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.

Aaron Seton continued his series dominance by taking pole position and two race wins on the opening day of action at Round 2 of the TA2 Muscle Car Series at Morgan Park today.

Seton’s Harris Racing Mustang time of 1.15.6 was over a second clear of George Miedecke with Russell Wright’s Mustang in third.

Reigning champ Ashley Jarvis was fourth ahead of 16 year old Nathan Herne, with Michael Kulig’s fully rebuilt Camaro and Drew Ridge’s Mustang making the Top 10.

Seton came under pressure early in Race 1 from Miedecke, however the safety car was called after Warren Wadley spun at Turn 12 and wouldn’t fire up.  On the restart, Seton gapped the field and was never headed.

Herne and Ridge had a great race, going side by side through Turn 6 with the Dodge Challenger racer hanging on to finish strongly.

“We tested here last week and the Castrol Harris Mustang is really in the zone today,” Seton explained.

“Miedecke pressured me early however when the tyre pressures came on I was able to control the pace.”

Race 2 was marred by a massive crash involving Mustang driver Tim Tritton, when his car stepped out under the bridge at Turn 3 and slammed hard into the outside tyre wall.

Tritton wasn’t hurt, although the car was seriously damaged. A safety car was deployed while officials cleaned up the mess, which left a three-lap sprint to the flag.

“I’m ok, just a bit bruised and not sure what happened, but the car just stepped out on me over the hill,” said Tritton.

“It looks pretty sad, but we will take it back to the workshop and strip it down and see how bad it is. These cars just proved how strong they are and although it’s heavily damaged, I’m fine.”

Front-runner Drew Ridge in the Ikon Signs Mustang suffered an alternator failure while under safety car and stopped on track, and Anthony Tenkate’s Mustang spun at Turn 6 on the final laps and failed to finish due to a flat tyre.

Cam Sendall had a strong run to 11^th while newcomer Christopher Formosa in the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee lookalike claimed a respectable 14^th in his first TA2 run.

Race 3 and 4 will be live streamed tomorrow via the AMRS Website and Blend Line TV.

The entry list features the debut of Super Utes racer Christopher Formosa in the Allgate Motorsport Dodge Challenger. Prepared at the Ross Stone Racing workshop in the lead up to their debut, the team revealed their livery as a nod to General Lee, the 1969 Dodge Charger made famous in the Dukes of Hazzard television series. 

A relative newcomer to circuit racing, Formosa looks forward to the challenge presented by the growing TA2 Muscle Car Series.

“We’re so excited to join the TA2 Muscle Car Series in the Allgate Motorsport Dodge Challenger,” said Formosa.

“We have been keeping a close eye on the series for a while and thought now was a great time to get involved.

“It’s not hard to see why the series has grown so quickly. The cars are loud, fast and sideways, not to mention an affordable and strictly-controlled formula.

“The response so far has been amazing so we’re looking forward to getting up to Morgan Park and hitting the track for the first time.”

The team have purchased the car formerly driven by Scott Textor. While Textor will not return to the track for the 2019 series, he has retained involvement in the class with sponsorship from Hytek Steel Framing.

It will be the second consecutive 25 strong entry following on from a breakout season opener at Sydney Motorsport Park. Victorian racer Simon Tabinor and Queenslander Greg Willis have not backed up from the opening round, while the series welcomes back Sunshine Coast racer David Falvey in a Chevrolet Camaro as well as the debut of the Allgate Motorsport Challenger. 

Third-generation racer Aaron Seton claimed three out of four race wins to claim the season opener at Sydney Motorsport Park, and holds a four point lead in the Performax Cup standings over other Sydney race-winner George Miedecke, with defending series champion Ashley Jarvis a further 13 points behind.

Michael Kulig has had a race against time to repair the Kulig Engineering Camaro after a major hit at Turn 1 during practice for the first round of the series at Sydney Motorsport Park. The car was completely stripped and rebuilt around a new chassis in just four weeks, while Tim Tritton and Chris La Rosa’s Mustangs were also repaired after first round clashes.

It will be the first championship round held at the Warwick, Queensland circuit as the 2.967km track hosts the second round of the AMRS.

ENTRY LIST - 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series Round 2 - Morgan Park Raceway (April 5-7)

#3 - Drew Ridge (NSW), Ford Mustang - ikon Signs #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 #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 - Road Rage Australia #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 #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 #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 #111 - 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

Third-generation racer Aaron Seton claimed three out of four race wins to lead the TA2 Muscle Car Series following the first round held at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Watched on by Grandfather and 1965 Bathurst 500 winner Bo, and 2x ATCC championship winning father Glen, Seton set a high benchmark after he won race three, fending off former Super 2 and Australian GT racer George Miedecke in a battle that saw Miedecke close the gap late in the race as tyre strategy came into play. Miedecke caught but could not pass Seton as the Castrol Harris Racing Mustang won by 0.1764, the closest finish in TA2 Muscle Car Series history.

Defending series champion Ashley Jarvis climbed two spots to third, as Andrew Miedecke and Kubota Racing's Hugh McAlister completed the top five.

Race three also saw race-long battles between Hugh McAlister, Russell Wright and Murray Kent, while 16-year old TA2 debutante Nathan Herne fell back to eighth from third as he struggled for tyre grip following a setup change, as Drew Ridge and Simon Tabinor completed the top ten.

George Miedecke kept the pressure on Seton in the early phase of race four, before on lap four Seton spun around on his own at turn five. He quickly recovered, however Miedecke and Jarvis had slipped through, and despite setting the fastest lap, Seton had to settle for third at the flag.

Veteran Russell Wright had a strong run to fourth outright, passing both Andrew Miedecke’s Dodge Challenger and Hugh McAlister’s Mustang, while Kent finished eighth ahead of Ridge and Anthony Tenkate in tenth.

One of nine series debutants, Matthew MacKelden failed to take the rolling start due to a broken wheel stud, but put in a demon drive from last on the grid to finish seventh outright in the final race and received the Hypercoil Hard Charger Award for his efforts in the Kubota Racing Mustang.

Nathan Herne called to the pits early with suspected fuel pump failure ending what had been a strong weekend for the Lismore driver in the Gulf Western Oils Dodge Challenger.

“It was an weekend for us at Castrol Harris Racing this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park,” said Seton.

“It means a great deal to me to have won the first round of the series with the new drivers that have joined in.

“George Miedecke and Ashley Jarvis pushed me all weekend, George especially was on my backside for the whole weekend.

“I really enjoyed the level of racing in TA2 this weekend, and the longer races we had are really fun and a great test of skill in these cars.”

“I’d like to thank Craig Harris from Castrol Harris Racing and also Don Dimitriadis from Thunder Road Racing Team Australia for their support this weekend, I genuinely wouldn’t be here without them.”

George Miedecke picked up the Rookie of the Round Award for the highest placed first-year driver, Russell Wright won the Masters Award for the best placed driver over 50 years of age and Murray Kent claimed the Wilwood Big Braker Award for a strong showing in all races.

Seton’s third place in the final was enough to secure the round win and now leads the Performax Cup by just four points from George Miedecke, with Ashley Jarvis a further three points behind.

Round two of the 2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series heads to Morgan Park in Queensland on April 5-7.

2019 TA2 Muscle Car Series Pointscore

1st: Aaron Seton - 215 2nd: George Miedecke - 211 3rd: Ashley Jarvis - 198 4th: Andrew Miedecke - 196 5th: Russell Wright - 190