New media deal as grid set for TA2 Muscle Car Series opener

Posted on 25 February 2020
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

Posted on 1 February 2020
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

Posted on 31 January 2020
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

Posted on 25 January 2020
The 2020 TA2 Muscle Car Series will headline the Australian Motor Racing Series (AMRS) in 2020 covering four states over six rounds. The series will commence at Winton Motor Raceway on February 28 - March 1, then return to Morgan Park for the first Queensland round in April. Following extremely positive feedback after their first appearance last year, the series will return to The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia in May, Queensland Raceway in August and Sydney Motorsport Park in September. The final round of the championship will return to Queensland Raceway, the birthplace of TA2 Racing in Australia on October 24-25. Competitors will enjoy the benefits of headline billing at every round of the Australian TA2 Muscle Car Series, as well as live streaming and free to air post-event television coverage at every AMRS championship round in an expanded television and media package with full details to be announced in the next week. The series will again cater for three classes with Rookie, Pro and The Master Class (for drivers 50 and over), plus the outright series winner will receive the Wallace Bishop Gold and Diamond TA2 Championship ring valued at over four thousand dollars. The TA2 Muscle Car Series is only in its third year on the national stage, with 60 cars expected to be in the country by mid-season.
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.”

2020 TA2 Muscle Car Series Calendar Rd 1: Winton Motor Raceway, VIC (AMRS) - 28 February/March 1 Rd 2: Morgan Park Raceway, QLD (AMRS) - 3/5 April Rd 3: The Bend Motorsport Park, SA (AMRS) - 29/31 May Rd 4: Queensland Raceway, QLD (AMRS) - 7/9 August Rd 5: Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW (AMRS) - 25/27 September Rd 6: Queensland Raceway, QLD (QRDC) - 23/25 October

 

Revised calendar for 2020 TA2 Muscle Car Series

Posted on 21 January 2020
Revised calendar for 2020 TA2 Muscle Car Series
The TA2 Muscle Car Series has announced a revised calendar for the 2020 season, covering four states and largely east coast based, primarily with the Australian Motor Racing Series (AMRS). TA2 Racing Australia had previously announced a potential partnership with the Australian Racing Group, promoters of national-level categories and events including the TCR Australia Series, S5000 Series and the Bathurst International, which was set to host the final round of the TA2 Muscle Car Series in November. A provisional calendar was released prior to Christmas subject to the signing of an ongoing contract between the parties. The move to an independent series has been made in light of the recent announcement by Trans-Am Race Company USA (TARC), promoters of the Trans-Am Series in America, of a licensing agreement with ARG Australia to bring US rules and regulations, TARC cars (allowing multiple car and chassis builders) and the ability for competitors to purchase pre-raced cars from the United States and enter ARG events. The TA2 Muscle Car Series has grown to over 50 cars sold in just three years in Australia as a same-spec formula, comprising a Howe Racing Enterprises space-frame chassis and a controlled GM Motorsport engine and drive line package. Since TA2’s inception, cars and components have been supplied by PBR Distributions, the company owned by TA2 Racing Australia’s Peter and Moana Robinson, with car and parts support at every round. “Our Australian TA2 Muscle Car Series is the envy of the world, it is unique and we will continue to run a highly-competitive and driver-focussed independent series as promised to our owners using Howe built cars to the same-specification with the sole aim of keeping the overall cost of going V8 racing as low as possible for the competitor,” explained series owner Peter Robinson. The 2020 TA2 Muscle Car Series calendar will continue as a six round series, covering NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. Final calendar and venue dates will be announced this week.