TOURING CAR MASTERS MUSTANG RETURN FOR STEVEN JOHNSON

AUTO ACTION can reveal that veteran racer Steven Johnson will be reunited with a Ford Mustang in a return to  the Touring Car Masters.

Johnson, a three time Touring Car Masters champion, will take the place of Cameron Mason in the #33 Mustang Trans Am for the remainder of the 2022 season.

The car, owned and commissioned by Russell Hancock, won on debut in the Trophy Race at Ipswich in 2019 with Mason behind the wheel.

When contacted by AUTO ACTION, Hancock was excited at the opportunity of putting Johnson back in a TCM car.

“Cam has decided to take a break due to work and travel commitments, so we contacted Stevie about filling the empty seat,” said Hancock.

“It turned out he was available to steer the car, and we’re excited that he’s going to race with us.

“We’ve made a few little mods that we’ve talked about with Steve, and it’s getting a test drive tomorrow at Winton with John Bowe.

“We’re all looking forward to seeing Stevie get around the track at Sandown.”

Johnson was equally as animated to be getting into the Mustang for the Sandown meeting on the 16-18th September .

“After what happened at the start of the year with me, sponsorship wise, it’s just great that this opportunity has come about,” Johnson told AUTO ACTION, about being away from the TCM since round 1.

“In terms of how it all happened, John Bowe (JB) helped to set it all up really, then he spoke with Russell and it’s all gone from there.

“JB called initially and said ‘mate we need you back in,’ and obviously I couldn’t run my own program at the time, so then I spoke with Russell about sorting some things out with the car which JB is going to be testing out at Winton. I don’t just want to come back and drive around, I’m pretty keen to have a crack with it.

“It’s a pretty cool car, and since it’s been built, it’s been one the cars that everyone loves… we all love nicely built cars, and that’s definitely one of them.”

When pressed if he was missing being out there, Johnson was typically philosophical in response.

“You know, I’ve had my time as a professional as such, but I still love driving. I still love being out there. I was a bit down at being at the SMP earlier in the year, with all the TCM cars out there and not being a part of it, so I’m obviously very happy to get back out on the track with all the other boys.”

The Mustangs journey into the Touring Car Masters came about when Russell decided to build a TCM car, with Cameron Mason given the opportunity to drive the new Mustang. 

Mason and his father Steve, a former TCM Series winner himself, scoured the industry to prepare the steed for its seven month make.

When the 1969 #33 racer broke cover in 2019, it was big news for Touring Car Masters, with a great deal of expense and experience being shelled out to get the thing built, including sporting a paint job influenced by Alan Moffat’s Brut 33 colours from the early 70’s.

Budget concerns have limited Johnson’s Touring Car Masters Appearances in 2022, with the true blue Falcon XD unsighted since racing the SMP in round one, where he topped practice and scored a podium; so the prospect of Johnson back behind the wheel of a competitive Mustang will provide a great deal of excitement for fans of the category.

Steven Johnson racing in his #17 true blue Falcon XD

The next round of TCM can be seen at Sandown on September 16-18, before heading to ‘The Mountain’ in November.

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