Seton Scores TA2 Muscle Car Series Lead

Third-generation racer Aaron Seton claimed three out of four race wins to lead the TA2 Muscle Car Series following the first round held at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Watched on by Grandfather and 1965 Bathurst 500 winner Bo, and 2x ATCC championship winning father Glen, Seton set a high benchmark after he won race three, fending off former Super 2 and Australian GT racer George Miedecke in a battle that saw Miedecke close the gap late in the race as tyre strategy came into play. Miedecke caught but could not pass Seton as the Castrol Harris Racing Mustang won by 0.1764, the closest finish in TA2 Muscle Car Series history.

Defending series champion Ashley Jarvis climbed two spots to third, as Andrew Miedecke and Kubota Racing's Hugh McAlister completed the top five.

Race three also saw race-long battles between Hugh McAlister, Russell Wright and Murray Kent, while 16-year old TA2 debutante Nathan Herne fell back to eighth from third as he struggled for tyre grip following a setup change, as Drew Ridge and Simon Tabinor completed the top ten.

George Miedecke kept the pressure on Seton in the early phase of race four, before on lap four Seton spun around on his own at turn five. He quickly recovered, however Miedecke and Jarvis had slipped through, and despite setting the fastest lap, Seton had to settle for third at the flag.

Veteran Russell Wright had a strong run to fourth outright, passing both Andrew Miedecke’s Dodge Challenger and Hugh McAlister’s Mustang, while Kent finished eighth ahead of Ridge and Anthony Tenkate in tenth.

One of nine series debutants, Matthew MacKelden failed to take the rolling start due to a broken wheel stud, but put in a demon drive from last on the grid to finish seventh outright in the final race and received the Hypercoil Hard Charger Award for his efforts in the Kubota Racing Mustang.

Nathan Herne called to the pits early with suspected fuel pump failure ending what had been a strong weekend for the Lismore driver in the Gulf Western Oils Dodge Challenger.

“It was an weekend for us at Castrol Harris Racing this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park,” said Seton.

“It means a great deal to me to have won the first round of the series with the new drivers that have joined in.

“George Miedecke and Ashley Jarvis pushed me all weekend, George especially was on my backside for the whole weekend.

“I really enjoyed the level of racing in TA2 this weekend, and the longer races we had are really fun and a great test of skill in these cars.”

“I’d like to thank Craig Harris from Castrol Harris Racing and also Don Dimitriadis from Thunder Road Racing Team Australia for their support this weekend, I genuinely wouldn’t be here without them.”

George Miedecke picked up the Rookie of the Round Award for the highest placed first-year driver, Russell Wright won the Masters Award for the best placed driver over 50 years of age and Murray Kent claimed the Wilwood Big Braker Award for a strong showing in all races.

Seton’s third place in the final was enough to secure the round win and now leads the Performax Cup by just four points from George Miedecke, with Ashley Jarvis a further three points behind.

Round two of the 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series heads to Morgan Park in Queensland on April 5-7.

2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series Pointscore

1st: Aaron Seton - 215 2nd: George Miedecke - 211 3rd: Ashley Jarvis - 198 4th: Andrew Miedecke - 196 5th: Russell Wright - 190