SOUTAR: COOLEST PART, THE WIN WAS GENUINE

TCR Australia privateer Zac Soutar took his maiden victory in the series on Sunday in Tasmania, it came as a real shock due to the lack of performance from the Hondas in 2021.

The stop start nature of the Symmons Plains circuit on paper would appear not to be a track that would suit the Honda Civic Type R machines.

Last year in Tasmania former Formula Ford front-runner Soutar did not finish in the top 10, however from Friday practice last weekend he was on the money in 2022.

Some brilliant driving from Soutar saw him take the win in the third and final race and leaves the Apple Isle second in the title race.

“Coming into this weekend after last year, I thought that we had no hope at all, I honestly thought we’d struggle to get the top 10,” he admitted to AUTO ACTION.

“It was nice to see the upgrades that the Honda has and our progression with the setup has come into play this weekend, and given us some good speed.

“It was great to cap off the weekend with the win. The coolest part is that it wasn’t a reverse grid race it was genuine, not that a reverse grid race isn’t genuine. But it’s better to do it in the race where everyone’s starting where they should be.”

Racing for his family run Team Soutar Motorsport outfit, the youngster became the first driver in TCR Australia history to win in a one-car team and a true privateer squad.

“It’s pretty cool when you put it like that,” an elated Soutar said.

“It’s really cool to be the first privateer team to win a TCR Australia Series race. I was hoping we’d get there later in the season, I didn’t really think it would come so soon!

“As a privateer team, we work pretty hard, we sacrifice all of our weekends, basically, all of our free time is put into going racing.

“To get a win is just fantastic, not just for myself, but my dad, Brett Francis, my engineer.

“All the team have done a fantastic job and I’m just so fortunate to have them on board with me and so proud I could give them a win.”

Soutar took the win when the man who finished ahead of him on the road, Josh Buchan received a five second penalty for a restart infringement, weaving his tyres when the safety car was returning to the lane.

Soutar revealed to AA he knew nothing about the penalty until after the race.

“I had no idea that Josh had a penalty,” he expressed. “I only got told after the race! A shame for Josh though.”

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