Zukanovic joins MacKelden for Darwin TA2 round

By Timothy Neal

Date posted: 19 April 2023

Marcus Zukanovic will team up with Matthew MacKelden in the #5 Kubota Mustang for the TA2 Hi-Tec Oils Super Series Darwin round.

The world’s first ever TA2 twin-driver race at Hidden Valley, Darwin, on April 29-May 1, will see the TA2 Muscle Car series regulars get a co-driver each, with the in-race details still to be announced.

Each driver will enjoy practice, individual qualifying sessions, individual races and two joint races on Sunday and Monday.

More drivers will announced in the lead-up to the event, with Tyler Everingham and Jordan Cox having also been announced as co-drivers.

Zukanovic took out his third TCM win in the Trophy Race opener at the Newcastle 500. Image: Daniel Kalisz

Zukanovic, a former Super2 and V8 Utes racer, currently competes in the Touring Car Masters after recently returning from a badly broken leg.

“I’m pumped to get up North and have a skid because from everyone I speak to, whether they’re current series drivers, V8 Supercars drivers or Dunlop Super 2 drivers, they all rave about the class,” Zukanovic said.

“Which I’m not surprised about, because I did some Late Model racing in the US which is quite similar and had a ball.

“I’ve done quite a few races at Hidden Valley and it’s a place I love, not only the track but the whole town as well, so when the conversation came up between R&J Batteries and Kubota, I couldn’t say yes quick enough.”

MacKelden and Zukanovic have plenty of experience between them heading into the worlds first TA2 twin-driver race in Darwin

He’ll team up with the experienced MacKelden in the Mustang, a two time Bathurst 12 Hour class winner, where each driver will compete in a sprint race before Sunday’s and Monday’s historic co-driver event.

“I’ve known Marcus since back in the V8 Utes days and we’ve always had a tonne of laughs around the race tracks of Australia, so I know the banter will be strong between us,” MacKelden said.

“Also his partner in TCM is R&J Batteries who supply all the batteries for Kubota products in Australia which made the boardroom decision pretty easy when it came to who was driving the car.

“When the news came out there was to be a two-driver race I couldn’t believe the amount of calls I received to ask who I was driving with and if a decision has been made, but I know that with Marcus, Kubota Racing/R&J Batteries have chosen a safe pair of hands.

“He has real-time experience with the Hoosier tyre due to his TCM campaign, and is used to the responsibility of keeping a car in one piece with regard to finishing all the races.”

Round 2 of The TA2 Muscle Car Series Framed by Hytek Steel Framing begins at Hidden Valley Raceway on Saturday 29 April, running through to the Labour Day public holiday on Monday 1 May, with live coverage on SBS, Fox Sports and streaming on Kayo.

For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.

Recent Stories

array ( 0 => WP_Term::__set_state(array( 'term_id' => 11, 'name' => 'Latest News', 'slug' => 'latest-news', 'term_group' => 0, 'term_taxonomy_id' => 11, 'taxonomy' => 'category', 'description' => '', 'parent' => 0, 'count' => 16710, 'filter' => 'raw', 'cat_ID' => 11, 'category_count' => 16710, 'category_description' => '', 'cat_name' => 'Latest News', 'category_nicename' => 'latest-news', 'category_parent' => 0, )), 1 => WP_Term::__set_state(array( 'term_id' => 659, 'name' => 'National', 'slug' => 'national', 'term_group' => 0, 'term_taxonomy_id' => 659, 'taxonomy' => 'category', 'description' => '', 'parent' => 0, 'count' => 4676, 'filter' => 'raw', 'cat_ID' => 659, 'category_count' => 4676, 'category_description' => '', 'cat_name' => 'National', 'category_nicename' => 'national', 'category_parent' => 0, )), 2 => WP_Term::__set_state(array( 'term_id' => 1980, 'name' => 'Trans Am', 'slug' => 'trans-am', 'term_group' => 0, 'term_taxonomy_id' => 1980, 'taxonomy' => 'category', 'description' => '', 'parent' => 659, 'count' => 265, 'filter' => 'raw', 'cat_ID' => 1980, 'category_count' => 265, 'category_description' => '', 'cat_name' => 'Trans Am', 'category_nicename' => 'trans-am', 'category_parent' => 659, )), 3 => WP_Term::__set_state(array( 'term_id' => 1, 'name' => 'Uncategorised', 'slug' => 'uncategorised', 'term_group' => 0, 'term_taxonomy_id' => 1, 'taxonomy' => 'category', 'description' => '', 'parent' => 0, 'count' => 622, 'filter' => 'raw', 'cat_ID' => 1, 'category_count' => 622, 'category_description' => '', 'cat_name' => 'Uncategorised', 'category_nicename' => 'uncategorised', 'category_parent' => 0, )), 4 => WP_Term::__set_state(array( 'term_id' => 1683, 'name' => 'ZZZ-My105', 'slug' => 'my105', 'term_group' => 0, 'term_taxonomy_id' => 1683, 'taxonomy' => 'category', 'description' => '', 'parent' => 2031, 'count' => 2165, 'filter' => 'raw', 'cat_ID' => 1683, 'category_count' => 2165, 'category_description' => '', 'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-My105', 'category_nicename' => 'my105', 'category_parent' => 2031, )), )

Zukanovic joins MacKelden for Darwin TA2 round

Zukanovic, a former Super2 and V8 Utes racer, currently competes in the Touring Car Masters after recently returning from a badly broken leg.

He’ll team up with the experienced MacKelden in the Mustang, a two time Bathurst 12 Hour class winner, where each driver will compete in a sprint race before Sunday’s and Monday’s historic co-driver event.

Recent Stories

Vohra leaves Motorsport Australia

Amos gets a perfect 10 in Leyburn

Hazelwood excited for Time Attack

Father’s Day special at Pheasant Wood