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TCR debuts aplenty at Phillip Island

By Timothy Neal

Date posted: 8 May 2023

Round 2 of the 2023 TCR season at Phillip Island this weekend will feature the debuts of two manufacturer models, and the debut of Brad Harris.

Heading to Victoria’s classic island track is a talent laden TCR field, headed by Round 1 winner Bailey Sweeney, with last year’s champion Tony D’Alberto of Honda Wall Racing close at his heels. 

And speaking of Wall Racing, it has again played its part in helping another debutant enter the series, with NSW racer Brad Harris joining the grid. 

Alongside Harris, there will be two international debutants on the car side of things, with the well documented debut of Tom Oliphant’s Link & Co 03 TRC, and Michael Clement’s Cupra Leon Competicion TCR.

TCR Australia will see the the new Lynk & Co TCR 03 make its local debut at this weekends round at Phillip Island

As for Harris, the 30-year-old who used to race in the Mazda Group Production Cup and the RX8 Cup, will get his shot at the famous track against some of the nations best after making the Wall Racing purchase.

“Wall Racing has been very accommodating, helping us get in the car and get used to the car, meaning we were able to learn a lot on the test day,” Harris said.

“They have been very helpful with the production side of things, and I cannot wait to get started. I’m used to front wheel drives, but I will just need to get used to the TCR wings while gaining valuable experience on the slick tyres,” Harris added.

“The car has plenty of power, more than I have driven with before but everything went really well at the test, so that gives me plenty of confidence.

“We want to go out and have some fun, the aim isn’t to break any records but to see if we can be somewhere in the mid-pack, It’s a big learning weekend.”

Another new car to make its Australian debut at Phillip Island is the Spanish built Cupra Leon Competicion TCR, to be driven by Michael Clement

The particular Civic Type R TCR that Harris will drive is a proven race winner at the island track, with Fabian Coulthard having won races 2 and 3 there last season.

Harris will have the chance to share the track with the likes of recent Supercars race winner Will Brown, S5000 Tasman Series and B12H class winner Aaron Cameron, and Ben Bargwanna, who’s fresh off being Australia’s first ever competitor in the new format TCR World Tour.

The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series will tackle three races this weekend at Phillip Island, all broadcast live, ad-break free and on demand on Stan Sport. Saturday’s opening race of the weekend will also be broadcast on the Nine Network (9Gem) around Australia.

Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, Round 2 entry list

Car # SPONSOR DRIVER STATE VEHICLE MODEL CC COLOUR
1 Honda Wall Racing Tony D’Alberto VIC Honda Civic FK7 TCR 1998 Red/White
9 MPC Team LIQUI MOLY Will Brown QLD Audi RS3 LMS TCR 1984 White/Blue/Red
14 Forza Brakes Motorsport Lachlan Mineeff NSW Audi RS3 LMS SEQ 1998 Orange
15 Carl Cox Motorspport Michael Clemente VIC Cupra Leon Competicion TCR 1998 Black/Purple
18 Team Valvoline GRM Aaron Cameron VIC Peugeot 308 TCR 1600 Red
30 HMO Customer Racing Josh Buchan NSW Hyundai i30N Sedan 1999 Blue/Orange
33 Schaeffler GRM Jordan Cox NSW Peugeot 308 TCR 1600 Green/White
41 Valvoline Racing GRM Kody Garland NSW Peugeot 308 TCR 1800 Red
71 Burson Auto Parts Racing Ben Bargwanna VIC Peugeot 308 TCR 1600 Blue/Red/White
74 Wall Racing Brad Harris NSW Honda Civic FK7 TCR 1998 White
110 Team Soutar Motorsport Zac Soutar VIC Audi RS3 LMS TCR 1998 Black/Yellow
115 Ashley Seward Motorsport Tom Oliphant NSW Lynk & Co CO 03 TCR 1750 White/Red/Green
130 HMO Customer Racing Bailey Sweeny NSW Hyundai i30N TCR 1999 Blue/Orange

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

AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.

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