THORNBURROW PRIMED FOR TRANS AM TITLE TILT

National Trans Am Series driver Edan Thornburrow is looking to go one better this year after finishing runner-up in his rookie season.

The New South Welshman was beaten by only Nathan Herne in 2021, who finished 150 points clear at the top after fellow title contender Aaron Seton withdrew from the category late in the season.

Looking to gain an edge this time around Thornburrow attended the recent Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM) young driver combine in Tasmania, receiving coaching from two-time Supercars champion and NASCAR race winner Marcos Ambrose.

Heading into a fresh campaign, Thornburrow believes he is well placed to best the field.

“The goal is to win it,” Thornburrow tells AUTO ACTION.

“If you’re not there to win what’s the point of being there?

“Second place last year was good because we had no expectations but this year we’ll be going for more podiums, wins and the series.

“It’s going to be hard, there’s a lot of talented drivers I know coming into the series and the series has really taken off.

“There’s a lot of drivers (who could win), everyone from last year has got a lot of experience plus you’ve got a lot of new talent coming up.”

Among those joining the series for this season are ex-Super2 Series driver Jon McCorkindale, Toyota 86 graduate Lochie Dalton and Formula Ford young gun Cody Burcher.

The GRM combine gave Thornburrow an opportunity to complete laps of both Baskerville Raceway and Symmons Plains Raceway in Trans Am, S5000 and TCR Australia Series machinery as he prepares to face new challengers.

Time on the Tasmanian circuits at this point in season preparations is invaluable, considering the latter venue will host the first Trans Am round in less than a month’s time.

“We cut a lot of laps at the program, we were doing 30 to 40 laps a day and I definitely was able to get my head around the track and sort of know the ins and outs,” Thornburrow says.

“From a driving point of view, Marcos is great with simplifying the data and going through the video with you to find those extra couple tenths.

“It was great preparation for Race Tasmania in a couple of weeks.”

Driving the GRM Trans Am car also gave Thornburrow an insight into alternative setups, which he will use to inform the preparation of his own Mustang.

“It was definitely good to jump in a car that wasn’t mine,” Thornburrow reveals.

“From driving one of the GRM cars, we’ll definitely go back and reassess what the setup is looking like in my car.”

Race Tasmania will kick off the Australian motorsport season from February 11-13, featuring the National Trans Am Series as well as TCR Australia, the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship and three local categories.

Read more about Edan Thornburrow’s ambitions for this year and beyond in the upcoming Issue #1828 of AA.