Buchan goes back to back

Josh Buchan is the first ever driver to record back-to-back TCR Australia titles after staying out of trouble in a clean finale won by Dylan O’Keeffe.

Buchan entered the final race with a 25-point advantage over Zac Soutar and although the latter finished third, sixth place was enough for the HMO Customer Racing driver to seal the title.

Last year Buchan joined Will Brown, Chaz Mostert and Tony D’Alberto on the TCR Australia champions list, but in 2024 he has created more history by being the first to multiple crowns.

“It is a tremendous honour to compete let alone win titles and to go back to back with this team is incredible,” Buchan said.

“I am incredibly thankful because I am a very small cog that gets the glory.”

Soutar needed to win and gave it everything in the opening two corners.

The TuffLift Racing driver started on pole having accumulated the most points throughout the weekend, but could not stop O’Keeffe from swooping into the lead with a grand getaway.

However, Soutar used the grunt of the Audi down Mountain Straight to fight back at Griffins Bend.

O’Keeffe and Souter then went side by side into the fast right hander and the Lynk and Co appeared to clip the kerb and slight contact gave Soutar an almighty scare.

The #110 Audi appeared destined to slide into the tyre barrier, but Soutar somehow skated his way out of trouble.

However, it was extremely costly as he dropped all the way down from second to eighth and critically behind Buchan.

But with the #1 playing it safe, Soutar was easily able to pick off his title rival at The Chase.

Two laps later Soutar’s fight back carried on as he fired into the top four by passing both of the  Harris Hondas.

This pushed him into the top four, but by Lap 4 he caught Casha and cruised past the GRM Peugeot down Mountain Straight to enter the podium positions.

Whilst his rival was on the charge, Buchan did not have the pace and was staying out of trouble in seventh.

However, he was safe in the knowledge Soutar needed a miracle as he had to reel in an unlikely 6s to the top two and time was not on his side.

He could not get close enough and the race-long battle between O’Keeffe and Oliphant ended with the Lynk & Co driver staying in front untroubled.

It meant O’Keeffe gave the Ashley Seward Motorsport team a maiden round win of the year.

However, the biggest cheers were at HMO Customer Racing with Buchan creating history.

Image: Insyde Media/TCR

TCR Australia Bathurst Race 3 results

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