NEW TYRE KEY TO HYUNDAI’S BATHURST PACE

The Bathurst TCR Australia round was surprisingly strong for the Hyundai contingent at a track where, historically, they have been weak.

Prior to the most recent round at Bathurst last weekend the Hyundai i30N’s have struggled to finish inside of the top 10 – this time around it was a very different story.

Rookie Bailey Sweeny earned his maiden race win in the inverted top 10 grid race, winning the race by over 10s, while Josh Buchan scored two top five finishes including a podium. Buchan credits the performance to the new Michelin tyre which made its debut in the TCR Australia Series in the second round.

“I actually think the car was a top six, seven car on outright pace,” Buchan said.

“That’s down to the new Michelin tyre – it brings our car alive a bit. With how twitchy it normally is, the new tyres give us a little more rear grip to give us confidence across the top.

“It was bloody fast across the top I tell you!

“Obviously, the reverse top 10 in Race 2 helped us massively. Without that, it would be a struggle to get to the front.”

Three top 10 finishes over the weekend has propelled the HMO Customer Racing driver back into title contention after a difficult round at Phillip Island, a track which ironically has always been strong for the Korean hot hatchback.

“It’s the weekend we should have had at Phillip Island and it goes to show in TCR the guys who are meant to win might not always,” he said.

“Then the guys who do the right thing, stay out of trouble to get a result.”

Looking ahead to the next round at Sydney Motorsport Park, Buchan recalled the strong pace he has their previously and is expecting to be right up the pointy end.

“Home track… it’s probably my strongest circuit and I think the car’s strongest circuit,” Buchan expressed.

“We might qualify well and do well in Race 1, but the second reverse grid event really sets up your weekend.

“Let’s just see what happens because it’s as much guesswork for me as it is the people watching on Stan Sport.”

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