“While the current Victorian lockdown and uncertainty about border restrictions made it necessary to postpone the event, we’re pleased we have been able to find a replacement date in July,” Baragwanath said. “I would especially like to thank the management team at Winton Raceway for accommodating our rescheduling request, along with the AMRS competitors and categories for their flexibility in accepting the date change.”

TA2 Racing Australia has launched the next step of their long-term vision, following a successful debut round of the PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Southern Series held at Phillip Island earlier this month.

TA2 series organisers launched a regional series combining the national rounds of the TA2 Muscle Car Series and selected rounds of the National Trans-Am Series, with the first round held in conjunction with the Trans-Am Series at Phillip Island.

The TA2 Southern and Northern series concept was conceived to ensure as much track time could be enjoyed by all competitors in case border closures made interstate travel difficult, and follows on from the success of the TA2 State of Origin rounds held last year during the COVID-19 border lockdowns.

17-year old Nash Morris was the victor on that occasion, placing sixth overall after a strong performance against some of Australia’s finest TA2 drivers with Aaron Seton taking the round win from Nathan Herne.

Both Seton and Herne have been front-runners in the TA2 Muscle Car Series previously, with Seton winning the title in 2019 and Herne taking out the first round of the PROMAXX TA2 National series this year at Sydney Motorsport Park, filling in for Russell Wright.

Morris, driving the motorsportsales.com.au Mustang owned by Karl Begg, now leads the TA2 Southern Series from Victorian Graham Smith and New South Welshman Michael Coulter.

With a total car count approaching 60 cars in the country, the explosion in popularity of the TA2 series brought forward plans to expand the variety of events and provide a stepping stone for competitors.

On top of the overall champion for the year, the TA2 Muscle Car Series will also crown a Masters champion (for drivers over the age of 50) and the Rookie of the Year, as well as the Southern and Northern champion for the highest points scorers at the selected events.

The second round of the PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Southern Series will be held at Winton Motor Raceway with the AMRS on June 11-13, with the penultimate round alongside the National Trans-Am Series at Sandown in September and the final round back with the AMRS at The Bend Motorsport Park in December.

Nash Morris has scored his maiden TA2 race victory on his debut in the series, as Nathan Herne emerged victorious outright at Round 1 of the 2021 PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series.

Herne cantered away at the start of Race 3, as Chris Pappas charged from sixth to third behind Paul Morris Motorsport stablemate Nash Norris by Lap 4.

The safety car was called on Lap 5 when Graham Cheney and Tim Shaw clashed exiting Turn 5, sending both cars into the inside wall, with the race ending under the safety car.

Veteran speedway driver Barry Kelleher finished a strong eighth, while George Kulig and Zach Loscialpo were both penalised five seconds for being out-of-line on the rolling start.

As Race 4 commenced, Mark Crutcher moved up to fourth before he spun at Turn 2 and was collected by Zach Loscialpo. Anthony Tenkate passed Murray Kent for fourth down the main straight on Lap 3.

Herne elected not to use all six tyres allocated for Round 1, instead leaving two new tyres for injured car owner Russell Wright when he returns to the wheel at Morgan Park for Round 2.

Herne built a gap early on in the race before Morris closed in on fresher tyres and took the lead on Lap 7 at the Turn 8 hairpin and was never headed.

Morris went on to score his first TA2 race win on debut by 20 seconds as Herne battled home on worn tyres, with Pappas scoring his second podium finish on the run.

The outright points saw Herne take round honours from Morris and Tenkate.

The PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series returns to action at Morgan Park Raceway in Queensland on 16/18 April.

2021 PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series

1st - Nathan Herne - 217

2nd - Nash Morris - 208

3rd - Anthony Tenkate - 191

4th - Murray Kent - 190

5th - Chris Pappas - 187

QUOTES Nash Morris - #40 Motorsport Sales Ford Mustang

“It was my first time racing a TA2 and I had a great time down here in Sydney,” said Morris.

“I didn’t think I would be that far up the grid but I’m really happy with how we progressed to take the win in the final race.

“From here I think we’ll continue on to Phillip Island next week and see how we go against the likes of Aaron Seton and Owen Kelly as well as Nathan in the Trans-Am Series.”

Nathan Herne - #55 Wright Property Investments Ford Mustang

“Hopping into Russell Wright’s car for the weekend, we had six new tyres allocated for the first round of the year, and as I won’t be competing the full TA2 Muscle Car Series I said to Rusty, “I’ll save the last two tyres for you and you can have a full set for the next round,” so I ran around on four tyres for the whole weekend,” said Herne.

“Personally I was using the weekend as a big test session for my own car and for Wright’s team as well.

“It wouldn’t have been great for the tyres to do a 30-minute flat-out qualifying run last night and it came back to bite me in the last race today, but it’s all about learning and a great experience to learn more about these cars.

“We threw the kitchen sink at this car with setup changes all weekend and we had a quick car throughout, so it’s a credit to Rusty, Jake and Wendy in the Wright Property Investments team and I wish them all the best for the season ahead.”

Anthony Tenkate - #69 Tenkate Plant Hire Ford Mustang

“I drove the wheels off the car all weekend, I had an absolute ball and the racing was fantastic,” said Tenkate.

“Racing with Murray Kent and Mark Crutcher, those guys are clean, fair and awesome to race with on track.”

“Thanks to Pete and Hughie for their support as always to keep the Tenkate Mustang on track, we can’t wait to get to Morgan Park.”

Former TA2 rookie of the year Nathan Herne has made a stunning last-minute comeback to the PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series, dominating the opening two races at Sydney Motorsport Park including the feature night race.

Subbing for the injured Russell Wright, Herne took pole position by over a second, won the opening seven-lap race by 14 seconds and scored a commanding 40-second victory in the 17-lap night race.

Tim Shaw finished second in the opening race from Graham Cheney with a personal-best finish in third.

Starting fourth, debutant Nash Morris got by Zach Loscialpo at Turn 8 on the second lap, as the pair diced for the remainder of the race with Morris holding on for fourth spot.

Cheney got Shaw off the start for second place in Race 2, before Shaw got back in front as the pair rubbed on the opening lap.

Morris and Michael Coulter came to blows at Turn 5 on the second lap, as Coulter spun and hit the inside wall and retired from the race with damage to the front-left corner.

Loscialpo dropped out of the top five and pitted with gear shifter issues, as Morris and Cheney battled for third place. Drama struck again on Lap 10 when contact saw Cheney and Morris collide at Turn 1, with Cheney spinning into the outfield.

Provisionally, Herne won Race 2 from Morris and Shaw.

Anthony Tenkate climbed five spots from ninth to fourth, as Graham Smith rounded out the top five.

The PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series returns to action tomorrow for Race 3 at 9:12am and Race 4 at 1:22pm.

QUOTES Nathan Herne, driver - #55 Wright Property Investments Ford Mustang

“It was awesome to race under lights here in Sydney,” said Herne.

“The track was lit up so well, it lit up like a Christmas tree, I had my tinted visor and was worried how I’d go with it but it was so good out there.

“Sydney Motorsport Park and the ARDC have done an awesome job, the lighting looks like you’re in the daylight and it was a real privilege to race under lights tonight.

“A massive thank you to Russell Wright and his crew for the opportunity to drive this weekend, it was such a nice car and I barely broke a sweat in that race.

“It was awesome to be back with TA2 this weekend and a great way to ease myself to the upcoming double-header with S5000 next week at Phillip Island.”