Tander strong at Sandown

In what was the penultimate round of the inaugural TCR Australia Series, Garth Tander was back behind the wheel of an Audi RS 3 LMS and almost straight back on the podium as well.

Tander has previously contested rounds in the Melbourne Performance Centre prepared RS 3 during this maiden series, but other commitments have kept him from making regular appearances.

Nevertheless, after a torrid introduction to the category in Round 2 at Phillip Island, Tander quickly found his groove to record the brand’s first win in TCR Australia, quickly adding to that tally with subsequent appearances.

Sandown marked his return to the hugely popular TCR category and driving the #3 car usually driven by Leanne Tander, he was unlucky to miss out on a podium in the first race on Saturday, settling instead for fourth. Liam McAdam, driving the blue RS 3 previously occupied by Garth came home in sixth.

But come Sunday, Tander wouldn’t be denied, avoiding a number of incidents that saw many leave the track to get past James Moffat to claim second.

“They were all being a bit ambitious so I picked them off,” said Tander of the result.

“The car is good and I didn’t show my hand yet.”

Unfortunately, one who did become embroiled in an ‘incident’ was veteran campaigner, Russell Ingall, who has produced some outstanding results himself this season driving the #100 Audi RS 3 LMS. His entanglement saw him off the track and unable to continue in the race.

The third race of the weekend also had its fair share of incidents and casualties, but again Tander was the consummate professional, chasing down the eventual winner, Nestor Girolami, to claim another second place.

“They were going crazy and I just got on with the job,” he said at the end of the race.

“From where I was on Friday in P-nowhere, to this is pretty satisfying.

With the inaugural championship now decided in favour of young gun, Will Brown, the series now heads back to Tailem Bend in South Australia for the final round of what has been a tremendously successful first season. Racing will take place on November 15-17 with all three races across the weekend broadcast live and free to air on SBS.