16 year old Nathan Herne has gone back-to-back in the opening two races of the TA2 Muscle Car Series at The Bend Motorsport Park.

The Gulf Western Oils Dodge Challenger fended off Castrol Harris Racing Mustang racer Aaron Seton and Lubrimaxx Miedecke Motorsport’s George Miedecke for each win today, as the top four which also included Ashley Jarvis’ Lighthouse Electrical Camaro couldn’t be separated during each eight lap encounter.

Mark Crutcher brought out the safety car on Lap 2 in Race 1 after he ran off the track with a diff failure. As the safety car was called and the field bunched, Russell Wright ran up the back of Kubota Racing’s Hugh McAlister on the main straight, but both cars continued without damage.

Wright was involved in another incident when he turned around Dream Racing Australia’s George Elliot at Turn 16 on Lap 6, and was later penalised five positions for the contact.

Darren Berry’s Camaro failed to take the start of Race 2 with a clutch issue.

As the field negotiated the first complex of corners in Race 2, Andrew Miedecke spun at Turn 3 after dicing with Ashley Jarvis for fourth. He charged back through the field to finish eighth.

Jarvis passed Seton for third at Turn 1, before Seton took back the position and came home in third.

Starting from the rear of the grid after a DNF in Race 1, Kubota Racing’s Matthew MacKelden climbed 13 spots to 11th, while Russell Wright passed ten cars to finish in 16th.

Series debutant Michael Coulter finished strongly in seventh, while Warren Trewin spun at Turn 4 on Lap 6 of the second race and finished in the gravel.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series returns for Races 3 and 4 at 9:30am and 1:05pm on Sunday, available to be streamed live online courtesy of the Australian Motor Racing Series.

QUOTES

Nathan Herne, #29 Dodge Challenger, Gulf Western Oils

“I’m really happy to bring home a strong result for the Gulf Western Oils team at The Bend today ahead of some extremely tough competition in George Miedecke and Aaron Seton,” said Herne.

“The car’s really good off the corners here, I’m able to put the power down nicely but we’re still struggling slightly under brakes so the team and I have got some work to do overnight.

“The racing in the TA2 Muscle Car Series is really intense, every race is getting more aggressive, but at the same time we’re trying to conserve our tyres as much as we can so we can fight again on Sunday.”

George Miedecke has scored his maiden TA2 Muscle Car Series pole position after a last-lap effort in a nail biting Qualifying session at The Bend Motorsport Park.

As the sun set late in the day, Miedecke’s time of 1:55.4059 in the Lubrimaxx/Miedecke Motorsport Ford Mustang was enough to earn the PWR Pole Award and $500 cash by only 0.0651 seconds ahead of series leader Aaron Seton to lock-out a Mustang front row.

Gulf Western Oil Racing’s Nathan Herne qualified third in his Dodge Challenger and earned his best Qualifying effort so far for the ex-Formula Ford racer, with defending champion Ashley Jarvis in fourth.

Andrew Miedecke and Kubota Racing’s Hugh McAlister landed on the third row, with debutant Michael Coulter, Russell Wright, Simon Tabinor and Murray Kent rounded out the top ten.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series hits the track for Race 1 and 2 at The Bend Motorsport Park on Saturday, with Sunday’s Race 3 and 4 live streamed on the TA2 Racing social media channels and with the Australian Motor Racing Series.

QUOTES

George Miedecke, #35 Ford Mustang, Lubrimaxx/Miedecke Motorsport

“There’s a lot of personal satisfaction with this effort today.”

“The whole Miedecke Motorsport team has been working hard on our Qualifying setup to close in on the massive gap we’ve had to Aaron Seton so far this year.

“Usually these Hoosier tyres only have one good lap in them in Qualifying trim, but we were all a bit at sea after our first run, but the second run was much better and we got a lap in right at the end of the session to put it on pole.

“This track is so fast, and with these cars because they’ve got so much attitude, they’re sliding and jumping and throwing flames, it’s a great track to drive and i’m working really hard at the wheel to get a lap time out of it.”

The TA2 Muscle Car Series has announced an exciting new partnership with Fox Sports that will give motorsport fans around the country the chance to watch more TA2 racing than ever before.

The series has announced that highlights from the remaining four rounds of the series as well as Round 2 at Morgan Park in April will be shown and replayed in a half-hour package on Fox Sports Channel 506 produced by Blend Line TV.

This adds to the existing online and social media live stream coverage of the series’ Sunday races provided by Blend Line TV at each event.

The series has also welcomed an increased partnership with world-leading automotive cooling providers and category radiator supplier PWR. The Queensland-based company will support the new PWR Pole Award with $500 cash for the fastest qualifier at the remaining rounds of the season.

This weekend a record 27-car field heads to The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia to headline the Australian Motor Racing Series program.

After an incident at Round 2 at Morgan Park, Anthony Tenkate has sold his Mustang to former Speedway racer Jack Childs which Tenkate will drive at The Bend this weekend in new colours and the #24, before returning in a new car for Round 4 at Winton.

Jack Childs' #24 Mustang to be driven by Anthony Tenkate at The Bend this weekend.

A host of drivers have already tested at the circuit, including Miedecke Motorsport’s George and Andrew Miedecke, Gulf Western Oils Racing’s Nathan Herne and Dream Racing Australia’s George Elliot and Craig Scutella.

A majority of teams will also take part in a pre-event test day on Thursday.

20-year old Aaron Seton continues to lead the Performax Cup in the Castrol Harris Racing Ford Mustang by 22 points ahead of George Miedecke, with Ashley Jarvis, Andrew Miedecke and Hugh McAlister completing the top five.

Seton is hunting for his third-straight round win after a dominant start to the year, picking up six race wins out of the first eight of the year. George Miedecke and 16-year old Formula Ford champion Herne remain the other race winners with one win apiece.

QUOTES

Craig Denyer, TA2 Muscle Car Series Manager

“The new Fox Sports deal is something we have been working on with for quite some time, and will give all race fans the option to watch the TA2 races either live through the live-streaming service, or replayed in a highlights package that will go to air after each round,” said Denyer.

“This is a significant leg up in marketing and exposure of the category to a much wider audience, and will help to deliver more value for our competitors and our partners.”

“This includes our new partnership with PWR, who are the control radiator supplier for the series and a great success story for Australian business and manufacturing on a global scale.”

Daniel Beckinsale, Principle of DGB Media, Producer of Blend Line TV

“The TA2 Muscle Car Series is one of the hidden gems of Australian motorsport, and deserve the opportunity to be televised to a much wider audience,” said Beckinsale.

“We’re excited by the opportunities this agreement brings for both parties to continue to grow their presence in the Australian motorsport landscape and deliver a product that is really fan and television friendly.”

Nathan Herne, Driver #29 Dodge Challenger, Gulf Western Oils

“Everyone knows 506 as the channel for motorsport with Supercars, Formula 1 and Moto GP, so it’s a massive announcement for TA2 to receive this level of exposure on Fox Sports and introduce the series to an even bigger audience,” said Herne.

“TA2 is the best category i’ve raced in, the cars are awesome to drive and the drivers at the front are seriously competitive.

“It’s also great to announce the PWR Pole Award, $500 covers the cost of a full race weekend allocation of tyres, so it goes a long way in this category.

“Qualifying is so important in this category to stay up the front, so with this extra incentive we’ll be pushing really hard for the PWR Pole Award at The Bend this weekend.”

ENTRY LIST - 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series Round 3 - The Bend Motorsport Park (June 21-23)

#2 - Don Dimitriadis (NSW), Ford Mustang - Thunder Road Racing Team Australia #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 #11 - Michael Coulter (NSW), Ford Mustang - Kobelco/Sydney Truck and Machinery #14 - Cameron Sendall (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Caddy Storage #20 - Darren Berry (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Tooth Booth Dentists #22 - Ashley Jarvis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Lighthouse Electrical #24 - Anthony Tenkate (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 #45 - Simon Tabinor (VIC), Ford Mustang - South Eastern European Prestige Vehicles #49 - Christopher Formosa (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Allgate Motorsport #55 - Russell Wright (QLD), Ford Mustang - RoadBees Transport #71 - Warren Trewin (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - SNB Racing #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 growing category heads to the all-new state-of-the-art racing facility in South Australia for Round 3 of the series, headlining the third round of the Australian Motor Racing Series program.

The entry list for The Bend features two fresh faces, including ex HQ Holden, Saloon Car and Production Car racer Warren Trewin from Victoria, and former Oz Truck racer Michael Coulter from New South Wales.

Coulter recently acquired the very first TA2 car to arrive in Australia as a Generation Five Chevrolet Camaro, which has since been re-bodied to a Generation Six Ford Mustang supported by Kobelco Construction Equipment and Sydney Trucks and Machinery for their series debut.

Trewin recently tested his ex-Jarvis Racing Chevrolet Camaro at Phillip Island, ahead of the team reveal planned in the lead-up to The Bend.

Drew Ridge and Shaun Richardson will not back-up from Morgan Park, while Victorian Simon Tabinor and New South Welshman Chris La Rosa return to the grid after missing Round 2. Thunder Road Racing Team Australia’s Don Dimitriadis also returns to the category after racing at several historic events in the United States.

27 cars will head to Tailem Bend, with the total car count up to 32 cars in the country. Another delivery of eight cars are in transit from Howe Racing Enterprises in the United States, with category management confirming a total of 38 cars have been sold.

20-year old Aaron Seton continues to lead the Performax Cup standings in the Castrol Harris Racing Ford Mustang by 22 points ahead of George Miedecke, with Ashley Jarvis, Andrew Miedecke and Hugh McAlister completing the top five.

Seton is hunting for his third-straight round win after a dominant start to the year, picking up six race wins out of the first eight of the year. George Miedecke and 16-year old Formula Ford champion Nathan Herne remain the other race winners with one win apiece. 

“Michael and I couldn’t be more excited to join a record 27 entries at The Bend Motorsport Park for our TA2 Series debut,” said Coulter.

“We have an awesome relationship with the team at Kobelco and Sydney Trucks and Machinery who were so impressed by the new series, and were excited to come onboard to support our TA2 campaign.

“We watched on from the sidelines as the series grew nationally but once we saw the names that were joining the series, it became more apparent that this was our next move.

“They’re loud, they're fast, they look great and extremely affordable for the privateer racer who’s looking to step up to something bigger without a huge dollar investment.

“A top ten finish at our first round would be a dream come true, but we cannot thank the TA2 management team for their support and we cannot wait to sit on the grid at The Bend.”

Craig Denyer - TA2 Muscle Car Series Manager

“This is the biggest field yet for the TA2 Muscle Car Series, and we are all looking forward to our South Australian debut at The Bend Motorsport Park,” said Denyer.

“TA2 Racing Australia has sold 38 cars now, and with only 32 cars in the country the demand has been incredible.

“The final four cars in the next lot are under construction at Howe Racing Enterprises, which are expected to be delivered by the end of July.

“We are excited to welcome two new names on the grid for The Bend, including Warren Trewin in his Camaro and Michael Coulter in his Mustang, we are set for a great event at this incredible new racing facility.

“Round 2 at Morgan Park proved just how competitive this series has become, with 16-year old Nathan Herne taking his first race win over Aaron Seton.

“The battle for the Masters Award is also intense between Russell Wright, Darren Berry, Anthony Tenkate and Peter Robinson all featuring on the podium over the first two rounds.”

ENTRY LIST - 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series Round 3 - The Bend Motorsport Park (June 21-23)

#2 - Don Dimitriadis (NSW), Ford Mustang - Thunder Road Racing Team Australia #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 #14 - Cameron Sendall (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Caddy Storage #20 - Darren Berry (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Tooth Booth Dentists #22 - Ashley Jarvis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Lighthouse Electrical #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 #45 - Simon Tabinor (VIC), Ford Mustang - South Eastern European Prestige Vehicles #49 - Christopher Formosa (NSW), Dodge Challenger - Allgate Motorsport #55 - Russell Wright (QLD), Ford Mustang - RoadBees Transport #69 - Anthony Tenkate (QLD), Ford Mustang - Tenkate Plant Hire #71 - Warren Trewin (VIC), Chevrolet Camaro - SNB Racing #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

Seton won Sunday’s earlier race, while George Miedecke slowed in the final three laps with a puncture allowing Herne and Jarvis through to second, as Andrew Miedecke’s Dodge and Russell Wright’s Mustang rounded out the top five.

Wright survived a 360 spin under the bridge after being pushed wide while Mark Crutcher, Shaun Richardson and Drew Ridge enjoyed a race long battle, Ridge charged through to ninth after starting from the rear of the grid.

Dream Racing Australia’s Craug Scutella took out Shaun Richardson at Turn 1 late in the race with both tagging the wall, while Matt Mackelden spun the Kubota Racing Mustang after being tagged by Michael Kulig’s Camaro.

The final 12-lapper was marred by a crash at Turn 2 off the start involving Anthony Tenkate, who hit the inside tyre wall hard when he spun off the track. Tenkate was caught up in a first corner carve-up that included Cameron Sendall and Shaun Richardson. The race was red-flagged while the medical team attended to Tenkate who was badly winded.

On the restart, Herne made his move and despite a four-way freight train behind him involving Seton, Miedecke, Jarvis and Andrew Miedecke, the 16 year old showed great maturity and race craft to hang on for the win.

“This is one of the biggest wins of my life,” said Herne.

“I knew I had to make the move early, and it was a full heart-in-the-mouth moment going around the outside of Aaron through Turn 1, but I made it stick and was able to put my head down and have a crack.

“Aaron was very fair, we were so close the whole race but I was so rapt to take my first TA2 Muscl Car Series win.”

George Miedecke passed Jarvis for third into Turn 6 with two laps remaining, while Wright parked his Mustang on the in-field with a throttle cable issue mid-race.

Herne won by three tenths of a second from Seton, Miedecke, Jarvis, Andrew Miedecke, while Kulig, MacKelden, McAlister, Robinson and Murray Kent rounded out the top ten.

Kulig picked up the Wildwood Big Braker Award for his best TA2 result yet, and Drew Ridge took home the Circo Hard Charger Award for his climb from last on the grid to ninth in Race 3.

Seton still came away with the round win and continues to lead the Performax Cup on 432 points, from George Miedecke, Ashley Jarvis, Andrew Miedecke, Hugh McAlister and Murray Kent.

Round 3 of the 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series heads to the series’ maiden visit to South Australia and The Bend Motorsport Park on June 22/23. Highlights from Round 2 at Morgan Park will be replayed on Foxtel channel Aurora on April 15, check your local guides.