The TA2 Muscle Car Series has welcomed the arrival of its 40th car into Australia.

The category received a container from the United States carrying the 36th to 40th cars last week, all of which have already been sold to a combination of new and existing competitors expanding their commitment to the series.

Following the arrival of the 40th car, series manager Craig Denyer confirmed that TA2 car constructer Howe Racing Enterprises has been commissioned to build a further eight cars to send to Australia before the 2020 season.

The 40th car is a Ford Mustang purchased by Ron Cremen, to add to his existing Mustang to form a two-car Racehire outfit to run as a lease operation for the 2020 season.

Cremen saw the increasing popularity and growth of the series as a justification to expand to a second car.

Another car within the latest delivery is a Chevrolet Camaro purchased by Tasmanian Tim Shaw, who will run the car alongside his recently purchased Dodge Challenger from Keven Stoopman to also form a two-car outfit for 2020.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series heads to Sydney Motorsport Park with a record 31-car field for the penultimate round of the series on September 28/29.

The grid 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, Camaro racer Darren Berry and Mustang racer Chris La Rosa.

Castrol Harris Racing’s Aaron Seton holds a 16-point lead over the Lubrimaxx/Miedecke Motor Group Mustang of George Miedecke, with reigning champion Ashley Jarvis in third a further 40 points behind in the Lighthouse Electrical Camaro.

QUOTES

Ron Cremen, Team Owner - Racehire

“The popularity of the series has exploded over the course of this year and that has warranted the decision to bring a second car into the Racehire team for the 2020 season,” said Ron Cremen.

“When the opportunity became available to buy a new car it was a no-brainer decision.

“The demand was there for another lease car in the series, and we are already fielding a number of enquiries about the second car in the lead up to next year.”

Craig Denyer, Manager - TA2 Muscle Car Series

“It is amazing how quickly this series had been embraced by both the competitors and fans all over Australia,” said Craig Denyer.

“To have 40 cars sold in just our second year of a national series is a testament to the effort that Peter Robinson and the team behind the TA2 Muscle Car Series have put in to get the specifications right for this market: low-cost racing with a big-reward experience that sound, look and race like real muscle cars.

“On top of the 40 now sold, Chas Howe (of Howe Racing Enterprises) has been commissioned to build another eight race cars between now and the end of the season, plus in the next few weeks we hope to announce our 2020 race schedule which will include some exciting opportunities for our racers and fanbase.”

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 #33 - Chris La Rosa (NSW), Ford Mustang - Team Natcorp #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

George Miedecke has won Round 4 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series at Winton Motor Raceway by a single point over Aaron Seton.

After winning Race 2 on Sunday, Miedecke started from pole for Race 3 in the Lubrimaxx/Miedecke Motor Group Mustang and shielded Seton for the full ten-lap encounter as Miedecke held on to take the flag only two tenths of a second ahead of the Castrol Harris Racing Mustang.

Seton made up his way from fourth in the Castrol Harris Racing Mustang but could not get past the Lubrimaxx/Miedecke Motor Group Mustang as Miedecke defended well to score his second win of the weekend, as Ashley Jarvis, Russell Wright and Andrew Miedecke completed the top five.

Starting last following a clutch failure yesterday, Nathan Herne fought his way through the pack to sixth and also set the fastest lap at 1:25.2975 in an impressive drive to earn the Hypercoils Hard Charger Award for his efforts in the Gulf Western Oils Dodge Challenger.

A Top 10 Shootout was used based on accumulated points from the opening three races to set the grid for the 25-lap final, and it was last-man out George Miedecke who set a blistering 1:24.141 to win the shootout by three tenths of a second from Seton. In the process, Miedecke went a tenth of a second faster than Seton’s lap to earn the PWR Pole Award during Qualifying on Saturday.

Race 4 ran over a distance of 25 laps around the tight and twisty Winton circuit, the longest race in the TA2 Muscle Car Series since its inception.

Miedecke and Seton ran side-by-side through the Turn 1-2 chicane, as Seton hung on around the outside of Turn 1 to take the ascendency in Turn 3 and was never headed for the duration.

Starting from 17th as a result of the accumulated points of the meeting, Herne charged to third in only eight laps, before he and George Miedecke reignited their rivalry and the pair fought ruthlessly for second place ahead of Ashley Jarvis and Andrew Miedecke.

With five laps remaining, Herne and Miedecke clashed at Turn 3 as Herne attempted a pass on the inside of Miedecke, before contact saw the rear of the Gulf Western Oil Dodge wipe across the front of the Lubrimaxx Mustang.

Herne ran through the grass at Turn 1 a lap later before he tore his front splitter and radiator and subsequently spun and ended his race in the infield.

Hugh McAlister, Michael Coulter and Murray Kent engaged in a close battle for the duration, with the Kubota Racing Mustang prevailing in sixth ahead of Coulter and Kent.

Russell Wright ran wide on the exit of Turn 3 and spun into the infield on the opening lap, but fought back from the rear of the field to ninth, claiming the Circo Masters Award for the round in the process.

With two rounds remaining, Aaron Seton continues to lead the Performax Cup by 16 points ahead of George Miedecke, while Russell Wright has jumped back into the top five in the standings after Herne’s misfortune.

Round 5 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series heads to Sydney Motorsport Park on September 27/29.

Aaron Seton and George Miedecke shared the spoils after two thrilling races at Winton Motor Raceway.

Series leader Seton put the Castrol Harris Racing on pole for the third time this year, setting a 1:24.2629 on his way to the win the PWR Pole Award ahead of George Miedecke and Nathan Herne.

The third-generation racer took a lights-to-flag win in Race 1, fending off a fast-finishing Herne as he caught the back of Seton in the latter stages of the race, while Seton set a new race lap record at a 1:25.1937.

The race finished under safety car after an incident on lap 7 when Tim Tritton spun at Turn 1 and backed into the tyre wall.

Kubota Racing's Matthew Mackelden ran wide and spun at Turn 1 off the rolling start, fighting his way back from last to finish in 20th, while Michael Kulig ran off at the Turn 5 sweeper and recovered to 21st.

Russell Wright held on to fourth while Ashley Jarvis was the best performing Chevrolet, moving into the top five in the Lighthouse Electrical Camaro.

Post-race, Seton and Herne were both found to breach Parc Ferme regulations, and were handed a five-second grid spot penalty for Race 2 as a result.

George Miedecke fought off Ashley Jarvis in an enthralling race-long battle to take a lights-to-flag win in Race 2, as the Lighthouse Electrical pressured the back of the Lubrimaxx/Miedecke Motor Group Mustang all race as Miedecke withstood wave of attack to hold on to the win by three tenths of a second.

Nathan Herne charged up to fourth from sixth, making passes on Seton and Andrew Miedecke at Turn 3 in the Gulf Western Oil Dodge Challenger, but eventually pulled over on the exit of Turn 1 on Lap 8 with a suspected clutch failure which took him out of the running.

The race was called one lap short with Herne parked in a hazardous location, as Andrew Miedecke, Aaron Seton and Russell Wright completed the top five. Seton's efforts were made even better considering he was running on seven cylinders for the majority of the race after a plug lead fell off.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series returns to action on Sunday for a ten-lap sprint in Race 3, followed by a top ten shootout and a 25-lap final.

Former Commodore Cup and Future Touring champion Tim Shaw will join the grid for Round 4 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series at Winton Motor Raceway.

Shaw has recently purchased a brand new Chevrolet Camaro to join the TA2 Muscle Car Series in 2020, but will get his first taste of the series this weekend in a Dodge Challenger owned by Keven Stoopman as he evaluates purchasing a second car in the lead up to next season.

From Launceston in Tasmania, Shaw was a champion in Commodore Cup in 1999, and won the Future Touring series in 2000, and also raced in the 1999 FAI Bathurst 1000 in the 1998 race-winning EL Falcon alongside Queenslander Craig Harris. Harris is also heavily involved in TA2 as the owner of the Castrol Harris Racing Ford Mustang that currently leads the series in the hands of Aaron Seton. 

Shaw briefly returned to the V8 Utes in 2010, but has not raced competitively since.

The Dodge which Shaw will race this weekend was initially bought by Keven Stoopman earlier in 2019 with several test laps logged at Winton in the interim, however this weekend will mark the competitive debut of the car in the hands of Shaw.

Shaw first sampled the car at Winton on Wednesday, with further practice planned on Thursday in the lead up to Round 4 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series commencing on Friday.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series will hit the track for practice on Friday followed by Qualifying and two ten-lap sprint races on Saturday, a third sprint race on Sunday as well as the top ten shootout and a 25-lap final.

A 30-minute post-produced highlights show will feature on Fox Sports 506 in the weeks following the event.

QUOTES

Tim Shaw, driver #12 Dodge Challenger

“Initially a good friend of mine Greg Crick had been praising the series, saying how good the series looked and that I should think about getting involved.

“The series owner Peter Robinson was a pleasure to speak with, he is really down-to-earth and understands the wants and needs of the racer.”

“The fact that this series has only taken off in the last 12 to 18 months is a testament to the series that the runs are now on the board and I think it’s going to take off again next year.

“It looks like a cost-effective form of motorsport that is well-regulated, and the future of the series looks promising with the way the management of the series is shaping up.

“The formula that has been put together for this series is really sensible, in that the cars are fast, they look good, they sound good, they’re affordable and the results are more talent-based than chequebook-based.”

“There are some good people and competitors involved and I think the racing will be great, i’m looking forward to the opportunity to get back involved in motorsport.”

The TA2 Muscle Car Series has revamped its race weekend format for Round 4 of the series at Winton Motor Raceway this weekend, including a top-ten shootout and a 25-lap feature race.

This round will comprise of a 30-minute split-grid qualifying session, with the first 15 minutes of the session solely for the top 50% in the championship, followed by the bottom 50% in the final 15 minutes.

Rather than the standard qualifying and four sprint race format, the series will have three ten-lap sprint races and a 25-lap mini-enduro. An aggregate point score from the three sprint races will then be used to form a top-ten shootout to set the grid for the 25-lap feature race.

The sprint races will use a progressive grid system as per the usual race weekend format in the TA2 Muscle Car Series, and the points for the four races will be distributed as per normal with 55 points available for a race win, 52 for second and 50 for third.

25 cars feature on the entry list for Winton, with a host of newcomers to the grid including former Commodore Cup and Future Touring champion Tim Shaw, South Australian Sprint Car racer Craig Vanderstelt, New South Welshman Paul Hadley, Queensland Speedway racer Jack Childs, and Victorian Saloon Car racer Adam Lowndes.

Lowndes will substitute for fellow Victorian Warren Trewin in the SNB Racing Chevrolet Camaro, while Vanderstelt will race the Ron Cremen Racehire-prepared Ford Mustang for the remainder of the season in place of Drew Ridge.

Tasmanian Tim Shaw will mark his return to motorsport in Keven Stoopman’s Dodge Challenger, while planning a full-season campaign for 2020.

Former Stadium Super Truck racer Shaun Richardson will return to the grid in the RTC Group/Road Rage Industries Mustang after missing Round 3 at The Bend.

20-year old third generation racer Aaron Seton will look to continue his successful start to the season in the Castrol Harris Racing Mustang which has seen him build a 17-point margin to nearest rival George Miedecke at the halfway mark of the season.

16-year old former Formula Ford state champion Nathan Herne will be hoping for a strong comeback after he scored three out of four race wins last time out in the Gulf Western Oils Dodge Challenger. A diff failure in the final race at The Bend saw Herne fail to finish while Miedecke held off Seton and Ashley Jarvis to take the race and round win.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series will hit the track for practice on Friday followed by Qualifying and two ten-lap sprint races on Saturday, a third sprint race on Sunday as well as the top ten shootout and the 25-lap final.

A 30-minute post-produced highlights show will feature on Fox Sports 506 in the weeks following the event.

QUOTES

Craig Denyer, TA2 Muscle Car Series Manager

“We have had a bit more track time on offer to the series for this event, so we have decided to mix up the format for our competitors with some additions including a top ten shootout and a 25-lap mini-enduro feature race to finish the weekend.”

“It’s something a little different for our racers, we have always received good feedback regarding the longer races, so a mini-enduro gives everyone plenty of time to plan their race and work their way forward.”

Aaron Seton, driver #88 Castrol Harris Racing Ford Mustang

“It’s an exciting change for the category to have a top ten shootout and a longer race added to the schedule for Winton this weekend.”

“25 laps around Winton is certainly going to be a good test for these cars, and it’s great as a driver to gain more experience in longer races, as you have to look ahead and plan your race to manage the tyres over the duration.”

“We’ve had a great start to the series with pole positions, race wins and a round win after the first three rounds in the Castrol Harris Racing Mustang.

“The team and I at Castrol Harris Racing have been working hard between rounds to ensure we can fight at the front and maintain our championship lead in the second half of the season.”