Just 16 points separate the top three in the standings as the Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series heads to Wakefield Park Raceway for their championship debut at the Goulburn circuit with the Australian Motor Racing Series this weekend, August 18-19.

Defending champion Russell Wright leading the championship in the RoadBees Transport Mustang, while three points separate second-placed Hugh McAlister’s Ford Mustang and Ashley Jarvis’ Lighthouse Electrical-backed Chevrolet Camaro.

They’ll be out to stop Aaron Seton’s run of form that saw him clean sweep all four races at round four at Queensland Raceway, with Seton committed to the remaining three rounds of the series in the Castrol Harris Racing Ford Mustang.

Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series manager Craig Denyer confirms talks are already underway with promoters to put together a calendar of events for next year.

“We are currently in the planning stages for the 2019 calendar, and ideally would like to have this locked away by the end of September or as close as possible,” explained Denyer.

The category has confirmed another order of cars in preparation for the 2019 season, with a total of 33 cars to be in the country by the end of this year.

“There has been a significant amount of interest in the category over the past few months, and PBR Distributions have just ordered another eight cars to be built and shipped from the USA which will be here by December, a number of those are already committed.”

“The fact that the Mustang and Camaro will both be sold in Australia has given the category even greater relevance heading into 2019 and the TA2 race car just offers such a great bang-for-buck racing experience at a very low-price point, what other category offers real V8 muscle car racing for the running costs of a Saloon Car.” 

Hugh McAlister is looking forward to returning to his home track for what will be a big weekend for the two-car McAlister Motors outfit he shares with his father Ian, and hopes to maintain his consistent run of form that has seen him in contention for the title.

“I’ll follow the same plan i’ve carried through all the rounds this season, and that’s simply to try and finish as close to the front as possible. I can’t afford to have a DNF with our points system,” said McAlister.

“It’s going to be tough with a full field of TA2 cars. Qualifying will be crucial to a successful weekend as overtaking opportunities can be very limited at Wakefield Park.”

The Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series will have four races across the weekend at the Australian Motor Racing Series, with event organisers dedicating a portion of gate proceeds and other fundraising activities to raise money for drought-affected farmers and communities through Rural Aid charity and the Buy a Bale of Hay program.

Sunday’s action will be live streamed courtesy of Blend Line TV, with live timing available at Natsoft Race Results.

ENTRY LIST 2018 Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series - Round 5, Wakefield Park (NSW)

#4 - Mark Crutcher (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Crutcher Developments #5 - Ian McAlister (NSW), Ford Mustang - McAlister Motors/Performax #6 - Hugh McAlister (NSW), Ford Mustang - McAlister Motors/Performax #7 - Michael Kulig (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Kulig Engineering #10 - Peter Robinson (QLD), Dodge Challenger - PBR Distributions/BStyled For Life #14 - Cameron Sendall (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - PBR Distributions/BStyled For Life #22 - Ashley Jarvis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Lighthouse Electrical #44 - Greg Willis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Cross Torque Racing/Surety IT #55 - Russell Wright (QLD), Ford Mustang - RoadBees Transport #88 - Aaron Seton (QLD), Ford Mustang - Castrol Harris Racing #92 - Scott Textor (QLD), Dodge Challenger - Textor Racing #222 - Chad Cotton (ACT), Ford Mustang - Team Supreme Racing/Autocolours

Aaron Seton swept all before him this weekend at round four of the 2018 Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series at Queensland Raceway.

Pole position, four race wins and a new lap record proved the Ford Mustang driver is a talent that shouldn’t go unnoticed and his performance in the Castrol Harris Racing Mustang was a class act.

Performax Cup series leader Russell Wright was a strong second in all four races from Gold Coaster Ashley Jarvis. The Camaro driver dominated the last round at Sydney Motorsport Park but couldn’t match his performance from earlier in the season. However, on correct points he still remains a major championship contender with the series using a points system allowing drivers to drop their worst scoring round at the end of the season.

Hugh McAlister, Peter Robinson and Ian McAlister battled out the balance of the top five in the final two races. Ian McAlister made a drive under brakes into turn four during race four, tagging the rear of Robinson’s Dodge Challenger and turning him around.

Robinson was forced to sit out the remainder of the race, with McAlister receiving a 30 second post-race penalty for the incident.

Mustang driver Anthony Tenkate, coming through from the back of the pack after weighing in light at the end of race three, made a lunge at the turn six hairpin on Michael Kulig’s Camaro, however the two came together on the exit, resulting in a spin for Tenkate and a penalty for Kulig.

Seton controlled the pace for the remainder of the race, the only driver to lap in the 1:14 bracket, taking the round win from Wright and Jarvis.

Seton was pleased with his round win and endorsed the category as a valuable step in his development.

“I’d compare it as a mix between a NASCAR and a Supercar, they’re great fun to drive and I’d recommend anyone looking for a new category to race in to come and have a look at TA2.”

“It’s that sort of a car to drive and it’s cost-effective racing too, it would be great for other young racers to use it in their motorsport development.”

“Finally I’d like to thank Craig Harris for the opportunity to drive the Castrol Harris Racing TA2 Mustang, it’s been an awesome experience and a great way for me to continually develop as a driver.”

Wright stretched his series lead to 13 points from Hugh McAlister, with Jarvis only three points behind in third.

Round five of the 2018 Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series heads to Goulburn’s Wakefield Park Raceway on August 18-19 for the Australian Motor Racing Series event.