SEAMER DEFLECTS GRM WILDCARD FATE ONTO MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA

Sean Seamer deflects GRM fate onto Motorsport Australia – Photo: Optikal Photography

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer has deflected the fate of Garry Rogers Motorsport’s wildcard entry onto Motorsport Australia as the team continues to fight the decision.

By HEATH McALPINE

It comes after TA2 racer Nathan Herne was denied a Superlicence on Monday evening by Motorsport Australia after it was announced last week that he was to join Super2 driver Tyler Everingham at next month’s Bathurst 1000.

The pair completed more than 250-laps of testing at Winton yesterday in the ex-James Golding ZB Commodore they plan to make their Bathurst 1000 debut in.

Support has been widespread for GRM, including from Winton circuit manager and ex-Supercars team boss Jeff Grech, who provided a glowing reference to Motorsport Australia to back Herne’s appeal.

Seamer admitted that although the popular team’s return to the grid was a pleasing addition, the necessary licencing was required to compete.

“We’ve been really clear from the outset that we welcome GRM back and we’d love to have them at Bathurst as long as the driver and the car are appropriately licenced,” said Seamer.

“Our position on that hasn’t changed.”

Seamer denied that any conversations between Supercars and GRM had taken place during the wildcard process in regards to choosing a driver from Super2 or Super3.

“Not that I’m aware of,” Seamer declared. “The question around the licencing, they’re either licenced or they’re not.”

A minimum of 13 Superlicence points is required to enter a Supercars event; however, Herne has only accrued 10, courtesy of winning two state Formula Ford titles in 2018.

Already confirmed as making his Great Race debut, reigning Super3 Series winner Broc Feeney will enter the event having only accumulated nine points after receiving an exemption.

Seven points were acquired thanks to his Super3 success last year and two by winning the Australian KA2 Kart Championship in 2017.

He finished sixth in the 2018 Toyota 86 Racing Series, which was one place out of the Superlicence points.

The key difference between the two is the amount of Motorsport Australia events each have entered with Feeney spending most of his career racing at MA-sanctioned events.

Herne, on the other hand, has for the past few seasons competed in the TA2 Muscle Car Series on the AASA-sanctioned Australian Motor Racing Series program.

His sole outings on a Motorsport Australia bill were at the Bathurst 12 Hour within the Combined Sedans and in Adelaide for the opening round of the ARG-promoted Trans Am Series.

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