It’s been decades since the top touring car teams ventured Down Under.
Soon, Australia will host 10 of the world’s best in a double-header at two of the country’s top tracks.
The first TCR World Tour races under lights will take place on November 3-4 at Sydney Motorsport Park before the circus heads to Mount Panorama on November 10-12.
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It’ll mark the first time since 1987 that an international touring car championship has raced in Australia.
The TCR World Tour as it’s called now traces its roots back to the World Touring Car Championship that raced as part of the Bathurst 1000 all those years ago.
The philosophy then is the same as it is now, with four-door, turbocharged sedans ruling the roost alongside newer hatchbacks.
Catch race one of the TCR World Tour and National Trans Am Series live and free-to-air on 9Gem and 9Now from 2pm on November 4.
Back then, it was Ford, Holden, and BMW. Now it’s Hyundai, Honda and Audi.
Before the Bathurst finale, Sydney will host the first leg of the double-header. It’ll be the first time any international race meeting has been held there under lights.
With the arrival of top talent from Europe, Asia, and South America comes added competition for the TCR Australia Series regulars.
Garry Rogers Motorsport driver Aaron Cameron, who sits third in the standings, said he’s expecting an arm wrestle.
“For us, it’s like any other race,” said Cameron on Stan Sport’s Shorts SpeedSeries preview.
“It’s great to have them. We’ve been watching them all year, what they’re doing and how they’re going.
“All the points, it’s all separate. It’s like a race within a race and we’re focused on what we can do in the Peugeot to get it as far forward as we can. If we can mix it with them, it’s great.”
Cameron has already had a taste of it. Last year, he competed in racing’s Olympics, the FIA Motorsport Games in France.
“As soon as the green light goes on, these dudes just shoot into the pit lane and they’re on it,” said Cameron.
“In Australia, we go out in a nice line, pretty chill on our warm-up laps. They’re super aggressive and I have no doubt on the track we’re going to be rubbing panels pretty quickly.
“I’ve just got this feeling in the back of my head, there’s going to be a lot of high-beam action behind by the Euros just trying to blind everyone.
“I don’t think we’re going to be able to see very well. It should be great.”
TCR AUSTRALIA SERIES STANDINGS (TOP 10)
1 – Bailey Sweeny – 589
2 – Josh Buchan – 559
3 – Aaron Cameron – 551
4 – Tony D’Alberto – 506
5 – Jordan Cox – 496
6 – Ben Bargwanna – 486
7 – Lachlan Mineeff – 465
8 – Michael Clemente – 434
9 – Kody Garland – 389
10 – Tom Oliphant – 356
TCR WORLD TOUR STANDINGS (TOP 10)
1 – Norbert Michelisz – 270
2 – Yann Ehrlacher – 266
3 – Robert Huff – 247
4 – Mikel Azcona – 243
5 – Néstor Girolami – 220
6 – Thed Bjork – 205
7 – Frederic Vervisch – 197
8 – Santiago Urrutia – 182
9 – Ma Qing Hua – 181
10 – Tom Coronel – 76
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE EVENT?
Race Sydney takes place at Sydney Motorsport Park on November 3-4.
WHAT RACING CATEGORIES ARE ON TRACK?
The TCR Australia Series headlines proceedings with support from National Trans Am Series, Excels, and Radical Cup.
WHO ARE THE BIG NAMES RACING?
Leading the TCR World Tour contingent are World Touring Car Cup champions Norbert Michelisz (2019), Yann Ehrlacher (2020, 2021), and Mikel Azcona (2022).
Nurburgring 24 Hours winner Frederic Vervisch will race as will 2012 World Touring Car Championship winner Rob Huff.
TCR Australia Series champions Tony D’Alberto and Will Brown will lead the contingent at home.
WHAT CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE ENTERED
Audi will have the most cars with a fleet of six cars while Peugeot and Lynk & Co will each bring five cars apiece. Hyundai and Honda both bring four cars with them.
WHEN DOES THE RACING START?
Action begins in earnest on Friday at 5.20pm AEDT with National Trans Am Series qualifying.
Saturday starts early with the first National Trans Am Series race at 2.10pm AEDT.
HOW CAN I WATCH THE ACTION?
Stan Sport will carry all the action live and ad-free from 5pm on Friday and 2pm on Saturday.
Free-to-air coverage will be carried on 9Gem and 9now from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday only.
FRIDAY STAN SPORT SCHEDULE
5.20pm – National Trans Am Series – Qualifying – 25 minutes
6pm – TCR Australia Series – Qualifying 1 – 15 minutes
6.20pm – TCR Australia Series – Qualifying 2 – 10 minutes
6.45pm – Hyundai Excels – Race 2 – 20 minutes – 8 laps
7.15pm – Radical Cup – Race 1 – 25 minutes
7.55pm – National Trans Am Series – Race 1 – 25 minutes – 13 laps
8.40pm – TCR Australia Series – Race 1 – 30 minutes – 17 laps
SATURDAY STAN SPORT SCHEDULE
2.10pm – National Trans Am Series – Race 2 – 30 minutes – 16 laps
2.50pm – Hyundai Excels – Race 3 – 20 minutes – 8 laps
3.20pm – Radical Cup – Race 3 – 25 minutes
4.05pm – TCR Australia Series – Race 2 – 30 minutes – 17 laps
5.10pm – Hyundai Excels – Race 4 – 20 minutes – 8 laps
5.40pm – National Trans Am Series – Race 3 – 25 minutes – 13 laps
6.15pm – Radical Cup – Race 4 – 25 minutes
6.50pm – Hyundai Excels – Race 5 – 20 minutes – 8 laps
7.20pm – TCR Australia Series Driver Introductions
7.55pm – TCR Australia Series – Race 3 – 30 minutes – 17 laps
8.40pm – National Trans Am Series – Race 4 – 30 minutes – 16 laps
WHO IS ON THE COMMENTARY TEAM?
Matt White will lead the Stan Sport commentary line-up with Bathurst 1000 podium finisher Fabian Coulthard and Australian Rally Championship winner Molly Taylor.
Familiar faces Chris Stubbs, Richard Crail, Greg Rust, and Matt Naulty also return.
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Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
