It was an impressive result from the outset, despite often challenging weather conditions at The Bend in South Australia. In Round three of the TCR Australia Championship, Garth Tander in his Audi RS 3 LMS prepared by Melbourne Performance Centre drew first blood on the Saturday and came very close to repeating the result in races two and three.

Once again, Audi Sport customer racing fielded three Audi RS 3 LMS cars in South Australia, with Garth and Leanne Tander reprising their roles behind the wheel, and joined in the third car by ‘The Enforcer’, Russell Ingall.

The fast, flowing layout of the South Australian track was perfectly suited to the Audis and Garth Tander drove home the point, scoring the first win for Audi in the TCR category Down Under, before following up with a second place finish in both Race Two and Three on Sunday.

“It was a fantastic weekend. To get Audi’s first win in Australia yesterday was great and to back that up with two second place finishes today was an excellent result for the team,” a beaming Tander said after the final race.

Russell Ingall relished being back behind the wheel, albeit in an unfamiliar car and category, but the veteran nevertheless recorded top 10 finishes in every race, coming in ninth in the first race and sixth in the two Sunday races.

Leanne Tander had an eventful weekend, finishing 11th on Saturday and then eighth and 10th on Sunday. A gutsy move down the inside in the final race very nearly netted her a top six finish, but getting on the brakes a little late cost her the result and saw her having to fight back from the tail end of the field.

At the other end of the field though, the result was Audi’s most successful to date in the fledgling category, having recorded its first podium in the second round held at Phillip Island. The three cars, prepared by Melbourne Performance Centre were again faultless and the resulting three podiums from three races sends a clear message in the tightly fought series.

“We’re still learning what the car needs and we really improved the car over the weekend,” Tander said.

“I’ve really enjoyed the two races I’ve done at Phillip Island and The Bend, and if the opportunity arises again, I’d certainly like to look at doing more.”

The TCR Australia Series heads to Queensland Raceway next for Round Four (August 2- 4), before Winton Motor Raceway in late August, Sandown in September and then returning to The Bend in November to wrap up the inaugural Australian series.