From Left to Right: Chas Howe (Owner of Howe Racing Enterprises), Joe Stevens (Stevens-Miller Racing), Russell Wright and Peter Robinson (TA2 Racing Australia)

The Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series has taken the covers off the Ford Mustang that will be raced by 2017 series champion Russell Wright in the penultimate round of the 2018 Trans-Am Series Presented by Pirelli TA2 class at the Circuit of the Americas this weekend.

The Gold Coaster will race the #5 TA2 Ford Mustang prepared by Stevens-Miller Racing as part of an international driver exchange program with TA2 car constructor Howe Racing Enterprises.

A field of 31 TA2 cars will take to the Texan circuit that plays host to the annual Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, including two-time champion Gar Robinson who visited Australian shores for the Bathurst 12 Hour Combined Sedans support event this year and placed second outright with Wright third.

Wright’s opportunity comes as a reciprocal arrangement with the American series, as TA2 Racing Australia management also head to the United States to hold talks with series organisers regarding future international opportunities.

“This is really one for the bucket list, to race in the United States against the best TA2 drivers in the world at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas is a real blast,” Wright said.

Wright dropped from second to finish third in the Performax Cup Standings in the RoadBees Transport Ford Mustang, which was taken out by Chev Camaro driver Ashley Jarvis at the season finale last weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park.

“I haven’t had the best of runs lately, so hopefully all my bad luck is now behind me and we can have a consistent trouble-free weekend.

“TA2 is a professional series over there, and with over 30 cars on the grid it will be a tough weekend to come to grips with the circuit and the series.

“I’m also in a brand new car, so hopefully we will have a competitive run and fly the flag for the Aussies back home and those who are coming to cheer me on.

“I can’t thank Peter Robinson and Chas Howe enough for making this opportunity happen as a result of winning the title last year, what a way to cap off the year.”

The 2018 TA2 championship has already been claimed by Brazilian Rafa Matos in a Chevrolet Camaro.

The Trans-Am Series Presented by Pirelli TA2 class Powered by AEM Infinity at the Circuit of the Americas begins on Thursday with testing, followed by practice and qualifying on Friday, and concludes with one 30 lap/70 minute race on Saturday.

Gold Coaster Ashley Jarvis wrapped up the Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series title with a conservative drive to finish third in the final round at Sydney Motorsport Park, however won up the title comfortably from New South Wales Ford Dealer Hugh McAlister. Reigning champion Russell Wright finished third in the Performax Cup standings in the RoadBees Transport Ford Mustang, and also claimed the Masters Award for the best performing driver over 50, despite failing to finish the final race with engine dramas in the Mustang. Aaron Seton dominated all four races this weekend in the Castrol Harris Racing Mustang, but came under pressure in the final race from Port Macquarie’s George Miedecke, who debuted a new Dodge Challenger. Seton hung on to win from Miedecke and Hugh McAlister with father Ian taking out the round award in the Masters title. Jarvis was extremely proud to claim the inaugural national competition for the TA2 Muscle Car Series in the Lighthouse Electrical Chevrolet Camaro. “I never thought I would be standing here at the start of the season, I can’t believe it and couldn’t have done it without Mum and Dad and the crew,” Jarvis said. “We are very much a small family team but this weekend was all about being consistent and to conserve our points lead, hoping that we wouldn’t get taken out by some of the new guys trying to make an impression.”  Jarvis said. Hugh McAlister was equally wrapped with his second place in the Performax Cup, in only his second year of full competition. “This is fantastic, a bit of a surprise to be honest, but happy for Dad and the team to finish up against some of the best drivers in the country. Roll on 2019.” Wright, who heads to the Circuit of Americas next weekend for a round of the TA2 series as part of his prize for winning the 2017 title, conceded graciously that the young guard are just getting quicker, and the competition even more intense. “Our car hasn’t been quite right for the past few rounds, and we lost an engine in the final race today, however happy to still be third overall in the series and the first of the Masters. “Hopefully my bad luck is behind me, and all comes together next weekend in Austin Texas.” Wright said.

Drew Ridge will join the Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series for the final round of the championship this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park, partnering with experienced Central Coast rally driver and team manager Ron Cremen in a newly-launched TA2 arrive-and-drive race team.

The 19-year old will team up with the former Citroen Rally Australia Team Principal and Abu Dhabi Racing manager in the #3 ikon Signs Ford Mustang prepared by Cremen’s Racehire outfit, with plans to race the full season in 2019.

The Central Coast racer is a former junior national karting champion, and took a breakthrough victory at the Formula BMW Asia Cup Super Six event at Sepang in 2015. Ridge progressed to do three events in the inaugural Australian Formula 4 Championship that year, before stepping up to the Toyota 86 Racing Series in 2016.

Ridge moved to Europe to compete in the one-make Audi TT Cup Series last year supporting the DTM, before university commitments have seen him return to Australia with the aim to build a racing career close to home.

The 2018 season to date has seen him place third in the invitational class alongside Zane Goddard and Rob Thomson at the Bathurst 12 Hour with MARC Cars Australia, and raced a MARC-prepared BMW M1 alongside Brad Woods in the Australian Production Car Series at Sandown.

Ridge took part in a shakedown of Cremen’s Mustang at Queensland Raceway last month.

“We were up at Queensland Raceway to shake down Ron [Cremen]’s new car and to get a feel for the series. We decided together after that to do the final round of this year’s championship and look into doing the full season next year,” said Ridge.

“The car itself has a lot of mechanical grip, being a Hoosier rag tyre it likes to slide around on top of the surface but it’s still pretty stable.

“It naturally has a lot of oversteer but at the same time it’s very controllable. It’s a weird sensation to get used to because it’s not as sharp and pointy, not as direct as some of the other cars i’ve driven especially coming from the front-wheel drive Audi TT last year.”

Ridge is using the final round of the season as an introduction to the car and the series, with the aim to commit to a full season in 2019.

“The main reason for doing this last round is to get an understanding of what the championship offers and it’s a series that’s growing very quickly so it’s really exciting to be a part of it.”

“I’ve raced Aaron [Seton] since Go Karts and we’ve had similar career paths up until now.

“It’s going to be a great challenge, he [Seton]’s had far more experience than me in these cars and he’s the benchmark in the series so the goal is to be competitive and learn off him as quick as I can and hopefully challenge for race wins.”

For Cremen this marks a transition from rally to circuit racing and the launch of Racehire, an arrive-and-drive program for the TA2 Muscle Car Series.

“It’s a big step into the unknown after all the years spent in rallying to now come to circuit racing, but it’s a task we’re really looking forward to in a very exciting category,” said Cremen.

“I’ve spent the last decade overseas running junior rally programs for the Abu Dhabi government. There’s been a wide variety of drivers that i’ve worked with in the training process and it’s really nice to work with another young guy in Drew Ridge, i’m really looking forward to that prospect.”

“Realistically it’s great to have a driver in one car for the whole season, but i’ll work with the TA2 Muscle Car Series to promote the opportunity for other drivers to come and experience it, for a full season, a one-off race or a test day.”

Ridge joins a host of new cars and drivers with a record grid set for the series finale, with further details including a full entry list to be revealed on Wednesday.

Lighthouse Electrical Chevrolet Camaro driver Ashley Jarvis holds a 17-point lead in the Performax Cup standings from the RoadBees Transport Mustang of Russell Wright, with the McAlister Motors/Performax Mustang of Hugh McAlister a further 19 points adrift with one round remaining.

The final round of the Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series will be held at Sydney Motorsport Park on October 26-28, featuring at the penultimate event of the Australian Motor Racing Series.