Touring Car Masters fightback – exciting new era ahead

The future of Touring Car Masters is now an independent one, with key category players securing a transfer of ownership from the Australian Racing Group (ARG) in the hopes of rejuvenating the popular series.

As first revealed in AUTO ACTION back in early June of this year, (below follow link here) the category competitors were dissatisfied with the direction of the category and started to look at options to take control of their own destiny.

‘Touring Car Masters Team Take Over’ NEWs Extra Auto Action issue 1863 June 15

As a result of a lot of hard word and negotiations, the newly founded ‘Touring Car Masters Pty Ltd’ will own and operate TCM from 2024 onwards.

The new entity is headed up by one of the original category founders, Tony Hunter and long-time category manager Rowan Harman, who will be assisted by an ‘experienced’ management team.

With the support of Supercars management and Motorsport Australia, Touring Car Masters will feature at five Supercars events in 2024 as part of a six-round calendar starting at February’s Bathurst 500, with the season finale yet to be decided.

However, in a shock announcement Touring Car Masters has been left off the VAILO Adelaide 500 event, forcing organisers to find a new alternative to end the season.

The 2024 Touring Car Masters season will begin at Mount Panorama in February. Image: Jack Martin Photography

Significant investment for the buyout came from competitors themselves, who are determined to return Touring Car Masters to its former glory after grid numbers and publicity dropped away since the ARG takeover in 2019. 

Grids regularly totalled 25-30 cars just a few years ago, but numbers fell to just nine for the 2023 season opener in Tasmania before improving in the second half of the year. 

The new owners have promised to listen to competitors and fans alike by re-aligning the series with Supercars, removing Touring Car Masters from the SpeedSeries suite controlled by ARG.

Joel Heinirch has won six of the last eight TCM races in his yellow Camaro. Image:RACE PROJECT

In an exclusive interview with AUTO ACTION Publisher Bruce Williams, Hunter revealed that the takeover was months in the making and he is determined to reignite the category after fathering it in 2007.

“It had to be done, as it appears from what has been occurring over the past couple of years that Touring Car Masters has fallen by the wayside under the current management and dropped off from what it was in its heyday,” Hunter told AUTO ACTION. 

Ryan Hansford leading the pack through the Senna Chicane. TCM will get more Supercars exposure in its new era. Image: RACE PROJECT

“I was approached a few months ago by interested parties to see what we could do to get it back to its rightful place in Australian Motorsport.

“We discussed the issues, and we decided to make some changes to the way that Touring Car Masters could be managed for the better.”

Steven Johnson won the 2023 TCM title in his BRUT Mustang.

Brett Peters, who has been a regular fixture in Touring Car Masters as the owner and manager of Peters Motorsport, is confident that this new direction is a positive one for a category close to his heart.

“We’re very excited,” Peters told AUTO ACTION .

“Obviously, it’s going to be terrific to be back with the Supercars on a regular basis. I think the category grew to being as popular as it is on the back of being with the Supercars and I think Touring Car Masters complements the Supercars events.

Touring Car Masters drivers will be looking forward to racing in front of much bigger crowds in 2024. Image: Jack Martin Photography

“Tony’s had great history with TCM – when we first entered TCM, he and Rowan Harman were steering the ship and the category was strong.

“I’m excited that he has come back to help revitalise the category and he’s been able to achieve the various steps to getting things moving forward very quickly, which is terrific.

“We know the public still love Touring Car Masters and they always have, the cars are the stars.”

Read the full feature story in the upcoming issue of AUTO ACTION out now digitally and in newsagents on Thursday.

2024 Touring Car Masters calendar

Round 1 – Bathurst 500 Supercars – February 23/25 – Fox/Kayo TV and 1 FTA TV race.

Round 2 – Perth Supercars – May 17/19 – Fox/Kayo TV

Round 3 – Darwin Supercars – June 14/16 – Fox/Kayo TV and 2 FTA TV races

Round 4 – Sydney Supercars – July 19/21 – Fox/Kayo TV

Round 5 – Sandown 500 Retro round – Sept 20/22 – Fox/Kayo TV.

Round 6 – TBA – Most likely with – FTA TV in Sydney or Melbourne

AUTO ACTION’s final issue of the year #1876 is out now in its digital form downloadable right here, and available in all good newsagents and stockists near you on Thursday, continuing on as Australia’s most trusted independent voice in motorsport. If you can’t get a copy locally, you can also subscribe to the latest issue of Auto Action print or digital edition of the magazine here.

Head here for more of the latest motorsport news.

The team at AUTO ACTION wishes all readers and race fans a merry Christmas and happy new year!

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