Series frontrunner Jackson Rice and co-driver Tyler Everingham set the benchmark in combined practise times for Round 2 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing at Darwin’s Hidden Valley today.

The Pedders/Dream Racing Mustang laid down a 1.10.7 edging out the Josh Haynes/Nicholas Bates combo by 1/10^th of a second, 4/10ths faster than Nathan Herne’s Dodge Challenger. Herne has returned from the USA to race this weekend with TA2 Asia champion Paul Manuell.

The Dylan Thomas/Tim Brook pairing was 4^th overall, from the Jordan Cox/Mark Crutcher Mustang to round out the top five.

Graham Cheney and Eden Thornburrow were also within 5/10ths of the fastest time from Brad Gartner and Carrera Cup star Max Vidau, with Zach Loscialpo, George Miedecke/Hugh McAlister and Andrew Fisher/Paul Hadley within the top 10 and all within a second of the fastest time.

Drivers will have individual qualifying sessions tomorrow, followed by a 12 lap sprint race each, then the first of two longer races with mandatory pit stops and driver change.

Series leader Lee Stibbs had a frustrating day in the Arrow Financial Services Mustang with transmission issues to be well outside the top 10 but is expected to be back on the pace tomorrow for the MVA team.  Stibbs is one of four drivers going solo in the twenty car field, however will still have a mandatory stop and tyre change during the feature races.

The action at Hidden Valley carries over to the holiday Monday with another two sprint races and a 35 lap final race, with $20,000 cash going to the highest point scoring combo across all races.

Monday’s races will be streamed from 9am Eastern Standard time, and televised live for three hours on SBS and Fox Sports/Kayo from 12.30 Eastern Standard time.

#7 Pedders Suspension and brakes, Ford Mustang - Jackson Rice

“Hidden Valley Raceway is awesome, the track is super technical and super fast. There is a massive breakdown into turn 1. It is a very busy track and it is very technical over the back as you have a lot of elevation changes to deal with The best passing opportunities for this weekend would have to be turn 2 as it is probably the safest turn to overtake on this track.”

#10 CUBE 3, Dodge Challenger - Nathan Herne

“It’s great to be racing TA2 back in Australia and I’m grateful to Peter and Moana Robinson for giving me the opportunity.  I’ve raced S5000 here so I know the track pretty well, but I’m actually really enjoying being back in a PBR Australian Spec TA2 Dodge. The car is a lot more fun to drive than the Trans Am car in the USA, they run a different tyre over there which has more grip,  however I love this style of racing because the car moves around a lot more which really suits my driving style - plus its great fun!”

Combined practise times:

1 7 Pedders Suspension & Brakes Jackson Rice (VIC) Ford Mustang

2 37 Beaches Sea-Doo Josh Haynes (NSW) Ford Mustang

3 10 CUBE 3 Nathan Herne (NSW) Dodge Challenger

4 68 CXC Racing Dylan Thomas (NSW) Ford Mustang

5 Crutcher Developments Crutcher / Cox (NSW) Ford Mustang

6 51 IES Motorsport Graham Cheney (NSW) Chevrolet Camaro

7 22 Castec Rural Supplies Brad Gartner (SA) Ford Mustang

8 21 Tempest Solutions Zach Loscialpo (NSW) Chevrolet Camaro

9 6 McAlister Motors McAlister / Miedecke NSW Ford Mustang

10 50 IES Motorsport Paul Hadley (NSW) Chevrolet Camaro

11 99 Kubota Racing Matthew MacKelden (QLD) Chevrolet

12 45 Total Parts Plus Hayden Hume (QLD) Dodge Challenger

13 66 Arrow Financial Services Lee Stibbs (SA) Chevrolet Camaro

14 20 Localsearch.com Adam Hargreaves (QLD) Chevrolet Camaro

15 81 MGW / Team RSG Hayden Jackson (NSW) Dodge Challenger

16 11 Kobelco/Sydney Truck and Mac Michael Coulter (NSW) Chevrolet Camaro

17 40 Access Linemarking Equipment Rob Leonard (QLD) Ford Mustang

18 93 Waltec Motorsport Aaron Tebb (NSW) Chevrolet Camaro

19 15 Rowell Logistics /Pacific Pet Michael Rowell (QLD) Ford Mustang

20 49 Allgate Motorsport Christopher Formosa NSW Dodge Challenger

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!” 

With a combined age of over 130 years, Team 40 will certainly have a wealth of life experience to take to Darwin for Round 2 of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.

Russell Wright, the 2017 TA2 champion, will make a return to the series for next weekend’s Round Two of the TA2 Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing at Darwin’s Hidden Valley. The veteran will join Rob Leonard in the “Slow Down Workers Around” Access Linemarking Equipment/ Municipal Workers Australia TA2 Mustang for the two-driver event.

QUOTESRob Leonard, driver #40 Access Linemarking Equipment / Municipal Workers Ford Mustang  “Rusty still competes in historic Trans-Am so he will be on the pace straight away in the new Mustang, prepared by Team Johnson Racing, which had its first outing at the recent Winton round. I’m pretty new to this form of racing, so I’m looking forward to learning from one of the fiercest competitors around. In Rusty’s final full time TA2 appearance last year he won 3 out of the 4 races, so I’m pumped to be able to share the car with a real master.” Russell Wright, co-driver #40 Access Linemarking Equipment / Municipal Workers Ford Mustang “I love this category and was one of the first drivers to invest in the series when Peter Robinson kicked it off. To race at Darwin is something special, so I’m glad that Rob and Jill have given me the opportunity to share the experience and enjoy the ride. The car looks sensational, has been prepared by Steven Johnson so if we keep it together for all 6 races, then we might be surprised where Team 40 ends up.”

American-based Australian driver Nathan Herne will make a triumphant return to his home country to team up with New Zealander Paul Manuell in an all-international entry at Round 2 of the 2023 TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek Steel Framing at Hidden Valley Raceway on 29 April - 1 May.

Herne and Manuell join previously announced co-drivers Jordan Cox and Tyler Everingham for the event which has been boosted by major cash prize pool.

The Hi-Tec Oils Super Series have offered a cash prize of $20,000 to the Kings of the North, the highest overall point-scoring driver pairing from all six races.

Herne and Manuell will take the wheel of Peter Robinson’s #10 Morgan’s Investments Dodge Challenger. Robinson, the founder of the TA2 Muscle Car Series and Australian distributor for TA2 cars, has handed the keys over for this event.

Herne has been making waves in his rookie season in the American Trans-Am Series after a second place finish in only his second race at NOLA Motorsports Park, and lead laps at the last round at Road Atlanta. Herne has been based in Michigan, driving for Stevens Miller Racing through an association with Peter Robinson.

TA2 Australia and Stevens Miller Racing have previously facilitated one-off drivers for former champions Russell Wright and Ashley Jarvis as well as Herne in 2022 through an arrangement with PBR Distributions,  brokered by Robinsons long term relationship with Joe Stevens and Chas Howe, manufacturer of the PBR Spec TA2 race cars.

Teaming up with Herne will be Paul Manuell, an experienced racing driver from New Zealand who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the partnership. Manuell is also a TA2 champion driver, having won the TA2 Asia Championship in 2019, and a two-time champion of the NZ V8 Ute Championship.

Manuell also heads up the burgeoning New Zealand TA2 Series, and is working behind the scenes with the Australian TA2 Muscle Car Series to strengthen the Trans-Tasman links between each series for future opportunities.

Racing fans can expect an action-packed weekend with Herne and Manuell taking on the challenges of the series and vying for the top spot on the podium.

Round 2 of the 2023 TA2 Muscle Car Series will take place at Hidden Valley Raceway in the Northern Territory from April 29 to May 1 will be televised live on SBS  Speedweek, Monday afternoon of the Labour Day Long Weekend,  (May 1) simulcast on Fox Sports.

QUOTES

Stephen Whyte, General Manager - Benalla Auto Club

“To have Nathan Herne flying in from America to drive with Paul Manuell from New Zealand is a big coup for the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.

“It’s very special for NAMSC and the Northern Territory motorsport community to have attracted a genuinely international entry to compete in a race meeting at Hidden Valley.”

Nathan Herne, driver #10 Morgan’s Investments Dodge Challenger

2x National Trans-Am Series Champion, 2023 American Trans-Am Series driver

“I’m really excited to come back to Australia and race in King of the North TA2 event, the first time ever for TA2 around the world that there’s going to be a driver change midway through the race.

“I’ll be teaming up with Paul Manuell from New Zealand. I haven’t met him before, but I’ve heard some great things about what he’s done in V8 Supertourers and V8 Utes and even the TA2 Series in Asia.

“Peter Robinson has been nice enough to lend Paul and I the keys of his Dodge, so hopefully we bring it home in one piece and give it our best shot.

“It worked out pretty well. I was already back in Australia and it worked out that this opportunity came up so I’ve decided to stay an extra week to do this race before I head back to America and get back to working on my car full time back in Michigan.

“I’m keen to get back to Darwin. I raced there in S5000 last year and the TA2 cars up there are going to be something different.

“It’s also the first time anyone in the Northern Territory will see these cars in the flesh and everywhere the TA2 cars go, whether it's Australia or America, they quickly become the most popular cars there.

“It'll be good to go back and spend the weekend with all the guys from TA2. These are the people who gave me my first shot to take the next step in my racing and they’ve helped me a lot, even to this day. So it's good to go back there there’s a lot of good names coming back out of the woods for it.

“Racing in America is a very different experience. I haven’t had as much raw seat time as I would've liked to so far over there, but it has been very busy and I've learned a lot. The driving style between the American Trans-Am cars and the Australian TA2 cars are quite different due to the tyres, so I will have to readapt to getting speed out of the Hoosier tyres.

Paul Manuell, driver #10 Morgan’s Investments Dodge Challenger

2019 TA2 Asia Champion, 2x NZ V8 Ute Champion

“I'm pretty thrilled to team up with a top driver like Nathan for the TA2 King of the North Races in Darwin.

“I wouldn't say I've had my day. I’m still competent behind the wheel, still winning races over here, but I don't race much over here anymore really. I'm the New Zealand distributor now for TA2, won the Asian championship in 2019 but I still like to keep my eye in.

“I’m really keen to see some data and I’m sure Nathan could teach me a thing or two. I’m really excited to jump on board and give it my best shot and hopefully we have a good, clean weekend.

“It's quite a unique concept doing the driver change and all that sort of stuff. That’s where the race can be won or lost, so it will be pretty important to get my head around and make the best of that. I think Nathan is sort of similar size and height for me, so there shouldn’t be too many problems with the belt change and that sort of stuff.

“There’s a lot of interest in TA2 in New Zealand. We’ve sold nine cars now and I’m at Hampton Downs testing three people today. Hampton Downs just launched one of our cars as their ride car which is pretty exciting as it will self-promote. We’re here for the long haul. I’ve been through Supertourers and I know what New Zealand wants. That’s why I’m so passionate about these cars. These are what New Zealand can afford and they provide some fantastic racing.

“I did a round at Queensland Raceway last year and it was my first time there while some guys in there had a lot of experience at the track, but going to Hidden Valley it’s a track most of the drivers haven’t been to, especially in these cars. So I feel a bit better about it when we went to Queensland Raceway, as I sort of just got my head around the circuit by the end of the weekend.

"I’d like to extend my thanks to Peter Robinson for the opportunity, and there’s some exciting stuff on the horizon for TA2 in Australia and New Zealand.”