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Hazelwood headlines TA2 opener

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: April 18, 2024

A new TA2 Muscle Car Series season will fire into life at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend with a bolstered field hungry for success.

Reigning champion Joshua Thomas is back to defend his crown, but there is some Supercars stardom that headlines proceedings.

Fresh from his unexpected call up to reigning champions Erebus Motorsport, Todd Hazelwood will make his TA2 debut.

Hazelwood already has experience steering a TFH Hire Ford Mustang in Trans Am where he sits fourth in the standings after finishing a strong finish to third at Phillip Island.

With Brodie Kostecki returning, Hazelwood will not be at Taupo and instead making his TA2 debut at SMP.

He will carry on racing a TFH Hire Mustang and is looking forward to seeing how TA2 stacks up.

“It was a golden opportunity for me to do some extra race laps,” Hazelwood said.

Todd Hazelwood has three Trans Am rounds under his belt. Image: Rebecca Hind Revved Photography

“Obviously being committed to Erebus Motorsport at the beginning of the year I had originally planed to go to Taupo this weekend, so going to Sydney was not originally on my radar but its been a quick change of events and I am really keen to get stuck into it with the TFH Racing Team, as well as supporting Josh Thomas who will also be racing there this weekend.

“It has been a real fun and exciting category to be apart of, I have been enjoying it. 

“It has been a while since I have driven a different style of race car outside of Supercars for some years now so it has definitely been a new challenge and the team at TFH Racing have been super welcoming and inviting.”

Hazelwood will not be the only Supercars star on show with much-loved two-time ATCC champion Glenn Seton working behind the scenes wth Dream Racing Australia.

The 1993 and 1997 champion will be the team’s technical advisor working with drivers Jayden Jackson and Lee Stibbs.

Seton feels like the old school nature of the cars resonates with his era and hopes he can move the established team up the grid.

“I feel I can help them move forward,” Seton said. 

“I guess my role will be to technically advise on where they are and move them forward. I want to have a positive influence on the team’s results.

“I can also help the drivers with the driving side to get the best out of these cars. “The cars require a unique driving style, being big and heavy and with a very old style cross-ply type tyre on them.”

Thomas 21 TA2 Sat Calder

2023 TA2 Muscle Car Series champion Josh Thomas.

Wearing the #1, Thomas will have a target on his back with the likes of Josh Haynes, Hayden Jackson, Brad Gardner, reigning Northern Series champ Graham Cheney and Stibbs all returning to knock him off in 2023.

Haynes has joined Waltec Motorsport alongside Kyle Gurton, while Hayman is lining up a full assault in the same Mustang he finished second to Jordan Cox at SMP last year.

Michael Coulter will make the jump from Camaro to Mustang, while 76 year old Barry Kelleher, Anthony Tenkate, Paul Hadley, Mark Crutcher, and Greg Keam will all return.

In addition to Hazelwood, there are a number of exciting rookies to watch out for.

Former Toyota racer Connor Roberts also joins the field in a Dodge, while Sprintcar convert Domain Ramsay will be a wildcard with the Sydney round to be his first ever meeting on a circuit.

Danny Reidy’s new TA2 machine.

Also making the switch from speedway is Danny Reidy, who after two decades of racing on dirt is a touch nervous about a new challenge on tarmac.

“Stepping into a TA2 Racing Muscle Car is both exciting and a bit nerve racking,” he said.

“I’ve spent the past 20 years racing around dirt speedways in a Sprintcar and have no prior experience competing in circuit racing on the tar, but I’m looking forward to getting into a new discipline of motorsport and seeing how I go.

“I’ve only completed one test run at Queensland Raceway leading up to the opening round, so I don’t really have any big expectations for my debut, as the main goal is to take each session as it comes and just enjoy this new challenge with my whole family.”

The 2024 TA2 Muscle Car Series will be broadcast on SBS and Fox Sports/Kayo.

SCHEDULE

Friday

Practice 1 – 1:15pm (20 mins)

Practice 2 – 3:33pm (20 mins)

Qualifying – 6:10pm (20 mins)

Race 1 – 9:00pm (12 laps)

Saturday

Race 2 – 3:38pm (15 laps)

Race 3 – 6:19pm (8 laps)

Race 4 – 8:54pm (12 laps)

TA2 Muscle Car Series round 1 entry list

#1 Dylan Thomas, CXC Racing, Ford Mustang

#2 Kyle Gurton, Nuveau Group, Ford Mustang

#4 Mark Crutcher, Crutcher Developments, Ford Mustang

#5 Danny Reidy, Reidy Racing, Chevrolet Camaro

#10 Peter Robinson, B-Styled, Dodge Challenger

#11 Michael Coulter, Turps Tippers, AIM Motorsport, Ford Mustang

#19 Connor Roberts, Arrow Transport Repairs, Dodge Challenger

#22 Brad Gartner, Hi-Tec Oils, Chevrolet Camaro

#30 Tom Hayman, Di Prinzio Concreting Ford Mustang

#31 Barry Kelleher, Ford Mustang, Kelleher Motorsport

#37 Josh Haynes, Herzog Steel, Ford Mustang

#50 Paul Hadley, IES Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro

#51 Graham Cheney, IES Motorsport, Chevrolet Camaro

#66 Lee Stibbs, Arrow Financial Services, Chevrolet Camaro

#69 Anthony Tenkate, Tenkate Plant Hire, Ford Mustang

#71 Domain Ramsay, C&H Trucking, Chevrolet Camaro

#73 Steve Wilson, Wilson Auto Racing, Chevrolet Camaro

#81 Hayden Jackson, Maitland Glass and Windscreen Services, Dodge Challenger

#111 Todd Hazelwood, TFH Hire Services, Ford Mustang

#169 Josh Thomas, TFH Hire Services, Ford Mustang

Don’t forget the latest issue of the free digital version of Auto Action is out now!

Or subscribe to the print edition here or at selected outlets. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.

Podcast: We’re going to Taupo… Tow Paw… Whatever. Supercars is back!

After a break that feels like months, the Supercars Championship is back and headed across the ditch to Taupo in the middle of the North Island. And yes, Brodie Kostecki will be there! As will the rain.

Somehow, the rain will also be in China for F1’s return to 中国. Philip Island was stunning on the weekend, just gone, if a little cold, but we chatted about whether Supercars should return to the land of penguins.

Plus, there’s more… all the news in the way only the Auto Action RevLimiter can deliver.

Listen to our latest episode on your podcast app of choice or here

    

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