Hot Field for Darwin’s TA2 $20,000 Kings of the North Round

The Darwin heat has attracted a smoking field for Round Two of the TA2 Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway on this long Labor Day weekend.

The world’s first TA2 two driver event includes names new to the series as well as previous championship frontrunners returning for a chance at the cash bonus.

High profile drivers set to join the grid for this weekend’s Hi-Tec Oils Super Series at Hidden Valley Raceway include  National Trans Am driver Tim Brook driving with Dylan Thomas in the CXC Ford Mustang, former series runner up George Miedecke with Hugh McAlister in the #6 McAlister Motors Ford Mustang, Porsche Carrera Cup winner Max Vidau  teaming up with fellow South Australian Brad Gartner in the Castec Rural Supplies Ford Mustang and Toyota 86 racer  Jarrod Hughes pairing up with Hayden Jackson from Team RSG in #81 Dodge Challenger. Regular TCR front runner Jordan Cox will also partner NSW regular Mark Crutcher in the Mustang.

Lee Stibbs, Zach Loscialpo, Aaron Tebb and Michael Rowell will be the only teams taking on this weekend’s event as solo drivers and will have to complete a mandatory pit stop and tyre change to the same minimum pit stop time as those teams doing a driver change.

Twice National Trans Am champ and now American TA2 star Nathan Herne will make his return to local racing, sharing with New Zealander Paul Manuell in Peter Robinson’s CUBE 3 #10 Dodge Challenger. Herne currently races in the USA Trans Am Series with Stevens - Miller Racing, where he has been proving himself in his rookie season as a serious front running contender, already nailing a podium finish against the best TA2 stars in America. Manuell brings a wealth of experience and knowledge having previously won the TA2 Asia Championship and the NZ Ute Championship.

2017 TA2 Champion Russell Wright is set to make his come back at Hidden Valley Raceway. Wright joins Rob Leonard in the “Slow Down Workers Around” Access Linemarking Equipment/ Municipal Workers Australia #40 Ford Mustang. Former truck racing and Oz Truck champion Steve Coulter will race with son Michael in the Kobelco Camaro while Edan Thornburrow, Andrew Fisher, Marcus Zukanovic, Nicholas Filipetto, Tyler Everingham, Daniel Jilesen, teaming with TA2 regular Adam Hargraves ,and Robert Hackwood are all notable additions to the field.

Six races will be held across the weekend with each driver having a separate qualifying sessions and 12 lap sprint races, before combining for two longer races on the Sunday and holiday Monday afternoon with the driver change.

Fans can look forward to an action-packed weekend of racing with drivers taking on the challenges of Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway and TA2’s $20,000 cash prize and Kings of The North Title put up by the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series promoters for the highest scoring driver pairing over all the races.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing kicks off this long weekend with live streaming to commence from 9.30 am on Monday AEST before going live and free to air from 1PM on SBS, simulcast on Fox Sports and Kayo.

Craig Denyer - TA2 National Category Manager

“When the offer came through to do the Darwin event we thought long and hard about doing something special, given it’s a long haul for all teams. They have reacted so well to the two-driver format, that we now have the most competitive TA2 field ever seen in Australia and the first of this format for TA2 worldwide.  It’s great to be able to give the TA2 family new experiences and I can’t thank Stephen, Shannon, George and all the Hi-Tech Super Series team enough for making this event happen. Let’s hope this becomes a regular hallmark event for the series.”

Matthew MacKelden - Kubota Racing

“I went to Darwin numerous times when the V8 Ute Series supported the Supercar events and it is an awesome place to race. Everyone just loves the atmosphere and stunning beach side sunsets, plus the fantastic Hidden Valley facility which is well presented and always turns on brilliant on track action.  TA2 is the perfect fit for this track and even after being in the category a number of years now, I can’t pick a favourite going into this one. This could go anyway and the bonus of $20,000 cash for the overall winners will see all sorts of strategies played out up and down pit lane. Having Marcus Zukanovic, who raced at Darwin many times, riding shotgun for Kubota Racing will be our ace for the weekend but given how sharp the field is the cards could fall anyway and to anyone!”