The TA2 Muscle Car Series heads back to its roots at Queensland Raceway for the final round of what has been a breakout year for the thrilling modern-muscle racing category.

The series has seen regular grids upwards of 25 cars all season, and a record 32-car field will line up for the season finale at Ipswich featuring a host of racing legends, rising stars and gentleman racers enjoying what the TA2 Muscle Car Series has to offer.

The final round of the six-round series will feature three-time Australian Drivers’ Champion Paul Stokell debuting a new car owned by regular TA2 racer Warren Wadley. Finishing second in the 1990 Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series behind Russell Ingall, Stokell boasts an impressive resume that also includes back-to-back Nations Cup Championships in 2003-2004, and success in the Australian Mini Challenge in 2009.

The grid also welcomes the debut of local racing star John McLaughlin in the #17 Ford Mustang. McLaughlin is a former champion in the local Track Attack Excel Cup Series, and this year stepped up to the one-make Toyota 86 Racing Series that supports the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship. McLaughlin will make his TA2 Muscle Car Series debut this weekend with a full-season campaign expected in 2020.

The final round will feature a battle between the two series protagonists in the hunt for the Performax Cup, young-gun third-generation racer Aaron Seton and the experienced, versatile second-generation racer George Miedecke.

Seton leads the Performax Cup standings by 40 points over Miedecke, and with 220 points available on the weekend, the top eight competitors are still within mathematical contention for the title. This includes 17-year old dual Formula Ford state champion Nathan Herne, who has made his mark with four race wins in his debut year in the category and one of only three race winners this season alongside Seton and Miedecke.

Ashley Jarvis sits third in the standings, but the reigning Performax Cup champion has his sights set further than a back-to-back title. The former Speedway racer will jet off to the United States shortly after the chequered flag falls at Ipswich to race in the final round of the American Trans-Am TA2 Series at the world-famous Daytona International Speedway on November 14-16. This forms as part of the Howe International Driver Exchange Program and a annual prize for the winner of the Australian TA2 Series, which drivers will be fighting for alongside the Performax Cup this weekend.

Australian racing legend Andrew Miedecke sits fourth in the standings, ahead of Gold Coaster Russell Wright who leads the Masters category for drivers over the age of 50 years of old.

Kubota Racing’s Hugh McAlister sits sixth ahead of local favourite Murray Kent, Gulf Western Oils Racing’s Nathan Herne, Gold Coaster and Kubota Racing team mate Matthew MacKelden and local Brisbane racer Michael Kulig complete the top ten.

The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series, join us trackside and in the pit lane between races to meet the teams, drivers and learn about this exciting new category taking the Australian motorsport landscape by storm.

Tickets are available at the gate for $20 on Saturday, $30 on Sunday or $40 for a weekend pass, with kids 12 and under free. A post-produced one hour highlights show from this weekend will follow on Fox Sports produced by Blend Line TV.

QUOTES

Paul Stokell, driver #9 Wadley Property Group Ford Mustang

“I have been doing some driver coaching with Warren [Wadley] lately and he got the second car and was kind enough to offer it to me to support the series more than anything,” said Paul Stokell.

“I’ve noticed the class before and i’ve suggested it to some customers of mine in the past as a potential move in the future, but as a driver myself it’s not something that i’ve thought about too much other than the opportunity to drive this weekend.

“There are some good drivers in this field and the car is brand new and hasn’t been sorted out yet, so i’m not expecting anything as far as results are concerned, but if we can develop the car and help Warren along the weekend then we’ll see what happens.”

Aaron Seton, driver #88 Castrol Harris Racing Ford Mustang

“The main goal is to have the cleanest weekend as possible, it’s been a year since we have last raced the TA2 at Queensland Raceway so i’m looking forward to getting back there and continuing the battle with myself and George Miedecke,” said Aaron Seton.

“It’s pretty exciting going into the final round with a chance at the title and i’m feeling good going into the weekend.

“We’ll see how we go and if we have a good weekend and are able to come away with the championship then the opportunities that come from that are really exciting, including the chance to drive in America.

“The series has grown in leaps and bounds with 29 cars at our last round in Sydney and to have 32 cars this weekend shows how every round is getting bigger and better.

“It’s a pretty exciting time for the series and it will be interesting to see where the series will go next year when the calendar is announced and i’m looking forward to seeing it grow further in the future.

“I couldn’t do this without the team behind me from Castrol Harris Racing including my Dad Glenn, Craig Harris, Chris Topp, Don Dimitriadis, Mick Benton and all my other supporters for getting me on the grid and providing me with a great car to fight at the front.”

ENTRY LIST - 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series Round 6/6 - Queensland Raceway (November 2/3)

#2 - Don Dimitriadis (NSW), Ford Mustang - Thunder Road Racing Team Australia#3 - Craig Vanderstelt (SA), Ford Mustang - Zenith Custom Solutions #4 - Mark Crutcher (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Crutcher Developments #5 - Matthew Mackelden (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kubota Racing #6 - Hugh McAlister (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kubota Racing #7 - Michael Kulig (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Kulig Engineering #9 - Paul Stokell (QLD), Ford Mustang - Wadley Property Group #10 - Peter Robinson (QLD), Dodge Challenger - Morgans Investment Consultants #11 - Michael Coulter (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kobelco/Sydney Truck and Machinery #12 - Tim Shaw (TAS), Dodge Challenger - Shaw Developments #14 - Cameron Sendall (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Caddy Storage #15 - David Falvey (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Thunder Road Racing Team Australia #17 - John McLaughlin (QLD), Ford Mustang - MyRaceProfile.com #18 - Shaun Richardson (QLD), Ford Mustang - RTC Group/Road Rage Industries #20 - Darren Berry (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Tooth Booth Dentists #22 - Ashley Jarvis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Lighthouse Electrical #24 - Jack Childs (QLD), Ford Mustang - Think Investment Realty #28 - Tim Tritton (QLD), Ford Mustang - Everyday Finance Solutions #29 - Nathan Herne (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Gulf Western Oils #35 - George Miedecke (NSW), Ford Mustang - Miedecke Motorsport #44 - Greg Willis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Cross Torque Racing #49 - Chris Formosa (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Ranger Racing/Allgate Auto Doors #50 - Paul Hadley (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Illawarra Engineering Services #55 - Russell Wright (QLD), Ford Mustang - RoadBees Transport #69 - Anthony Tenkate (QLD), Ford Mustang - Tenkate Plant Hire #74 - Murray Kent (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Underground Civil Supplies #77 - Bill Robinson (NSW), Ford Mustang - Elite Smash Repairs Erina #88 - Aaron Seton (QLD), Ford Mustang - Castrol Harris Racing #95 - Andrew Miedecke (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Ram Trucks Port Macquarie #555 - George Elliot (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - Dream Racing Australia #777 - Craig Scutella (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - Dream Racing Australia #888 - Warren Wadley (QLD), Ford Mustang - Wadley Motorsport

The Australian-made hand-crafted ring, made in 18ct Yellow and 18ct White gold was designed by Stuart Bishop and Andrew Stott, with the centrepiece being a wheel drawn to replicate the actual wheels used by the modern-muscle racing series.

Bishop is a renowned drag racer in a supercharged V8 Camaro Pro Slammer, and the jeweller has previously worked on the trophies for the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship amongst their motorsport association.

Previous recipients of the TA2 Championship Ring include the inaugural series winner Russell Wright in 2017 and Ashley Jarvis in 2018.

Alongside the Performax Cup and the championship ring, the winner of the TA2 Muscle Car Series will also be presented with an opportunity to compete in a round of the American TA2 Series through the Howe International Driver Exchange Program by TA2 car constructer Howe Racing Enterprises.

Heading into the final round of the series this weekend, third-generation racer Aaron Seton holds a 40-point lead in the Castrol Harris Racing Mustang over the versatile and vastly experienced George Miedecke in the Lubrimaxx/Miedecke Motor Group Mustang. Jarvis sits a further 42 points behind in third ahead of Andrew Miedecke’s Dodge Challenger and Russell Wright’s Mustang.

The Performax Cup, the championship ring and a host of other awards will be presented at a Gala Awards Night to be held at the De Vito Waterfront Restaurant at Southport on the Gold Coast on Monday November 4 following the completion of the final round.

Stay tuned for the official TA2 Muscle Car Series event preview including details on the entry list, schedule and championship standings.

A record 30-car field features at the penultimate round of the TA2 Muscle Car Series, headlining the Australian Motor Racing Series at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend, September 28/29.

Last time out at Winton Motor Raceway, two firsts, a second and a third from four races was enough to earn George Miedecke back-to-back round wins by a single point over Aaron Seton, but Seton’s Castrol Harris Racing Mustang continues to hold a 16-point lead at the top of the Performax Cup standings over the Lubrimaxx/Miedecke Motor Group Mustang heading into the business end of the season.

Following the sale of his Mustang to Jack Childs, Sunshine Coast racer Anthony Tenkate returns in a new car and an all-new colour scheme for the Tenkate Plant Hire Ford Mustang.

The grid also includes the return of Thunder Road Racing Team Australia entries of Don Dimitriadis and David Falvey, the Dodge Challenger of Allgate Racing’s Chris Formosa and Camaro racer Darren Berry.

The series returns to Sydney Motorsport Park for the second time this season after the Western Sydney venue hosted the season opener in March. Back then, it was Seton who asserted his early dominance by claiming three out of four race wins, before the 21-year old spun out in the final race and handed victory to Miedecke.

Seton remains the winningest driver of the season so far with eight race wins, ahead of 16-year old Nathan Herne and Miedecke equal on four.

No driver has managed to clean sweep all four races in a weekend as yet. Seton and Herne remain the closest to achieve that feat, with Seton taking three wins out of four at Round 1 and Round 2 before Herne was within sight of a clean sweep at Round 3 at The Bend before a diff failure in the final race.

QUOTES

Craig Denyer, TA2 Muscle Car Series Manager

"This is the biggest and most impressive grid yet in the short history of the TA2 Muscle Car Series,” said Craig Denyer.

“To have 30 cars on the grid in just our second year of a full national series proves that the TA2 formula of a low-cost, big bang-for-buck racing experience is right for the Australian market.

“The talent depth of the field is very strong, with 10 drivers still within a mathematical chance of winning the Performax Cup.

“Expect a strong local performance from Michael Coulter in the Kobelco Mustang while Nathan Herne and George Miedecke are expected to continue their one-on-one battle after some pretty intense on-track action at the last round.”

SCHEDULE

Practice 1: Friday 11:15am Practice 2: Friday 2:15pm Practice 3: Friday 4:05pm Qualifying: Saturday 11:20am Race 1: Saturday 2:45pm Race 2: Saturday 4:25pm Race 3: Sunday 11:45am Race 4: Sunday 2:25pm

ENTRY LIST - 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series Round 5 - Sydney Motorsport Park (September 27/29)

#2 - Don Dimitriadis (NSW), Ford Mustang - Thunder Road Racing Team Australia #3 - Craig Vanderstelt (SA), Ford Mustang - Zenith Custom Solutions #4 - Mark Crutcher (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Crutcher Developments #5 - Matthew Mackelden (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kubota Racing #6 - Hugh McAlister (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kubota Racing #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 - Tim Shaw (TAS), Dodge Challenger - Shaw Developments #14 - Cameron Sendall (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Caddy Storage #15 - David Falvey (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Thunder Road Racing Team Australia #18 - Shaun Richardson (QLD), Ford Mustang - RTC Group/Road Rage Industries #20 - Darren Berry (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Tooth Booth Dentists #22 - Ashley Jarvis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Lighthouse Electrical #24 - Jack Childs (QLD), Ford Mustang - Think Investment Realty #28 - Tim Tritton (QLD), Ford Mustang - Everyday Finance Solutions #29 - Nathan Herne (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Gulf Western Oils #35 - George Miedecke (NSW), Ford Mustang - Miedecke Motorsport #44 - Greg Willis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Cross Torque Racing #49 - Chris Formosa (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Ranger Racing/Allgate Auto Doors #50 - Paul Hadley (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Illawarra Engineering Services #55 - Russell Wright (QLD), Ford Mustang - RoadBees Transport #69 - Anthony Tenkate (QLD), Ford Mustang - Tenkate Plant Hire #74 - Murray Kent (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Underground Civil Supplies #77 - Bill Robinson (NSW), Ford Mustang - Elite Smash Repairs Erina #88 - Aaron Seton (QLD), Ford Mustang - Castrol Harris Racing #95 - Andrew Miedecke (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Ram Trucks Port Macquarie #555 - George Elliot (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - Dream Racing Australia #777 - Craig Scutella (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - Dream Racing Australia #888 - Warren Wadley (QLD), Ford Mustang - Wadley Motorsport