TCR heading for Australia

The introduction of a TCR series Down Under is all but a done deal, with Australian Racing Group (ARG) and the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CMAS) in final negotiations. Following CAMS signing of a five year agreement with the global promotors of the category to develop a TCR category for Australia earlier this year, ARG has been announced the preferred party to control the promotional and commercial rights to TCR Australia.

ARG is Australian owned and is operationally overseen and managed by Matt Braid, the former Managing Director for Volvo Cars Australia and the Supercars Championship. 

“TCR has proven itself to be an extremely popular, exciting and successful category in many countries around the world,” Mr Braid said of the category. “Even in these early stages, we have fielded a lot of interest from potential competitors, manufacturers and event promoters interested in being part of a TCR series in Australia.”

“We're aiming to come to a final agreement with CAMS and TCR Series in the very near future,” he said. 

ARG is working with leading event promoters, including the Supercars Championship and the Shannons Nationals, with a view to hold TCR Australia at their events, bringing even greater depth to Australia’s motorsport offering. 

CAMS CEO, Eugene Arroca is likewise looking forward to the arrival of a TCR category in Australia, saying:

"We are excited for TCR to be coming to Australia - it’s a category which has proven to be very popular overseas and will be a great asset for Australian motorsport.”

Already enjoying success in Europe, the US and across Asia, the category heading Down Under opens the door to vehicles such as Audi’s giant-killing RS 3 LMS becoming a regular sight on Australian race tracks and giving more motoring enthusiasts the opportunity to compete. 

Exciting and affordable, TCR uses production-based vehicles up to 2.0-litres, with drive through the front wheels, with competition tight and fierce.

Audi Australia has had an RS 3 LMS in Australia on loan from Audi Sport since last year, serving as part of the evaluation process to test the viability of the vibrant category for Australia. The car was also included as part of of the RS 3 Sedan launch, with Australian motoring journalists given the opportunity of getting behind the wheel at Baskerville Raceway in Tasmania. 

Audi Australia’s Chief Driving Instructor, Steve Pizzati, also put the car through its paces at Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, where it impressed with its pace and drivability. 

“It’s a very forgiving set-up,” he says “but offers plenty of scope for the experienced drivers as well,” Pizzati said of the RS 3 LMS at the time.

Introduced in 2016, Audi Sport delivered 100 RS 3 LMS race cars to customers all over the world in its first year. Results followed almost immediately, with Audi claiming 149 podium finishes, including 58 victories and three drivers’ title wins and two teams’ classification victories – all in its first season.

With its muscular, carbon fibre and sheet steel body, with reinforced steel and welded in safety cell, the RS 3 LMS weighs in at around 1285kg including the driver.

Power comes via a 2.0-litre, turbo-charged engine producing 243kW and 410NM of torque at 2500rpm. This is mated to a six-speed sequential transmission with power going down through the front wheels only, rocketing the RS 3 LMS from stop to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 240km/h.

There is nothing in terms of driver assistance systems, in keeping with the strict TCR regulations – that means no ABS and no traction control – yet the car is surprisingly easy to drive, a fact that, coupled with its affordability will have far reaching appeal to a great many enthusiasts looking for a competitive car and racing series to take on.