the centre of a licensing wrangle.

By MARK FOGARTY

After falling out over a planned co-operative agreement, Trans Am rights holder Australian Racing Group and TA2 Muscle Car Series promoter Peter Robinson are in discussions to revive the deal.

They fell out over arguments about who controls imports of the Australian-spec TA2 control chassis and engine, which are draped in bodywork resembling the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger.

Robinson’s PBR organisation, while acknowledging ARG’s rights to Trans Am brands in Australia and New Zealand, maintains it is the exclusive agent for the American-sourced TA2 package as raced here.

Auto Action has learned that TA2 stakeholders met in Bathurst last Thursday to thrash out a compromise arrangement with ARG.

While ARG was not represented at the meeting, senior executives of the fast-growing promoter were aware and supportive of the TA2 summit.

In the background, Supercars is believed to have looked at TA2 to inform the Gen3 regulations, which are due in 2022.

Talks are continuing to resurrect the agreement for ARG and PRB to co-operate on the Trans Am National Series, which will join the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships, starting at this month’s Adelaide 500.

ARG is adding TA2 to its line-up of TCR, S5000 and Touring Car Masters, offering competitors in the control spec V8 category a chance to run at major Motorsport Australia-sanctioned meetings with free-to-air TV coverage on the Seven Network.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series runs outside the FIA in the unaffiliated AASA-run Australian Motor Racing Series.

TA2 would be a popular addition to ARG’s portfolio as the low-cost V8 racers are a great spectacle.

ARG is committed to the Trans Am National Series, expecting about 20 TA2 entries in Adelaide.

The squabble over TA2 is complicated and confusing.

Essentially, PRB has been running the control category — successfully — outside the official channels, sourcing cars in an exclusive agreement for Australia and NZ with Howe Racing in the US.

While it suggests it has a local trademark for TA2 Muscle Car Series, PRB says it has no agreement with Trans Am Race Company, the American group that owns the worldwide Trans Am brands.

ARG has the Australasian rights to Trans Am and TA2 through its acquisition of the Touring Car Masters category management agreement from Motorsport Australia, which included Trans Am marques.

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