Ultra tight battles ahead in Tasmania

There has been a fast start to AWC Race Tasmania with little separating the leaders in Trans Am, Precision National Sports Sedans and TCR.

The fight for Trans Am honours looks particularly tough to call with less than two tenths covering the fastest seven cars in the final practice session.

There is an added wildcard this weekend in the form of former Trans Am dominator Nathan Herne, who has returned to the category and is immediately on the pace.

Back driving his 2021 title winning Dodge Challenger, Herne is matching reigning champion James Moffat, but they are just two of a host of contenders as the favourite for Race Tasmania pole position is anyone’s guess.

The competitive tone was set in opening practice where Moffat picked up from where he left off at Sandown by setting the pace with a 54.0370.

But right behind him was Herne, who was second best just a tenth away in his first Aussie Trans Am session since 2022.

He managed to see off the likes of Jordan Boys, Tim Slade, Elliott Barber and Todd Hazelwood.

Hazelwood did suffer engine issues which were so severe he was forced to miss the afternoon session.

Nash Morris overcame a host of challengers to top Trans Am practice.

The competitiveness reached a new level in practice 2 where Nash Morris stood tall to take top spot with a 54.1148.

But he had little room for comfort with Moffat, Herne and Boys all breathing down his neck less than a tenth away.

Even the likes of Slade, Ben Grice and James Golding were only just over a tenth off the pace.

Trans Am go qualifying first thing on Saturday morning at 9.35 AEDT before the first of two races at 11.30.

After Peugeot dominated Sandown, the early signs showed there could be a more open field at Symmons Plains despite only 13 cars taking part.

Tony D’Alberto topped the opening session in the Honda bit only just.

His 56.0146 was 0.02s ahead of Zac Soutar’s Audi while the Peugeot of Aaron Cameron, Lynk and Co of Dylan O’Keeffe and Hyundai of Tom Oliphant also showed pace.

Cameron responded emphatically in practice 2 by going two tenths clear of the test of the field.

He produced a 56.1277 in his GRM 308 TCR which was well ahead of Honda pairing D’Alberto and Brad Harris.

Qualifying for the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series begins at 12.25 AEDT before the first race at 15.15.

In the Precision National Sports Sedan Series, which returned to Tasmania for the first time in over two decades, Steve Tamasi raced out of the blocks in the opening session and also finished the day on top in a big way.

After three practice sessions Tamasi was the only driver with a 51s time being half a second clear of his nearest rival.

The #9 Holden Calibra stopped the clock at 51.7620s well ahead of next best Peter Ingram in his Mazda RX7.

Despite the big margins in practice 3, the second session was a nail-biter as Tamasi was denied a Friday sweep.

Instead Tasmanian Kim Barwick utilised his local knowledge in the Skyline R32 to record a 52.6842.

This was 0.06s ahead of Inram while Ben Purtell impressed in his Nissan to take third with Tamasi not far behind.

His Calibra will be the favourite when the Sports Sedans qualify and race at Tasmania at 10.50 and 14.40 respectively.

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