Eight cars from the PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series will line up in the Tin Tops support category for this weekend’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, October 15-18.

The eight car TA2 line-up will include young-gun Nathan Herne in the Gulf Western Oils Dodge Challenger.

The 18-year old multiple TA2 race winner was set to make his Supercars Championship debut in The Great Race in a wildcard entry with Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM), however his application for a dispensation for a Superlicence required to compete in the race was denied by Motorsport Australia.

This will mark Herne’s second appearance at Mount Panorama this year in his Dream Racing Australia TA2 car following his victory in the TA2 class of the Combined Sedans support category at the Bathurst 12 Hour in February. Herne will also work for GRM as a driver change assistant in the pit crew across the weekend.

Alongside Herne, Dream Racing Australia will field two cars for Craig Scutella plus V8 Ute and Touring Car Masters racer Andrew Fisher in the Jesus Racing Camaro.

Also returning to the mountain this year following the 12 Hour supports include Chris Formosa in his ‘Scooby-Doo’ inspired Allgate Motorsport Dodge Challenger and Mark Crutcher in his Crutcher Developments Challenger.

After taking victory in the TA2 NSW State of Origin event at Sydney Motorsport Park a fortnight ago, Kubota Racing Mustang driver Hugh McAlister will head to the mountain alongside his father Ian McAlister, with the experienced racer lining-up in his McAlister Motors-backed Camaro.

Sydney-based Michael Coulter will take the wheel of his Kobelco Motorsport Mustang after father Steve Coulter raced at the 12 Hour earlier this year.

The TA2 cars will compete in their own class within the Tin Tops grid and will be recognised by their own points, qualifying positions and top three finishes.

Herne led the TA2 cars and placed in the overall top ten in both practice sessions for the Tin Tops, with Jesus Racing’s Andrew Fisher and Kubota Racing’s Hugh McAlister the other top TA2 entries.

The PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series will then hit the track the following weekend at Queensland Raceway for the QLD State of Origin event at the Australian Motor Racing Series (AMRS) meeting on October 23-25.

The Aussie Tin Tops are set for two 20-minute practice sessions, one 20-minute qualifying session and three nine-lap races across the weekend. Races can be viewed live on Fox Sports 506 and Network 10.

QUOTES 

Nathan Herne, #29 Gulf Western Oils Dodge Challenger driver

“Last year I came here as a spectator and while I had the call-up to do the 1000, to still be here in the TA2 this year is still really cool and while the crowd isn’t here it will still be an amazing week and a bucket-list event as a race driver,” said Herne.

“It’s not in the Supercar but the TA2 is a really fun car to drive here, they’re not as setup-critical as a Supercar where you can really rag the TA2 to get a lap time out of them and they slide around across the top of the Mountain.

“They dance around a lot on the Hoosier cross-ply and they do crumble as we found out earlier this year, the biggest thing for us this weekend is making sure the tyres last and don’t start to tear up after a few laps.

“We have eight TA2 cars here so it would be good to show the speed these cars have compared to some of the other cars in the Tin Top category.

“These are one of the cheapest cars here when you look at all of the Porsches and GT cars, but we have a chance to be high up in the field so it just shows the bang-for-buck this package provides and hopefully some of us are close enough to have a mini-race within the race.”

Craig Denyer, TA2 Muscle Car Series Manager

“It’s just great to be back on track again and any opportunity to race and get track time at Bathurst shouldn’t be missed,” said Denyer.

“I’m sure Nathan and the rest of the TA2 Muscle Car racers will have a ball playing on one of the largest touring car stages when you look at the worldwide following the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama delivers.

“Our Queensland based teams will also get a run next weekend as part of the AMRS Series at Queensland Raceway, so when you include the AMRS round at Sydney Motorsport Park recently, we have been able to deliver three different TA2 racing opportunities over four weeks, and hopefully Sandown is yet to come at the end of November.”

Kubota Racing’s Hugh McAlister has scored his maiden TA2 Muscle Car Series round win with victory in the PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series NSW State of Origin event at Sydney Motorsport Park.

McAlister won both races on Sunday to win the first TA2 post-COVID event ahead of Kobelco Motorsport’s Michael Coulter and Jesus Racing’s TA2 debutant Andrew Fisher.

Race 3 began in dramatic fashion when Mark Crutcher and Craig Scutella tangled off the rolling start at Turn 1. Crutcher made a great start from the back of the pack before the pair touched on the entry to Turn 1. Fortunately both cars were repaired and rejoined the field for Race 4.

The race restarted on Lap 5 and there was a fight at the front with the top four stretching out their lead. Fisher and fellow TA2 debutant Zac Loscialpo were battling for second before Fisher was turned by Loscialpo coming onto the main straight with two laps remaining. Loscialpo was later handed a three-place grid penalty for the next race. McAlister took the chequered flag by two seconds ahead of Coulter, Graham Cheney, Loscialpo and Chris Formosa.

In Race 4, Fisher staged a strong recovery drive in the Jesus Racing Camaro as he charged back to the podium from sixth in the final race, setting the fastest lap of the race at a 1:38.0 in the process.

A safety car was called on Lap 3 with Mark Crutcher in the wall at the final corner, reporting a failure in the front-end. After the restart, TA2 debutant Zach Loscialpo and Graham Cheney made contact, with Loscialpo dropping behind Cheney in fifth. TA2 debutant Barry Kelleher retired on Lap 7 after a solid weekend in his Mustang.

The fourth and final race saw McAlister hold off Coulter on worn tyres in a terrific scrap for the lead to secure the round win.

The PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series will look at staging more events as border restrictions ease nationwide, with the next state of origin event planned for the AMRS round at Queensland Raceway on 23-25 October.

Kobelco Motorsport’s Michael Coulter and Kubota Racing’s Hugh McAlister shared the spoils as the first TA2 grid since COVID-19 hit the track today for the PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series NSW State of Origin event at Sydney Motorsport Park.

After McAlister set pole position in the morning’s qualifying session, confusion on the rolling start saw a radio call made from race control which gave McAlister a false cue to take off before the lights went out to commence the race.

McAlister eventually crossed the finish line over two seconds ahead of Coulter, before he was handed a five second post-race penalty for a jump start.

Coulter passed former V8 Utes racer Andrew Fisher off the start and inherited his maiden series win from Fisher.

Series regulars Ian McAlister, Mark Crutcher and Craig Scutella enjoyed a good scrap in the midfield throughout the race, as Crutcher made it home or sixth ahead of McAlister, Chris Formosa and Scutella.

The top four staged a thrilling battle in Race 2 late in the day.

Fisher made a move for the lead until Coulter blocked into Turn 1. McAlister was a man on a mission as he passed Fisher for second at Turn 2 on Lap 4, and then Coulter at Turn 3 two laps later.

The Kubota Racing driver was never headed as he set the fastest lap of the race on his way to his maiden TA2 race win.

Former Toyota 86 racer Zac Loscialpo came to grips with his TA2 Camaro in Race 2, passing Fisher for third on Lap 6 and then Coulter for second on the penultimate lap to finish second on his TA2 debut.

Fisher then passed Coulter for third to score two podiums in his debut in the Jesus Racing Camaro.

The PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series returns for two more races tomorrow at Sydney Motorsport Park to decide the NSW State of Origin winner.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series has confirmed their return to racing, with a New South Wales ‘State of Origin’ event to feature at the second round of the Australian Motor Racing Series this weekend, 25-27 September at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The event billed as the ‘PROMAXX Performance Exhausts NSW State of Origin TA2 Muscle Car Series’ will see a grid of 11 New South Wales-based TA2 racers line up for four ten-lap sprint races at Sydney Motorsport Park.

A host of new talent joining the series this weekend will include Toyota 86 Series racer Zac Loscialpo in the ex-Cameron Sendall Camaro supported by Tempest Solutions and Pastro Ag.

The son of production car racer Anthony Loscialpo, Zac sampled the car at Queensland Raceway a month ago before bringing it back to New South Wales and completed a shakedown day last week at Sydney Motorsport Park in preparation for his series debut this weekend.

V8 Utes and Touring Car Masters racer Andrew Fisher will also make his first TA2 appearance in the second Dream Racing Australia Camaro alongside Craig Scutella.

Another debutant will see Sprintcar legend Barry Kelleher make his circuit racing debut in the TA2 Muscle Car Series after recently acquiring a Mustang from Carey McMahon.

One round of the PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series has been completed so far in 2020, when former Toyota 86 Series racer John McLaughlin won the season opener at Winton in March ahead of fellow Queenslanders Murray Kent and Michael Kulig.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have forced series organisers to adapt their season and focus on ensuring competitors can enjoy track time in any means possible at local events or invitational appearances in other categories.

Several TA2 competitors, including have appeared in the Tin Tops all-comers support category to the Supercars Championship at Townsville and The Bend, with a seperate class recognising the TA2 cars competing.

Tin Top competitors at The Bend included the debut of Karl Begg in the motorsportsales.com.au Mustang, the Queenslander acquired the car from Tim Tritton as raced in the 2019 series. Fellow Queenslander Ben Walsh clean swept the TA2 class in the ex-Bill Robinson Mustang, with plans to join the Tin Tops again supporting the Bathurst 1000.

Queensland-based racers have also competed in local Sports Sedan events as invited entries, with plans afoot for a Queensland State of Origin event in late October at Queensland Raceway.

Event organisers have enabled this weekend’s event in Sydney to continue in accordance with government regulations in the ongoing management of the COVID-19 pandemic, while measures have been put in place to ensure social distancing laws are complied with.

No spectators will be permitted to the venue, while all nominated drivers and crew will be temperature tested before entering the circuit.

Outside of the outright round podium, a host of regular series awards are still on offer, including the PWR Pole Award, the Hypercoil Hard Charger Award, the Wilwood Big Braker Award and the Bowden’s Own Best Presented Award.

The PROMAXX Performance Exhausts NSW TA2 Muscle Car Series is set for practice on Friday, followed by qualifying at 11:10am AEST before two races on Saturday afternoon and two more races to finish on Sunday.

QUOTES Craig Denyer, TA2 Muscle Car Series Manager

“It will be fantastic to see the TA2 Muscle Cars back on track at Sydney Motorsport Park to give primarily the NSW based competitors some track time,” said Denyer.

“The event will be run within strict COVID 19 guidelines implemented by the AMRS, and hopefully we can back up the NSW event with another AMRS round at Queensland Raceway for TA2 cars next month.”

Zac Loscialpo, #21 Camaro, Tempest Solutions

“We had heard about the series and watched some footage and after talking to Cameron Sendall up in Queensland and driving the car we were excited to get involved,” said Loscialpo.

“It is a big change from the Toyota 86 Series but we thought it would be a good stepping stone and a new chapter for our family team.

“I think my old man wanted something he could drive as well, he loves the V8s and maybe we can have a two-car team one day.

"My first laps were mental, there’s a big difference from the Toyota 86 but once I got my head around it after a few laps I loved it and you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

“It’s a purpose built race car with so much power and I hadn’t driven on slicks before so that was a new learning experience, and the four speed dog-box was a totally different concept of driving.

“We wanted something faster and a new challenge, it’s a proper race car so there are a lot of adjustments we can do to tune it up and we have already learnt so much from the couple of days we have had it on track.

“Our goals for the weekend are just to continue our learning of the car, improve each session and it will be great to go racing against some other TA2 cars.”

PROMAXX Performance Exhausts 2020 NSW TA2 Muscle Car Series

ENTRY LIST

#3 Barry Kelleher (NSW), Ford Mustang

#4 Mark Crutcher (NSW) - Dodge Challenger, Crutcher Developments

#6 Hugh McAlister (NSW) - Ford Mustang, Kubota Racing

#9 Ian McAlister (NSW) - Chevrolet Camaro, McAlister Motors

#11 Michael Coulter (NSW) - Ford Mustang, Kobelco/Sydney Truck and Machinery

#21 Zac Loscialpo (NSW) - Chevrolet Camaro, Tempest Solutions/Excelerate Motorsport

#49 Chris Formosa (NSW) - Dodge Challenger, Ranger Racing/Allgate Auto Doors

#50 Paul Hadley (NSW) - Chevrolet Camaro, Illawarra Engineering Services

#51 Graham Cheney (NSW) - Chevrolet Camaro - Illawarra Engineering Services

#555 Andrew Fisher (NSW) - Chevrolet Camaro - Dream Racing Australia

#777 Craig Scutella (NSW) - Chevrolet Camaro - Dream Racing Australia

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY Practice 1 - 10:00am (20 minutes) Practice 2 - 12:15pm (20 minutes) Practice 3 - 3:10pm (20 minutes)

SATURDAY Qualifying - 11:10am (20 minutes) Race 1 - 1:30pm (10 laps) Race 2 - 4:00pm (10 laps)

SUNDAY Race 3 - 10:30am (10 laps) Race 4 - 2:15pm (10 laps)

QUOTES

Tim Slade - DJR Team Penske Supercars co-driver

“I’ve been a big fan of the TA2 category for a little while now. I think it’s an awesome concept, it’s super cost-effective and a lot of bang-for-buck,” said Slade.

“It was good fun and nice to get some laps in a race car again given that I haven’t done any for a long time, with bathurst coming up it was a nice way to repair.

“I think it’s a great entry-level category but there are also a lot of speedy guys in there, it’s got great numbers around the country and I’d recommend it to anyone that was looking to get into motor racing or stepping up from other classes like the Hyundai Excels.”

Jett Johnson - Hyundai Excel racer, son of Steve Johnson

“It was so cool, I got out of Turn 2 on my first lap and put my foot down and it was so fast compared to an Excel,” said Johnson.

“It was surprisingly easy to get used to, at first it was a bit daunting for me because I had only raced Excels with low horsepower and thin tyres, but I got out in the TA2 and it had so much grip, it was so fast but really nice to drive.

“Karl Begg approached us at Morgan Park when we raced the Hyundai there a couple of weeks ago, and he asked if I wanted to come and try the TA2.

“It was really good of him to invite us to come out today, a big thanks to him and motorsportsales.com.au for the opportunity to come and drive the TA2.”

Ben Walsh - Aussie Racing Cars and SuperUtes winner

“The cars are unreal to drive, they had a lot of power all the way through the rev range. You’ve got to get used to sliding them around a little bit, but they’re really enjoyable cars to drive,” said Walsh.

“I’m going to be racing one in the Tin Tops at The Bend in South Australia next week and I’m really looking forward to it.

“The series has great appeal because the cars are even and you can do some setup changes to them but not too much, and you’ve got the longevity fo the engine, I think its a very cost effective way to go racing a fast car.

“They are doing a very quick lap time around here, usually to get a car to do that sort of lap time you’ve got to spend ridiculous amounts of money.

“I have got a few mates who race them who’ve talked me into it, and I’m glad I came out today,  it’s as good as everyone told me it would be.”

Kyle Gurton - Formula Ford racer

“I had the opportunity to come out to try out the TA2 today and to have my first drive of a V8 race car,” said Gurton.

“I’ve been racing Formula Ford with Team Sonic and the production cars with Aaron Cameron, but while there isn’t much racing going on this year it was good to get some seat time.

“The car was amazing, the noise was incredible, the power down the back straight was insane and I was surprised by how much grip it had through the corners.

“It was my first time driving on the left hand side of the car which was a bit weird at first trying to pick my apexes, but the gear stick was on the right like a Formula Ford so there were some similarities.

“Today just blew me away and I’d love to get back in one as soon as I can.

“Big shout out to Peter Robinson and Cameron Sendall from the TA2 Muscle Car Series, I was well impressed by how relaxed they were thought the day, it was a great crew to help me get used to the car.”