Jesus Torana takes TCM pole at SMP

The Duggan Family Hotels Touring Car Masters (TCM) first big session for the year at SMP’s Sydney 500 saw the Jesus Racing Torana of Brad Fisher take pole for Race 1 over the Joel Heinrich Camaro, whilst the DFH Commodore and Chev locked out the second row.

Fisher’s Torana looked nimble around the SMP bends, locking away the pole time early on, as many opted to save their tyres after a few tempting throw downs, with plenty of the big V8’s getting slippery into the corners.

Joel Heinrich’s Camaro RS cemented second with an early flyer, whilst in a good sign for the coming season, young Jude Bargwanna managed third in last year’s championship winning Commodore (now owned by the Duggan Family Hotels (DFH) Racing team.

As expected, it’s a magnificent looking – and even better sounding – grid, as the revitalised category enjoys the first of six Supercars calendar appearances in 2025.

The first green light action for the TCM will be tomorrow, with the Trophy Race kicking off at 1:25 pm AEDT, whilst Race 1 will come at 4pm.

As it happened…

It was the DFH Chevrolet of Scott Cameron that went top early after his first flyer, showing the pace that saw him top the opening Practice session.

But he was quickly topped by Fisher in the nimble Jesus Racing Torana, whilst Bargwanna was also lightning in the ex-garwood (now DFH) VB Commodore to occupy the top three below the Heinrich Chevrolet.

At the ten minute mark it was still Fisher holding the provisional pole with a 1:38.305, with strong wind conditions also dictating things at the final straight.

Hender was getting a bit slippery in the magnificent looking Holden, perhaps going a bit early with the track evolution as a lone machine on track, whilst many bided time in the pits as the five minute marl approached.

J.Tilley in the #29 Mustang lost a great looking lap through the snaking Turn 8, with the top three holding, with Cameron still occupying fourth over the aforementioned Mustang.

As the clock ticked down, it left Fisher looking likely, and that’s how it stood by two tenths over Heinrich, whilst it would be all DFH second row in a great start to a big TCM season.

READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.