Drivers reveal TCR plans

Anticipation is building ahead of the 2024 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia season which begins this weekend with a number of last minute driver announcements.

There have been some high profile changes at HMO Customer Racing and Ashley Seward Motorsport.

There will be a new face driving the ASM Lynk & Co with Supercars co-driver Dylan O’Keeffe.

Despite racing his previous two seasons for GRM, it is something of a homecoming for O’Keeffe who actually started his TCR career with a bang at ASM in 2019.

Driving an Alfa Romeo Giulietta he won four races at Phillip Island and Queensland Raceway on his way to a top five championship finish.

The first year at GRM was a winless one in a Renault but a switch to Peugeot brought a return to the podium in 2022.

In 2023 O’Keeffe focused on the Carrera Cup and won twice at Sandown on his way to fourth in the championship.

Over the past four years O’Keeffe has also been a Supercars co-drive and scored a breakthrough top 10 with James Golding at Bathurst last year.

Now back in both ASM and TCR, O’Keeffe is raring to go and buoyed from a positive first drive of the Lynk & Co.

“The Lynk & Co is the best TCR car that I’ve driven so far, it is extremely responsive, and you have a lot at your disposal to tune the car exactly how you need it,” said O’Keeffe.

“TCR has been an extremely enjoyable category for me to compete in over the years. The level of competition is right up there, and the field is full of talented drivers and teams. To be back with Ash (Seward) is great, we’ve achieved a lot throughout my career.

“That 2019 season in TCR was a lot of fun, and every time I’ve gone racing for Ash he’s delivered an exceptional car. His preparation is second to none, and there’s no doubt the Lynk & Co will be in top shape when it rolls out for the weekend.”

O’Keeffe replaces Tom Oliphant, who has left ASM to go racing for reigning champions HMP Customer Racing.

As a result the Brit will swap the new Lynk & Co for a Hyundai i30 N TCR which dominated last year’s championship.

Oliphant will race alongside reigning champion Josh Buchan, which means there is no room for the driver who won the equal most amount of TCR races last year Bailey Sweeny.

Oliphant has previous BTCC success and took his first TCR win at Winton last year during his debut season and is aiming for “strong results” with the reigning champions.

“I’m very excited to be back in the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series for 2024 and joining the reigning champions in HMO Customer Racing,” he said. 

“They are a team that knows how to win and the Hyundai i30 N has proven its pace over the last few years. 

“I gained lots of experience and made big steps forward in my debut season and I feel HMO will provide a great environment for me to progress further. 

“I’ve already tested the car and I feel right at home, so I’m confident we can push for some strong results from the opening round.”

One driver who is not on the move is Jordan Cox, who will remain part of the Garry Rogers Motorsport stable.

Cox will continue steering the green Peugeot in 2024 which will be his third season in the category.

After being a consistent frontrunner and podium finisher throughout his career, Cox has intentions of being a championship contender in 2024.

“TCR is one of the most competitive series in Australia, and with a few more strong contenders coming in it’s only getting tougher,” said Cox.

“Every year we start off with the intention to fight for the title. 2022 was a good year for us, and we’ll be looking to recapture that form in 2024. 

“The Peugeot is pretty tapped out, but the GRM crew have been doing an excellent job in maximising what we’ve got. 

“We know at every track what the window is and the formula we need to produce the speed.”

The TCR season begins at Sandown this weekend.

2024 TCR Sandown round 1 entry list

CAR #

TEAM/SPONSOR

DRIVER

STATE

VEHICLE

MODEL

1

HMO Customer Racing

Josh Buchan

NSW

Hyundai

i30N Hatch

2

Honda Wall Racing

Tony D’Alberto

VIC

Honda

Civic Type R FL5 TCR

4

Carl Cox Motorsport Team MPC

Clay Richards

VIC

Cupra

Leon Competition

TBC

Autoglym/Ashley Seward Motorsport

TBC

VIC

Lynk & Co

CO 03 TCR

15

HMO Customer Racing

Tom Oliphant

UK

Hyundai

i30N Hatch

18

Team Valvoline GRM

Aaron Cameron

VIC

Peugeot

308 TCR

22

Challenge Motorsport

Iain McDougall

VIC

Audi

RS3 LMS SEQ

29

Tufflift Racing

Glenn Nirwan

IDN

Audi

RS3 TCR

33

Schaeffler GRM

Jordan Cox

NSW

Peugeot

308 TCR

71

Hangcha Racing

Ben Bargwanna

VIC

Peugeot

308 TCR

74

Exclusive Switchboards / Wall Racing

Brad Harris

NSW

Honda

Civic Type R FL5 TCR

76

Exclusive Switchboards / Wall Racing

Will Harris

NSW

Honda

Civic FK7 TCR

79

Team Valvoline GRM

Ryan Casha

NSW

Peugeot

308 TCR

99

Beyond Constructions 99motorsport

Marcus LaDelle

NSW

Audi

RS3 TCR

110

Tufflift Racing

Zac Soutar

VIC

Audi

RS3 LMS TCR

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