TOURING CAR MASTERS LEADERS EXCITED FOR FUTURE
After racing hard around the mountain, both Steven Johnson and Joel Heinrich are excited for what the future holds in the rejuvenated 2024 Touring Car Masters season.
The new look Touring Car Masters season started with a bang being back on the Supercars card at Bathurst where Johnson and Heinrich emerged as the top contenders.
Reigning champion Johnson picked up from where he left off by winning the round with two hard fought wins in the Hancock Racing Mustang.
Although Johnson looked as precise as ever behind the wheel, he revealed it has been a battle of late to simply be fit enough to go racing recently, but stated he is in good shape for the challenges ahead in the 2024 Touring Car Masters season.
“I probably need to get a bit healthier to be fair because I am still struggling a little bit with a respiratory and lung problem I got at the end of last year,” Johnson told AUTO ACTION.
“I still have a partially deflated right lung and struggled to breathe so that is why you see me trying to go hard at the start and roll off at the end.
“I have been struggling for the last six months but I will get there and should be right now for round 2.
“People don’t realise how much work goes into it. I still work hard and train hard, look at the data and think about what I can change on the car all the time.
“I need to stay fit to keep up with the Joel Heinrich’s and Adam Garwood’s and Ryan Hansford’s.
“The dogfights I am having with these guys are great and I love that competition and look forward to more battles throughout this exciting season.”
Johnson leads the championship by 16 points over Heinrich, who fought hard to claim the race 2 win in his Whiteline Racing Camaro.
It was a busy weekend for Heinrich as he jumped between his little Aussie Racing Car and his mighty Chevrolet Camaro.
Having never raced the car before at Mount Panorama, the South Australian was thrilled to walk away with a win, believing the better than expected results set up a title assault.
“I was behind the eight ball because I had never driven the car here before and the mountain bites, so just getting through was the goal and having a win was a bonus,” he said.
“The end goal for me is a championship too and we have the whole year locked in.
“It will be hard work beating Steven and Ryan but I have raced at all these tracks and know the Camaro will be good at a couple of them, so bring it on. It will be an exciting year ahead.”
Image: James Smith Photographer
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