ANOTHER YOUNG DRIVER AIMS FOR TCR

Mazda RX-8 Cup Series driver Tom Shaw is the latest state-based young driver aiming to progress to TCR Australia after a recent test.

Shaw is the son of Bathurst 1000 and production car regular Ric Shaw, but is hoping to be on the grid possibly at one of the year’s rounds after completing a test at Wakefield Park with series winning team HMO Customer Racing.

Keen to follow in the footsteps of previous state-based drivers Jordan Cox, Michael Clemente and Brad Shields, Shaw is hopeful of making his debut soon.

“We’re definitely looking at it and trying to make it work for Morgan Park,” said Shaw.

“The HMO team were happy with the test, so there’s a possibility at the moment. There’s nothing firm yet, so we’re working hard before Morgan Park to see if we can pull it off.

“I love the team, the car and the series. It’s always been a dream to drive in TCR. It’s definitely something I am looking towards.

“The category is great, especially with media, fans and the whole ethos of the series – TCR is on the right path.”

Shaw was impressed by the HMO Customer Racing i30 N TCR he tested, which has been driven at the past two rounds by Duvashen Padayachee.

“Going to the test, I was pretty much hopping into the deep end,” he said.

“Going from an RX8, which is really a production-based car, H-pattern gearbox, to a race car with a genuine race tyre, much more power, left hand drive – it was interesting to adjust and adapt to that.

“By the second session, I was starting to get some time and the team was happy. From where I started from at the start of the day, it was all heading in the right direction.

“Nathan (Morcom) and the guys at HMO did a great job for me. They let me look at data, plus lots of feedback, so that was really helpful. All of the crew, the engineers were really helpful. They took the time to focus on me, and I had all of them around me, trying to help me improve. It was the perfect day.”

Shaw’s father is vastly experienced both locally and internationally, but has stepped back from driving to act as a mentor to his son.

“He really wanted to do motorsport at the top level,” Shaw explained.

“He has had a successful career, but he said to me that he didn’t get much help, and he is now putting me first. I really appreciate that.

“He wasn’t able to carry on, and he would have absolutely loved a chance at a category like TCR, so I’m just aiming to get the most out of my career and use his experience to help me along the way.”

After recently being postponed, the Morgan Park round of TCR Australia will take place on August 13-15 and as AUTO ACTION revealed will conclude at Mount Panorama at the Australian Racing Group’s Bathurst International event.

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