Luckless Herne has pace to burn
By Timothy Neal
Date posted: 26 February 2023
Nathan Herne made his American Trans Am Season debut overnight at Sebring, and despite some ill luck showed some serious pace.
The young gun from Lismore, NSW, finished in P13 for the TA2 opener after twice coming from the back of the field, with former IndyCar flyer and veteran racer Rafa Matos taking out the season’s first TA2 fight.
Herne qualified in P3 after topping the practice session prior, but issues with frame height saw the tech shed scrap his time to start in P47.
Herne didn’t show any apprehension in his Sebring debut, and chopped through the 47 car TA2 field into P19 after just 6 laps, before moving into P15 by the ninth.
Herne qualified the S-MR Mustang in P3, but a Frame Height technical regulation had him start at the rear in P47
The #29 Stevens-Miller Racing Mustang then made contact with the #48 to bully his way into P14, but a cut left rear tyre after the contact saw him pit on lap 10, re-entering the pack in P33.
The Aussie Cube3 racer then took advantage of a safety car to fight back into P14 by lap 23, showing that the S-MR Mustang has more than enough pace to compete at the front of the field.
A yellow flag shortly after had Herne in P13, with the race finishing under those conditions following a two car smash.
Matos celebrates his third TA2 Trans Am victory at Sebring
The American Trans Am show heads to New Orleans for round 2 on a flat style track very similar to Sebring at the NOLA Motorsports Park on March 9-12.
To watch a replay of Herne’s fight from the back, click the link here, where you can also watch all future races and qualifying sessions live or in replay.
For more of the latest motorsport news and a bumper F1 season preview, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.
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