Experienced motorsport commentator Matt Naulty has been confirmed as the lead caller for the TA2 Muscle Car Series and the Australian Production Car Series in 2025, as part of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.

To be heard and seen on Foxtel, Kayo and SBS this year, the broadcast of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series is taking a step up, recruiting Naulty’s immense expertise to the coverage.

Naulty’s voice needs no introduction to race fans. The South Australian broadcaster has more than 20 years experience as a specialised motorsport caller, including disciplines such as circuit racing, speedway and drag racing.

He also has spent time abroad to call motorsport, namely Stadium Trucks where he has been heard as the lead caller both here in Australia and the United States.

This season also marks the 12th year of his service as a Supercars support commentator.

Naulty will be joined by regular Hi-Tec Oils Super Series caller Matt Cavanagh, who will sit in the commentary box with Naulty for TA2 Muscle Cars and Australian Production Cars. Cavanagh has an extensive history in a variety of motorsport disciplines, including recent seasons in the Super Series.

Both the TA2 Muscle Cars and Australian Production Cars will host five events during 2025, with the categories sharing the same five events within the series’ six round schedule.

The opening round of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series, including TA2 Muscle Cars and Australian Production Cars, will be held at Winton Motor Raceway on February 28 to March 2.

QUOTES:

Matt Naulty, TA2 Muscle Car Series Commentator

“I’m excited to be a part of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series, leading the call for both TA2 Muscle Cars and the Australian Production Cars,” said Naulty.

“I’ve been very impressed with TA2 over the past couple of years. Big V8s, famous car brands and some great personalities behind the wheel. It’s a fantastic category and it’s my type of racing.

“The racing in Production Cars was great in 2024 and they should grow further in 2025 as we have seen with the Bathurst 6 Hour momentum.

“I’m pleased to add the APC to my schedule as it has a wide variety of cars and some great drivers - both up and coming plus the experienced household names that should make for some great racing.

“Along with my commitments with the Supercars support series this year, this fills up my dance card and I can’t wait to get back behind the microphone.”

Matt MacKelden, TA2 Muscle Car Series Category Manager
“Matt is one of the premier race commentators in the country and we couldn’t be more pleased to have him bring the TA2 action into the lounge rooms of our fans,” said MacKelden.

“Matt is well known for his work in Supercars, Speedway, Drag Racing and even Trans Am so adding TA2 Racing and the Australian Production Cars to his roster is a win for both our categories.”

Troy Williams, Australian Production Cars
“It is a new era for the Australian Production Cars, and it’s fantastic to have Matt Naulty on the ride with us,” said Williams.

“Any modern motorsport fan knows his voice and his calling style. He makes you want to sit down and watch more, so we are thrilled to have such a professional be there to offer his talents to our broadcasts in 2025.”

17-year-old Kiara Zabetakis is set to make history in 2025 as the first female driver to compete in the Australian TA2 Muscle Car Series, marking an exciting development in both Kiara’s career and the series itself.
 
Zabetakis has already made her mark in the motorsport world, with experience across a variety of racing categories including NSW MX-5 Cup, NSW Road Club Racing 6 Hour Enduro Event and the RX8 Cup Series but admits that stepping up to the TA2 Muscle Car Series is a big jump but one she’s ready to take.
 
“Dad and I have been talking about this for a long time now, and we’re just excited to get to Winton and get underway,” said Zabetakis.
 
“Theres no doubt these cars are far more powerful than anything Ive driven before, but we’ve been testing a lot and I feel really comfortable.”
 
2018 TA2 Muscle Car Series Champion Ash Jarvis will be guiding the 17 year old and said he’s been impressed by her early pace and maturity.
 
“Kiara has shown definite improvement over the last few test days and has a mature head on her shoulders so while there is no pressure on her, I think she’ll adjust to the competition really well,” said Jarvis.
 
The TA2 Muscle Car Series is poised to make a big step up in 2025 with new ownership and management, a new TV commentator in Matt Naulty and an influx of new competitors which new series Category Manager Matt MacKelden said was exciting and made for the perfect time for Zabetakis to make her debut.
 
“We’re over the moon to welcome Kiara and can’t wait to watch her career progress;” said MacKelden.
 
“I’ve met her and her father a few times now and its clear she is a focused young person who has one goal in her mind and  that’s to make a career as a racing driver.”
 
Despite the challenges that lie ahead, Zabetakis is determined to prove herself in the series and continue her development as a driver. 2018 championship winner Ashley Jarvis will be guiding Kiara through her first full season and is confident that her work ethic, determination, and racecraft will serve her well in her first full season of TA2 competition.

The 2025 TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series kicks off with Round 1 at Winton Motor Raceway February 28-March 2 live on SBS,Fox Sports and Kayo Sports. 

The 2025 TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing has officially revealed its calendar, featuring seven rounds at some of Australia’s most iconic circuits.

The 2025 season will see the TA2 Muscle Car Series again headline six rounds of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series, including Winton Motor Raceway (February 28th-March 2nd), Sydney Motorsport Park (May 30th-June 1st), Queensland Raceway 2 Days of Thunder (June 27-29), Queensland Raceway (August 15th-17th), Mallala Raceway (September 26-28) and Winton Motor Raceway (October 31 - November 2) 

Adding to the excitement, the TA2 Muscle Car Series will join the National Trans Am Series for a combined grid at the legendary Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour from April 18th-20th, treating fans to a spectacular display of V8-powered racing at Mount Panorama.

The calendar also highlights a first-time appearance at Mallala Motorsport Park South Australia, September 27-29, marking a significant return of national-level racing to the South Australian circuit. 

The TA2 Muscle Car Series will also feature another two-driver event at Queensland Raceway’s August 15^th to 17^th meeting, following the precedence set with Darwin in 2023 and Tailem Bend 2024, as well as returning to Sydney Motorsport Park racing under lights for a mid-season event. 

The final round of the 2025 TFH Hire Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing will return to Winton Motor Raceway October 31 - November 2. 

Each round will feature streaming and television coverage, with at least 8 hours live on SBS Speedweek from each Hi-Tec Super Series round, simulcast on Fox Sports and Kayo.

The new owner’s group, headed by regular TA2 competitor Mark Crutcher is excited about the year ahead.

QUOTES

Matt MacKelden, Category Manager - TA2 Muscle Car Series
“This calendar represents what our drivers, new owners and corporate partners want, which was a combination of fast flowing circuits plus some shorter, more technical venues and a Free To Air Television package, and I think we’ve delivered that. Like all racing categories, television is very important so a combination of both Hi-Tech Oil Super Series, plus the Bathurst 6 Hour with Trans Am will provide great value to our drivers, their sponsors and our corporate partners.”

Mark Crutcher, Series Co-Owner and driver - #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang
“We have been working very hard to finalise a calendar which offers the right balance on some of the great tracks in Australia, plus adding new events such as Mallala and the Bathurst 6 Hour. Joining Trans AM at Mt Panorama will deliver a fantastic field and a great spectacle, plus supporting George Gambino’s Hi-Tec Oils Super Series as the headline act for all other rounds gives our teams a great platform to benefit from live free to air  media coverage.”

Long time motorsport administrator Craig Denyer announced to a standing ovation at the 2024 TA2 Muscle Car Awards presentation over the weekend he will retire from the sport this year after helping build the TA2 brand from a nine-car series which commenced  in 2018 to over 100 cars now sold in the country. PBR spec TA2 cars race in both the National Trans AM and TA2 Muscle Car Series, the Western Australian series, plus launched in New Zealand with a two round Trans-Tasman series earlier this year, where TA2  continues to also grow as a domestic NZ category in its own right.

The father of television presenter and regular race driver Grant Denyer, Craig has had a long history in the sport conceiving and running the V8 Ute series for many years, worked for Ross Palmers PROCAR developing the GTP and Nations Cup Series in the late 90’s and was involved in administrating both  the Bathurst 12 and 24 Hour races.  He was heavily involved in the early Gold Coast Indycar events, commentated on motorsport for most television networks over the years, including the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne, and has been planning to step down for some time announcing that Matt MacKelden will take on the role of TA2 Muscle Car series category manager. Denyer will continue to be involved in the short term as a part of the handover to the new entity.

The Gala presentation evening last Friday at the Sofitel Broadbeach on the Gold Coast crowned the 2024 TA2 champion, Josh Haynes with the presentation of the $10,000 Wallace Bishop Championship ring, from Brad Gartner and Mark Crutcher. 

Mark Crutcher scored the Circo Master Class title from Paul Hadley and Domain Ramsay. 

#169 TFH Racing Ford Mustang Driver Josh Thomas scored the Wilwood Most Improved award, as he was the most improved driver this year compared to last year on series points. This prize included a full set of Wilwood Calipers and Rotors supplied by Wilwood Brakes. 

The TA2 Geoff Leeds Memorial Trophy is for the driver that does not necessarily win races or run at the front, but contributes in many ways to the success of the series. This award presented by Ben Leeds went to #81 MGW/Team RSG Dodge Challenger driver Hayden Jackson. Jackson also took home the Race Products Never Give Up Award, which included a pair of Race Products 300M TA2 Australia spec floater axles valued at $786. 

The Racetech Rookie of the Year was awarded to the highest point scoring first year TA2 Muscle Car Series driver. This was awarded to Danny Reidy in the #7 Desert Palms Alice Springs Chevrolet Camaro. 

TA2 Muscle Car Series is expected to formally announce the 2025 calendar later this week.

QUOTES

Craig Denyer, TA2 Category Manager 
“This has been somewhat of a 20-year apprenticeship for Matt, who has worked with us in the V8 Ute days as well as Mini Challenge and Australian GT, plus has also been a competitor in TA2.  He has great knowledge across many areas of the sport and has the passion to continue to keep the faith on what we have achieved as a category so far.” Denyer said.

“I cant thank Peter and Mo Robinson, Dayna Bullock and Cam Sendall enough for making this the most enjoyable time I’ve ever  had in the sport and bringing me into their family. When I first sat down with Pete 8 years ago and he explained his vision for TA2, I couldn’t believe that someone so new to the industry had such great foresight and could see so clearly what others with years in the sport had failed to see and where the gap was for a low cost, big bang for buck V8 alternative. That’s the reason the TA2 “Family”  is so successful today and will continue to grow under the new ownership group led by TA2 competitors Mark Crutcher, Graham Cheney and Paul Hadley.”

Matt MacKelden, 2025 TA2 Category Manager 
"I can’t thank The Robinsons, Craig and the new ownership group enough for tapping me on the shoulder given Craigs well deserved retirement.”

“Having worked with Craig and the Series previously the opportunity to continue on his great work and build on the foundation he set is truly an honour, I certainly have very big shoes to fill.”