McLaughlin scores debut win as drama strikes Wright
The opening day of racing for the 2020 PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series has ended in dramatic fashion with Race 1 winner Russell Wright set to charge from the back after he was caught up in an unavoidable incident in Race 2.
The inaugural series champion and defending Masters champion, Wright scored his first outright PWR Performance Products Pole Award since his championship year in 2017 in a tight qualifying session as the provisional pole changed four times between he and John McLaughlin.
Wright's last lap effort that sealed pole for the Gold Coaster by two-tenths over McLaughlin and Michael Kulig with a personal-best effort qualifying in third.
Wright converted pole position to win the first race of the season narrowly over a fast-finishing McLaughlin. Kulig dropped a wheel off at the Turn 10 on Lap 2, letting Murray Kent through for third.
After battling early with Kobelco Motorsport’s Michael Coulter, Allgate Motorsport's Chris Formosa found the Turn 2 fence hard on exit on Lap 3, forcing a safety car period for four laps to recover the stricken Dodge.
Wright lead from the outset in Race 2 with McLaughlin staying in close contact in the early stages.
The pair were closing in on lapped traffic late in the race before Lap 9 when series debutant Jason Hassett’s motor expired in the Hass Camaro. Wright saw oil down entering Turn 5 and slowed to avoid the ailing car. McLaughlin's view was blocked by Wright and he hit the oil and spun, with the rear of McLaughlin's Mustang hitting the front of Wright.
The damage was enough to end Wright's race, while McLaughlin recovered and took the chequered flag under safety car conditions on Lap 10, two laps early.
Murray Kent scored a personal-best finish in second and walked away with the fastest lap of the race, ahead of Kulig and Coulter. KTM off-road racer Graham Cheney finished a remarkable fifth on his debut circuit racing weekend in the Illawara Engineering Camaro.
The PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series is set for a further two races tomorrow to decide the opening round of the year.
QUOTES John McLaughlin, #17 myraceprofile.com Ford Mustang
“It isn’t how we planned on getting our first win, but we’ll take it,” said McLaughlin.
“There was a bit of carnage there with lapped traffic and I managed to get through relatively unscathed which was all we needed to finish the race in first.
“I haven’t really been able to utilise the pace we have in the car yet as we’ve been tucked in behind Russell Wright, but hopefully tomorrow we can show more of our speed and stay at the front.”
Russell Wright, #55 Wright Property Developments Ford Mustang
"It’s pretty disappointing to start the year off this way,” said Wright.
“As i’ve come around Turn 4 I could see some smoke from a car I was about to lap, then I saw flame and I thought there would be some oil down a backed off right away.
“Unfortunately John who was just behind me had his view blocked by me, and he may not have been able to see the car that was dropping oil. He’s come through realised too late, locked up and turned the car sideways and skidded into me as the rear of his car hit the front of mine.
“We were off to a good start but got a tail-end Charlie award in Race 2 so we’ll be fighting from the back tomorrow.”
New media deal as grid set for TA2 Muscle Car Series opener
 "New media deal as grid set for TA2 Muscle Car Series opener")
Fresh from signing new naming-rights partner PROMAXX Performance Exhausts, the TA2 Muscle Car Series has announced a new free-to-air television deal for 2020 including live-streaming from all AMRS Series rounds.
Commencing from Round 1 of the series this weekend at Winton Motor Raceway near Benalla in Victoria, all PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series rounds will be covered in high definition on SBS free-to-air television through the long-standing motorsport programme SPEEDWEEK. The broadcasts will also be replayed through Fox Sports 506, the same channel that carries Supercar, Formula 1, World Rally Championship, Moto GP, Formula E and all mainstream motorsport events.
In addition, the AMRS rounds will also be replayed through Kayo Sports, internationally through Motorsport TV and live-streamed on the AMRS website. In addition, the AMRS rounds will also be replayed through Kayo Sports, internationally through Motorsport TV and live-streamed on the AMRS website. Motorsport TV alone has over half a million followers on YouTube and Facebook, and combined with coverage through Europe via MotorTrend On Demand and USA via MavTV will give the series by far its biggest audience footprint.
In just three short seasons on the national stage, the PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series is one of the fastest growing motorsport categories in Australia delivering a raw V8 muscle-car experience in current generation Mustangs, Camaros and Challengers that rewards drivers and fans with a high horsepower, low-grip experience, ensuring the racing is as good as it gets and affordable for the competitor.
A competitive field of 22 TA2 Muscle Cars will line up at Winton this weekend for qualifying and four races across two days of action.
The grid will feature a blend of rookies such as Camaro drivers Jason Hassett and Graham Cheney, proven talent in former Toyota 86 series racer John McLaughlin, Michael Kulig, Murray Kent and Michael Coulter, as well as series veterans in 2017 champion Russell Wright, Australian Trans-Am regular Anthony Tenkate and Camaro driver Darren Berry.
Cheney, who lives near Bathurst in NSW is a factory KTM off-road rider and is having his first run on four wheels as part of a two-car Camaro team with Paul Hadley. Also joining the series for the first time is West Australian Brett Niall in a Ford Mustang prepared by Ron Cremen Racehire, NSW Aussie Racing Car driver Peter Herd, Victorian Toyota 86 Series racer Graham Smith in the Hazard Solutions Camaro and Warren Trewin also returning in the High Voltage Coffee SNB Racing Camaro.
The outright battle is expected to be fought out between Wright, McLaughlin, Kent, Coulter and Kulig, with a very competitive pack including Tim Tritton, Peter Robinson, Darren Berry and Anthony Tenkate expected to also push well into the top ten.
QUOTES
Craig Denyer, TA2 Muscle Car Series National Category Manager
“Expanding the media deal for this year is a major step towards exposing the TA2 product to a significantly larger audience which then directly benefits all fans, teams, drivers and commercial partners,” explained Craig Denyer.
“Matt Baragwanath and the whole team at the Australian Motor Racing Series have done a superb job in pulling together this year’s package which will also help grow the AMRS series as a low-cost, high-reward experience for competitors and fans.
“It’s great that the PROMAXX Performance Exhausts TA2 Muscle Car Series can headline their events for 2020 and be the major part of their media and television package.”
SCHEDULE
2020 TA2 Muscle Car Series Round 1 - Winton Motor Raceway, VIC (AMRS), February 29/March 1
Friday, 28 February 2020
Practice 1: 11:10am (20 minutes)
Practice 2: 1:50pm (20 minutes)
Practice 3: 3:55pm (20 minutes)
Saturday, 29 February 2020
Qualifying: 10:55am (20 minutes)
Race 1: 1:40pm (12 laps)
Race 2: 3:45pm (12 laps)
Sunday, 1 March 2020
Race 3: 10:20am (12 laps)
Race 4: 1:50pm (15 laps)
ENTRY LIST
#4 - Mark Crutcher (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Crutcher Developments
#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 - Peter Herd (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - RTC Motorsport
#17 - John McLaughlin (QLD), Ford Mustang - MyRaceProfile.com
#20 - Darren Berry (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Tooth Booth Dentists
#24 - Jack Childs (QLD), Ford Mustang - Think Investment Realty
#26 - Jason Hassett (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Hassett Pumps
#27 - Graham Smith (VIC), Ford Mustang - Hazzard Solutions
#28 - Tim Tritton (QLD), Ford Mustang - Everyday Finance Solutions
#35 - Chris La Rosa (NSW), Ford Mustang - Natcorp Direct
#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
#54 - Brett Niall (WA), Ford Mustang - Ron Cremen Racehire
#55 - Russell Wright (QLD), Ford Mustang - RoadBees Transport
#69 - Anthony Tenkate (QLD), Ford Mustang - Tenkate Plant Hire
#71 - Warren Trewin (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - High Voltage Coffee Racing
#74 - Murray Kent (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Underground Civil Supplies
#77 - Bill Robinson (NSW), Ford Mustang - Elite Smash Repairs Erina
#888 - Warren Wadley (QLD), Ford Mustang - Wadley Motorsport
TA2 Muscle Cars impress in Bathurst 12 Hour Saturday supports
 "TA2 Muscle Cars impress in Bathurst 12 Hour Saturday supports")
Nine entrants from the TA2 Muscle Car Series once again shone in the Combined Sedans support races at the Bathurst 12 Hour.
17-year old Nathan Herne continued his Friday form in the Gulf Western Oils Dodge Challenger to fight at the front of the field, setting a new TA2 track record at a 2:15.0 and lapping competitively against stronger thoroughbred Sports Sedans and V8 Supercars.
Herne finished second on track in Race 2 this morning before he was sent back five seconds to sixth in the official results after receiving a penalty for overlapping on the safety car restart. This handed the TA2 class victory in the race to debutant Jimmy Vernon (Mustang), who finished the weekend after this performance and sat out the final race due to the extreme heat at the circuit.
Dodge Challenger double Chris Formosa and Peter Robinson tangled at Turn 1 on the restart, with Robinson unable to finish the race.
In the final race, Herne quickly charged back to second on the opening lap behind Paul Boschert’s Corvette Sports Sedan. Herne lapped within half a second of the race leader and challenged across the top of the mountain, however Boschert’s straight-line superiority prevailed in a car with over 325 horsepower more than the TA2 cars.
Robinson charged through the field from 40th to 18th, while Cam Sendall (Camaro) worked his way forward to finish 13th outright and 3rd in the TA2 class behind Herne and Anthony Tenkate (Mustang).
Mark Crutcher finished fifth in class behind Peter Robinson in 19th outright and ahead of Chris La Rosa and Bill Robinson. Steve Coulter fought back to 27th outright from the back of the field after combatting power steering issues earlier in the day.
The TA2 Muscle Car Series is set for the opening round of the series at Winton Motor Raceway on February 29/March 1, headlining the opening round of the Australian Motor Racing Series.
TA2 Muscle Cars star in Bathurst 12 Hour supports
 "TA2 Muscle Cars star in Bathurst 12 Hour supports")
Nine TA2 Muscle Car Series entrants are this weekend taking part in the 52-car Combined Sedans support category at the Bathurst 12 Hour.
The field took to the 6.2km Mount Panorama circuit for Qualifying and Race 1 today, lead by 2019 rookie of the year Nathan Herne in the Gulf Western Oils Dodge Challenger.
The 17-year old from Lismore in Northern New South Wales qualified in sixth with only two flying laps in the first hit out for the entire field marred by multiple red-flag interruptions. He climbed two spots to fourth in the opening race behind a thorough bred Sports Sedan, a former V8 Supercar and a MARC Car, with a top time in the 2:17s in traffic.
Second best of the TA2 cars was series debutant Jimmy Vernon in his first competitive drive of the Mustang owned by notable historic racer Carey McMahon, as the former Toyota 86 Racing Series champion finished seventh outright in the opening race.
Peter Robinson (Dodge), Anthony Tenkate (Mustang) and Chris Formosa (Dodge) finished line-astern in 15th through to 17th, while Cameron Sendall climbed 15 spots from 36th to 21st in his Chev Camaro.
Chris La Rosa (Mustang), Bill Robinson (Mustang) and Mark Crutcher (Dodge) were the other TA2 finishers in the pack, while Kobelco Racing’s Steve Coulter failed to finish with a fuel pressure issue.
The TA2 cars will return to action for the final two races of the program on Saturday at 7:20am and 3:25pm local NSW time, with both races streamed live at www.bathurst12hour.com.au.
TA2 Muscle Car Series Announces Revised 2020 Calendar
QUOTES Peter Robinson, Owner - TA2 Muscle Car Series “The TA2 Muscle Car Series will stay true to its original DNA in offering the highest on-track reward experience at the lowest possible price point, all in a competitor friendly and social environment and honouring our promise to all competitors who have purchased cars to deliver a big-bang V8-racing alternative at an affordable price," explained Robinson. "We will continue to welcome all TA2 competitors in our Australian specification cars any time and at any venue to share the TA2 racing experience.” “The enquiry level and demand for cars has really stepped up so it will be another big year, plus we will have a number of significant announcements to make through the course of the season as part of our long term strategy to cement the TA2 Muscle Car Series as the most affordable, biggest reward racing opportunity around.”
