COULTHARD: IT’S DEFINITELY UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Former Supercars driver Fabian Coulthard wants to return for Round 2 of the TCR Australia Series at Phillip Island after a frustrating initiation in Tasmania.

The 13-time Supercars Championship race winner made his debut in the hot hatch series on the weekend at Symmons Plains.

Coulthard qualified in 13th position and the weekend would prove to be unlucky for the former Bathurst 1000 runner-up.

In Race 1 he finished 11th, before being ruled out of contention when his Honda Civic Type R went into limp home mode in both of the final two encounters.

Nevertheless, Coulthard is determined to return for the second round of the series and have a crack on a track where the Honda has traditionally performed well.

“I’d like to return, it’s definitely unfinished business,” Coulthard told AUTO ACTION.

“I’d like to go to a track where the Honda’s been strong, Tony (D’Alberto his teammate) did a good job there last year, so it’d be nice to see the back of Tasmania and get to Phillip Island.”

As the weekend progressed Coulthard was getting more comfortable with the TCR machine.

Notably in Race 2 he made his way comfortably inside the top 10 when the car started to slow on the final lap.

“Definitely getting used to it, I’d just like to evaluate it on a track where the Honda is renowned for being a little bit better, so I want to reserve my judgment of TCR until we go there,” Coulthard continued.

“Obviously the cars are very different drive (being front-wheel-drive).

“Everything that I’ve learned in the past, I’m learning again, so starting from scratch, but it’s been good I think, the results, there were different winners, which I think is exciting, and I think the quality of the field is pretty good as well.”

Coulthard recalled Sunday’s events, reiterating his intentions to return to the category in five weeks’ time.

“I really enjoyed it,” he said. “I appreciate the support from Stan Sport and Wall Racing, it’s been a lot of fun.

“Obviously not the results we would have liked today hampered with limp mode. I got to eighth in Race 2 today and then on the last lap it went into limp mode and finished 14th, it did the same thing when it came back in the final race.

“A bit disappointing to finish the weekend the way we did, but we’ll live and we’ll learn, and we’ll try to find the problem, then hopefully you’ll see me at Phillip Island.”

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action.