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With a hat-trick of victories, Mustang driver Chad Cotton claimed the round win at the debut outing for TA2 Racing Australia at Lakeside Park on August 6 and 7.

An eight-car grid consisting of fifth and sixth generation Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Camaros took to the historic 2.41 kilometre circuit for the first of two rounds for the year, following demonstration runs at Queensland Raceway and Wakefield Park. After the inaugural 20-minute qualifying session, it was a Mustang 1-2-3 with former Supercars privateer Craig Harris (Mustang) landing pole with a 55.94, narrowly ahead of Russell Wright (Mustang) with a 55.98, and Chad Cotton (Mustang) clocking a 56.23. Series Founder Peter Robinson (Camaro) was the best of the Camaros with a 56.49. Harris lead from pole to claim the inaugural race win in the series, taking the chequered flag ahead of a hard-charging Cotton and Robinson. Wright, who was on double duty with Round 5 of the Australian Trans-Am Series engaged in a three-way dice for the lead early on, but fell to fifth position behind Ian McAlister (Mustang) who picked up two spots to finish fourth. First-time circuit racer Cameron Sendall (Camaro) and former Supercars privateer Bob Thorn (Camaro) brought up the rear of the field. Cotton capitalised off the start to claim his maiden win in the series in race two, holding onto the lead ahead of Harris and Wright. There were battles all the way through the field during the eight-lap encounter, as McAlister, Thorn and Sendall engaged in a race-long stoush. The Canberra driver secured his second consecutive victory in race three, closely followed by Harris and Wright. McAlister failed to make the grid after suffering alternator issues, while Thorn’s race came to an end on the third lap as a broken splitter resulted from running over the ripple strip at the Karussell. Cotton’s third successive win was the sweetest of victories, setting the category lap record at a 55.21 en route to the chequered flag. Harris secured second position for the round while Sendall completed the race four podium. McAlister climbed back to fourth while Wright, who started second, suffered a puncture and fell back to fifth. Reflecting on the magnitude of the series debut, Cotton said he was over the moon to be the inaugural round winner for the category. “I wasn’t expecting a lot this weekend, this was only my second ever race meeting at Lakeside. “The guys I am racing with are so professional, a lot of them have come from a lifetime of racing. The cars are all the same so it comes down to the driver and I was lucky enough to have a good run. “It is great to be a part of this class,” Cotton said. Robinson was pleased with the first standalone TA2 race meeting in the Southern Hemisphere. “It couldn’t have gone any better. The way the guys drove, the presentation of the vehicles, the feedback from the fans, all in all it was a fantastic effort by all involved and we all can’t wait for the next round,” Robinson said. The second round of the series will be at Queensland Raceway on October 15 and 16.

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The all-new TA2 Racing Australia category is set for their highly-anticipated debut at Lakeside Park this weekend, as the historic circuit roars to life with a muscle car double-header. The recently launched series takes inspiration from America’s iconic Trans-Am Series, as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger continue a rivalry that spans generations of race fans all over the world. The global TA2 formula caters for modern V8-powered Trans-Am muscle cars, comprising of a purpose-built racing chassis and a controlled engine package developing 525 horsepower. An eight car grid will take to the historic Lakeside circuit on August 6-7 featuring Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro-bodied cars, with category management confirming a 17 car field by the end of the year. “Eight more cars are on order from the USA which are due to land in Australia at the end of September, adding to 17 cars in total. In amongst these are two Dodge Challengers,” said series founder Peter Robinson. Since the launch of TA2 in June, two demonstration events have taken place at Queensland Raceway and Wakefield Park, as the attention now turns to the competitive debut of the class at the spiritual home of Queensland motorsport. “This is the first outing as a standalone TA2 race anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere,” said Robinson.” “With the Australian Trans-Am Series also appearing in their own race, fans will be treated to a muscle car double-header. This will be a real spectacle at the historic Lakeside circuit.” Former V8 Supercar privateer and 2014 Australian Trans-Am Champion Craig Harris heads up the entry list in a Ford Mustang alongside Bob Thorn in a Chevrolet Camaro, the former V8 Supercar privateer and Nations Cup entrant returns to motorsport after five years out of the seat. Joining them on the grid are Russell Wright, Greg Willis, Ian McAlister, Chad Cotton, Cameron Sendall and Peter Robinson. Harris is looking forward to driving his Mustang in anger around the challenging Lakeside layout. “With a minimum weight of 1250kg and 525hp on tap, these cars are going to be frighteningly quick around the fast and flowing Lakeside track. “Due to the big slick tyres and huge Wilwood brakes, I expect to see times in the mid-to-low 50 second mark which will surely get the drivers’ attention as this place has no room for error. I can’t wait for the weekend,” said Harris. TA2 Racing Australia will commence with practice on Friday, followed by qualifying and four races across the weekend in support of the Lakeside 300 and Round 5 of the 2016 Australian Trans-Am Series.

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Following expansions to Sweden, Canada and Costa Rica, America’s Trans-Am TA2 formula will launch in Australia in 2016. To be known as TA2 Racing Australia, the series pays homage to the muscle car rivalry of the SCCA Trans-Am Series established in 1966, featuring the ongoing battle between the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, with the Dodge Challenge thrown into the mix. TA2 draws its global success from a focus on cost control and parity with an emphasis on driver competition. The TA2 formula utilises a Howe space-frame chassis, fitted with a controlled GM Motorsport Division LS3 engine package developing 525 horsepower. TA2 is set to be managed by the management group of the Australian Trans-Am Series, a tribute series to the Trans-Am era of the late 1960s and early 70s. The inaugural series takes place at Queensland Raceway and Lakeside Park, with optional events at Wakefield Park yet to be confirmed. TA2 plans to work with established motorsport authorities to expand the series interstate with a national set of rules and regulations. Peter Robinson, the importer of the TA2 cars stresses that the TA2 formula allows drivers to concentrate on racing, not the financing of it, while showcasing their skill in modern machinery. “TA2 cars have simple rules, these include no modification to any part, no professional drivers, only 98 octane pump fuel and one set of tyres per weekend. Let’s go racing!” said Robinson. “Our TA2 package for Australia is built from the best advice and components for the level of motorsport we wanted to be involved in. These cars are well powered and at 1200kg with big brakes and wide slick tyres, you will see some fast racing. “There will be close competition and plenty of overtaking opportunities because of car setup differences, driver ability and of course race day luck.” The cars are constructed by Howe Racing Enterprises in the United States, a stalwart of Trans-Am racing internationally with a worldwide tally of TA2 machines now exceeding 212. However, a number of local companies have contributed to the development of the Australian version of the TA2 technical package. World-renowned Australian cooling systems provider PWR have developed a tailor-made cooling system for TA2 Racing Australia, and impressed the American constructors to now offer the PWR kits to American TA2 teams. Supplying the race seats, safety harnesses and window nets is New Zealand-based Racetech, who also supply their range of safety equipment to V8 Supercars. While a partnership with Gold Coast-based Motorsport Brakes involves track support and engineering assistance with the Wilwood disc brakes and calipers. A deal has been made with the suppliers of the Australian-made MoTeC dash systems to supply the C127 dash as the standard dash for TA2 Australia, with support from Steve Manning at CPWS Queensland to manufacture the interconnecting loom required to marry the MoTeC dash to the TA2 cars. Transferring their association with the Trans-Am Series in the US, Hoosier will be the official tyre supplier for the series, with the TA2 cars set to run the Hoosier 3045 slicks, and the 44307 wets. The SCCA Trans-Am Series in the 60s and 70s saw large manufacturer input and high profile drivers battling in the muscle cars of the era. Historic Trans-Am continues to be celebrated around the world while the Australian Trans-Am Series continues to flourish down under as a tribute to the ‘golden era of Trans-Am racing. In updating to modern machinery, Robinson believes TA2 Australia will appeal to a new generation of fans as well as those who look back fondly to the days of Moffat, Jane, Beechey and Geoghegan battling in the Australian Touring Car Championship. Robinson suggests that the timing of introducing TA2 to Australia is perfect. “The timing of TA2 in Australia is perfect with Holden and Ford both closing the factory doors on the Commodore and Falcon, and with the recent release of the Ford Mustang onto Australian roads and not forgetting the talk of General Motors bringing the Camaro out as street competition for Ford. “We think that racers and race fans will be drawn to the TA2 cars because of the modern look and reliability that TA2 brings. What you see and hear on track has a factory street version available from a showroom near you,” said Robinson. TA2 Australia has already attracted the likes of 2014 Australian Trans-Am Champion and former V8 Supercar driver Craig Harris, former V8 Ute Racer Greg Willis, former Touring Car Masters entrant Ian McAlister and former V8 Supercar driver Bob Thorn. “I am really excited to be part of this new series to Australia,” said Harris. “As a previous Trans-Am champion, it is great to see both Trans-Am and TA2 running under the existing successful management team with high profile motorsport players such as John English and Ian Palmer. This can only make Australian Trans-Am stronger and more successful as well as grow the established relationships that they already have with the promoters, suppliers, fans and Media. “I am thrilled to now be part of the management team for the TA2 series and I look forward to being part of the category’s success and future growth.” TA2 Australia will debut at the Shannons 2 Days of Thunder at Queensland Raceway on June 11-12, with a series of demonstration sessions featuring the cars already landed in Australia. Expressions of interest can be lodged via info@ta2racingaustralia.com and to find out more about the class, visit ta2racingaustralia.com/.