TCR eyes off Australia

The likelihood of Australia adopting a TCR (Touring Car Racing) series has received a boost with the announcement that Australia’s motorsport governing body, CAMS (Confederation of Australian Motor Sport) has signed a five-year agreement with the category’s parent company, and is now seeking expressions of interest for the series’ promotion in Australia.

Formed in 2015, TCR has been widely accepted around the world, with championships currently contested throughout Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East. In addition, many other series now allow TCR cars to run, giving teams tremendous scope and options for competition.

Using front-wheel drive, production-based cars with turbocharged engines of capacity up to 2.0 litres, part of the appeal of the TCR class is its affordability, and CAMS chief, Eugene Arocca, believes that the success and popularity of TCR internationally will be mirrored in Australia.

“TCR Australia will provide the opportunity for affordable, competitive action in cars that are direct derivatives of popular road going cars.

“We are looking forward to working with manufacturers and competitors to ensure the success of this category,” says Arocca. “The worldwide interest in TCR has been very encouraging and we anticipate that the competitive Australian car buying market will see a number of manufacturers support the category.”

Marcello Lotti, CEO of TCR owner WSC, echoed the sentiment, saying:

“We are absolutely delighted. The deal with CAMS, which is the driving force behind the success of Australian motor sport, adds a fourth continent to those – Europe, Asia and the Americas – where TCR series have already been established.”

Audi is one of the front runners in the international series and the popularity of the RS 3 LMS through the Audi Sport customer racing program has met with tremendous success around the globe since the car's introduction in 2016.

Last year, Audi Australia brought an RS 3 LMS car to Australia for evaluation purposes and the car was very enthusiastically received by Audi Sport customer racing clients and the Australian motoring press.

With a very strong Audi contingent currently racing in the Australian GT class, the introduction of another competitive and affordable class opens up tremendous opportunities for motorsport enthusiasts and will likely see the brand with the four rings competing Down Under in greater numbers.