Buckley gets Chevy-backed TA2 drive

Fast female Alice Buckley will take on the TA2 Muscle Car Series with the might of GM, Chevrolet and AC Delco behind her.

Buckley will make her TA2 debut in a Chevrolet Racing-backed Camaro at the next round at Queensland Raceway on June 27-29.

She revealed the Camaro livery at the same circuit today with backing from giants Castrol, GM, Chevrolet and AC Delco.

Buckley will not be the only Chevrolet-backed driver with Jarrod Hughes to carry on racing for the “Bowtie.”

Jarrod Hughes with Craig Lowndes and Alice Buckley. Images: Supplied

Hughes currently leads the standings by 129 points, and he will carry on with a tweaked livery.

Having spent most of her career racing Toyotas and Hyundais, Buckley cannot wait for the next big step of her career.

“I am super pumped about it and looking forward to working with GM, especially with the new Chevy Junior program they are bringing out,” she told Auto Action.

“To go from being an AC Delco brand ambassador to now Chevrolet Racing is a big step up in expectations.

“It is a massive honour and comes with a bit of pressure as well.

“I am on my P plates, and now I will be a Chevrolet driver. It is very surreal for me.

“I cannot thank everyone enough for the amazing opportunity, and still having old and new sponsors on the car like Castrol.

“You need these things backing you for the next steps of my career, and I cannot thank them enough to have such an amazing brand.”

Alice Buckley will race in traditional Chevrolet colours in TA2. Image: Supplied

Buckley has already had a taste of the Camaro Trans Am, which is a completely different beast compared to the simpler Toyotas and Hyundais she has raced so far.

The first drive filled her with confidence, and she will get another test a fortnight before the first race.

Buckley has recently been racing in the Toyota 86 and Scholarship Series and took a win at SMP.

“It is good to put the foot down and really feel the power after only driving an 86,” she said.

“Getting back into a car that locks up with no traction control or anything makes it a different beast on a slick tyre.

“It shows you what a real race car is because Toyotas are really a road car with a roll cage.

“I was lucky enough to be with an experienced team and got on top of the car quickly and proved we would not make a fool of ourselves.

“We will go from there and race hard, so hopefully we can be near the front.

Alice Buckley is ready to represent Chevrolet, Image: Supplied

“In our mind, the TA2 series is like the 86 Scholarship series and Trans Am is GR Cup, so it’s a stepping stone and could open more doors in the future that I did not think could be opened.”

Buckley and current Erebus Motorsport Supercars co-driver Hughes spearhead Chevrolet’s young driver program.

The pair will race with similar liveries with plenty of Chevrolet branding as the brand more widely supplies LS3 crate engines to Camaro competitors in both Trans Am and TA2.

“We could not be happier to support Alice and her entry into TA2 Racing. GM is extremely proud to support talented young drivers and help them develop from the grassroots level through to the top levels of motorsport,” Chevrolet Racing General Manager Chris Payne said.

“Jarrod was 10 years old driving go-karts when we first got to know him and his family. He’s earned his way into every seat since then, and really forged his own way forward. I hope the association with our all makes parts brand, ACDelco, has helped build his brand, as it is now with Alice. That partnership has now evolved to where we consider them both part of our Team Chevy family.”

GM ambassador and Supercars star Craig Lowndes was also part of the announcement and will back the youngsters.

“It’s fantastic that GM continues supporting the next generation of motorsport talent”, said Lowndes. 

“I’ve spent a lot of time crossing paths with Alice and also Jarrod Hughes at countless GM events and race meets, and it’s great to see the hard work they have put in is reaping rewards.”

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