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THORNBURROW DETERMINED TO CLOSE THE GAP

Edan Thornburrow determined to close gap - Image: InSyde Media

By Timothy Neal

Edan Thornburrow may already be overachieving in his debut Australian Trans Am season, but he says he is still working hard to push for the title.

The young Sydney local currently sits third in the standings on 601 points for Team Sydney Property Care, behind Nathan Herne on 718 points and leader Aaron Seton on 722.

As the calendar currently stands there is a double round scheduled at The Bend Motorsport Park for October 15-17, followed by the Trans Am Bathurst 100 season finale at Mount Panorama.

With three opportunities to make points gains, Thornburrow is hopeful that he could push for the championship.

“By the end of the year we do want to close the gap up and to try and fight for regular podiums throughout the races, Thornburrow told AA.

“Where that leaves me in the standings and going into the next year, I’m not sure.

“But of course, the goal is to always keep pushing for podiums.”

The 18-year-old has yet to claim a podium in the 12 races so far but has been a picture of consistency to regularly finish in the top five and rarely outside the top 10.

Moving to the Trans Am category from driving a Toyota 86 in the New South Wales Production Touring Car Championship, Thornburrow is aspirational yet satisfied with how he has adapted to high-powered V8 racing thus far.

“It is the self-accomplishment of being able to have made it into a national category and going and racing with really high-class drivers and mixing it in with them,” Thornburrow said.

Looking to the future is difficult for Thornburrow, as Australian motorsport is currently in a state of limbo caused by COVID-19 lockdowns and border restrictions.

However, the Year 12 student plans to stay in Trans Am for the short term while gaining seat time elsewhere whenever it is possible.

“Next year, the plan is to stay in Trans Am,” Thornburrow said.

“After that, I’m not too sure if there’s opportunities to go elsewhere, whether its categories around Australia or international.

“The short-term goal is to stay in Trans Am and then maybe do the occasional Toyota 86 Series round, or a production car race.”

Trans Am returns at Tailem Bend from October 15-17.

You can read more about Thornburrow’s motorsport journey in the Young Guns feature of this issue of AA.

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