New race format for TA2 Muscle Car Series at Winton

The TA2 Muscle Car Series has revamped its race weekend format for Round 4 of the series at Winton Motor Raceway this weekend, including a top-ten shootout and a 25-lap feature race.

This round will comprise of a 30-minute split-grid qualifying session, with the first 15 minutes of the session solely for the top 50% in the championship, followed by the bottom 50% in the final 15 minutes.

Rather than the standard qualifying and four sprint race format, the series will have three ten-lap sprint races and a 25-lap mini-enduro. An aggregate point score from the three sprint races will then be used to form a top-ten shootout to set the grid for the 25-lap feature race.

The sprint races will use a progressive grid system as per the usual race weekend format in the TA2 Muscle Car Series, and the points for the four races will be distributed as per normal with 55 points available for a race win, 52 for second and 50 for third.

25 cars feature on the entry list for Winton, with a host of newcomers to the grid including former Commodore Cup and Future Touring champion Tim Shaw, South Australian Sprint Car racer Craig Vanderstelt, New South Welshman Paul Hadley, Queensland Speedway racer Jack Childs, and Victorian Saloon Car racer Adam Lowndes.

Lowndes will substitute for fellow Victorian Warren Trewin in the SNB Racing Chevrolet Camaro, while Vanderstelt will race the Ron Cremen Racehire-prepared Ford Mustang for the remainder of the season in place of Drew Ridge.

Tasmanian Tim Shaw will mark his return to motorsport in Keven Stoopman’s Dodge Challenger, while planning a full-season campaign for 2020.

Former Stadium Super Truck racer Shaun Richardson will return to the grid in the RTC Group/Road Rage Industries Mustang after missing Round 3 at The Bend.

20-year old third generation racer Aaron Seton will look to continue his successful start to the season in the Castrol Harris Racing Mustang which has seen him build a 17-point margin to nearest rival George Miedecke at the halfway mark of the season.

16-year old former Formula Ford state champion Nathan Herne will be hoping for a strong comeback after he scored three out of four race wins last time out in the Gulf Western Oils Dodge Challenger. A diff failure in the final race at The Bend saw Herne fail to finish while Miedecke held off Seton and Ashley Jarvis to take the race and round win.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series will hit the track for practice on Friday followed by Qualifying and two ten-lap sprint races on Saturday, a third sprint race on Sunday as well as the top ten shootout and the 25-lap final.

A 30-minute post-produced highlights show will feature on Fox Sports 506 in the weeks following the event.

QUOTES

Craig Denyer, TA2 Muscle Car Series Manager

“We have had a bit more track time on offer to the series for this event, so we have decided to mix up the format for our competitors with some additions including a top ten shootout and a 25-lap mini-enduro feature race to finish the weekend.”

“It’s something a little different for our racers, we have always received good feedback regarding the longer races, so a mini-enduro gives everyone plenty of time to plan their race and work their way forward.”

Aaron Seton, driver #88 Castrol Harris Racing Ford Mustang

“It’s an exciting change for the category to have a top ten shootout and a longer race added to the schedule for Winton this weekend.”

“25 laps around Winton is certainly going to be a good test for these cars, and it’s great as a driver to gain more experience in longer races, as you have to look ahead and plan your race to manage the tyres over the duration.”

“We’ve had a great start to the series with pole positions, race wins and a round win after the first three rounds in the Castrol Harris Racing Mustang.

“The team and I at Castrol Harris Racing have been working hard between rounds to ensure we can fight at the front and maintain our championship lead in the second half of the season.”

SCHEDULE Qualifying - Saturday 9:00am (30-minutes, split top 50%/bottom 50%) Race 1 - Saturday 10:55am (10 laps) Race 2 - Saturday  1:45pm (10 laps) Race 3 - Sunday 9:00am (10 laps) Top Ten Shootout - Sunday 11:10am Race 4 - Sunday 2:00pm (25 laps) ENTRY LIST - 2019 TA2 Muscle Car SeriesRound 4 - Winton Motor Raceway (August 16-18) #3 - Craig Vanderstelt (SA), Ford Mustang - Zenith Custom Solutions #4 - Mark Crutcher (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Crutcher Developments #5 - Matthew Mackelden (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kubota Racing #6 - Hugh McAlister (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kubota Racing #7 - Michael Kulig (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Kulig Engineering #10 - Peter Robinson (QLD), Dodge Challenger - Morgans Investment Consultants #11 - Michael Coulter (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kobelco/Sydney Truck and Machinery #12 - Tim Shaw (TAS), Dodge Challenger - Shaw Developments #14 - Cameron Sendall (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Caddy Storage #18 - Shaun Richardson (QLD), Ford Mustang - RTC Group/Road Rage Industries #22 - Ashley Jarvis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Lighthouse Electrical #24 - Jack Childs (QLD), Ford Mustang - Think Investment Realty #28 - Tim Tritton (QLD), Ford Mustang - Everyday Finance Solutions #29 - Nathan Herne (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Gulf Western Oils #35 - George Miedecke (NSW), Ford Mustang - Miedecke Motorsport #45 - Simon Tabinor (VIC), Ford Mustang - South Eastern European Prestige Vehicles #50 - Paul Hadley (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Illawarra Engineering Services #55 - Russell Wright (QLD), Ford Mustang - RoadBees Transport #71 - Adam Lowndes (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - SNB Racing #74 - Murray Kent (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Underground Civil Supplies #77 - Bill Robinson (NSW), Ford Mustang - Elite Smash Repairs Erina #88 - Aaron Seton (QLD), Ford Mustang - Castrol Harris Racing #95 - Andrew Miedecke (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Ram Trucks Port Macquarie #555 - George Elliot (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - Dream Racing Australia #777 - Craig Scutella (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - Dream Racing Australia