Big names to chase TCR success
Some big names will join the regulars in an important Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series round at Queensland Raceway this weekend.
Supercars drivers Will Brown and Tim Slade make their returns to the category in the fourth round of the season and first since June’s trip to Winton.
It marks the start of an intense run home which includes tWo TCR World Tour rounds at Sydney Motorsport Park and Bathurst.
Currently the Hyundais are hard to beat with HMO Customer Racing drivers Bailey Sweeny and Josh Buchan heading the championship.
TCR championship leader Bailey Sweeny on his way to a crushing win at Winton. Image: Daniel Kalisz Photographer
They will need to watch out for Peugeot runners Jordan Cox and Aaron Cameron, who are looking to close the gap.
Another driver to keep an eye on will be Michael Clemente, who is fresh from taking victory in the CUPRA Leon and will be boosted by recently announced factory support.
Sweeny enjoys a 36-point advantage after a dominant drive in the final TCR race at Winton and arrives at the “Paperclip” with confidence with a recent test session.
“We had good speed at Queensland Raceway last year with a couple of top five results, and a good fightback from being turned around in the other race. So, I’m looking forward to improving on those results this weekend and maintain my position at the top of the championship as we head into the second half of the season,” he said.
“We had a really positive test day there which we highlighted some areas of the car we had to improve, which is really beneficial to understand before this weekend.
“I like Queensland Raceway as a circuit. The big braking zones really suit my driving style, so hopefully we can put on a great show and come away with a podium, or two.”
But Buchan is entering the round in a completely different frame of mind knowing Ipswich has been a “bogey track” with a best result of eighth last year.
Will Brown and Josh Buchan racing side by side at Queensland Raceway last year. Image: DANIEL KALISZ PHOTOGRAPHER
“Historically, Queensland Raceway has been a bit of a bogey track for us at HMO Customer Racing,” he said.
“We got ambushed there last year on my side of the garage with a failure in first practice and then rain in the second practice, so I went into qualifying completely blind and then I got my pants pulled down a bit.
“But we don’t have any excuses this year in terms of preparation. The test was extremely
productive in getting a head start on the weekend, and we’ll take what we’ve learned and hit the ground running.”
One driver to watch out for will be reigning TCR champion Tony D’Alberto, who owned the “Paperclip” last year with two wins.
But he enters the 2023 round on the back foot in seventh position and is hopeful a return to a happy hunting ground can get his title defence back on track in the Honda.
Tony D’Alberto celebrates his TCR round win at QR last year. Image: DANIEL KALISZ PHOTOGRAPHER
“Queensland last year was really kind to us, the Honda definitely enjoyed that circuit, so I’m looking forward to getting back there to try and get our title chase back on track,” D’Alberto said.
“In theory, I think we can repeat last year. There are a lot of variables, so you can’t be too confident but not a huge amount has changed on our side since last year, so we tend to roll out strongly.
“The new tyre might provide some challenges, but with what we learnt last year and how the car performed, we are going in full of confidence.”
Another title contender from last year looking to bounce back at Queensland Raceway is Brown.
The Erebus Motorsport Supercars star, who is currently all over the headlines due to a possible move to Triple Eight rumoured, may be in career-best form in the Camaro has had a disastrous 2023 in the Audi.
Brown sits last in the championship with just two finishes from six races, while he was in America during the Winton round.
He has vowed to “hit the reset” button this weekend, while he will be joined by another full time Supercars driver in Slade, who replaces a Tom Oliphant that is about to tie the knot.
Tim Slade will represent Ashley Seward Motorsport this weekend.
Slade is excited to return the the series after a one-off appearance last year.
“I first worked with Ash back when I first moved to Melbourne, so we go back a fair way, and his standard is extremely high with everything he does. That was part of the enjoyment on the test day, just the level he goes to with it all,” he said.
“With Supercars running 12 rounds and only two or three test days it’s beneficial to find seat time in other categories and I enjoyed the TCR competition last year, it’s good hard and close racing.
“Thanks to Tom, Ash and the team for the opportunity to have a drive, we’ll extract the most from ourselves and maximise our results.”
There will be plenty to watch out for across three races this weekend with Friday practice kicking things off.
TCR schedule
Friday, August 11
Practice 1: 11.40-12.10
Practice 2: 15.05-15.35
Saturday, August 12
Qualifying: 11.45-12.15
Race 1: 16.15-16.45
Sunday, August 13
Race 2: 12.45-13.15
Race 3: 16.20-16.50
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