2019 TCR Australia Silly Season

[Mixer]

So if you're an ex-Supercar driver with sponsor connections who wants to go racing in something with nice brands and a TV package would you be ringing around?

[Umai Naa]

Originally Posted by rich07

Polish driver Gosia Rdest races in German series as does another German female driver.

Dalberto is a handy addition to the entry list.

Gosia did a couple of events back in 2017 in Germany and Portugal for Target Competition. She also runs a Cupra in the Polish Touring Car Championship on occasion, but I don't belive it's TCR-sanctioned.

Michelle Halder finished 9th I think overall last year in her rookie season in TCR Germany with a Cupra, but is returning this season in a new Civic.

Swiss driver Jasmin Preisig has run an Astra the past two seasons in TCR Germany, but I believe she's running a Golf this year.

[Mixer]

Bright in with a pair of Golfs from the TCR Asia series:

http://www.v8sleuth.com.au/news/2019...-two-car-squad

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[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Mixer

Bright in with a pair of Golfs from the TCR Asia series:

http://www.v8sleuth.com.au/news/2019...-two-car-squad

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Another self-funded seat..

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Michelle Halder finished 9th I think overall last year in her rookie season in TCR Germany with a Cupra, but is returning this season in a new Civic.



Swiss driver Jasmin Preisig has run an Astra the past two seasons in TCR Germany, but I believe she's running a Golf this year.

Halder is the German lady who’s name escaped me. Cheers. I’ve heard of Jasmin Preisig but know nothing of her career.

Originally Posted by Mixer

Bright in with a pair of Golfs from the TCR Asia series:

http://www.v8sleuth.com.au/news/2019...-two-car-squad

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

Long rumoured to join the series so glad to see confirmation. Good to see him back behind the wheel of a touring car. It’s been a solid news week for the series with more to come. Driver list is shaping up nicely.

[mayhem]

I think I better go check this out when they hit the track in May. Glad they're going to make the track and not be delayed like the S5000s.

[Umai Naa]

I'll be there.

Watched enough of it online over the years.

[gtcapri]

Looking forward to seeing the first round in May.

[Woolley]

UK version has just effectively died and been thrown in with an amateur run-what-you-brung (and similarly undersupported) series. We know have one series for two categories of about 5 cars each. Neither of which really need to exist anyway.

[Umai Naa]

The key differences are that TCR Aus never outwardly claimed they were going to take on the big boys, and nor are they headlining a club racing event.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

nor are they headlining a club racing event.

They are on at a club racing schedule (Shannon's Nationals -- the last time I went it was either free or $10 entry, and the crowd was about 100 folks at best), but they are about third or fourth billing!

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Woolley

UK version has just effectively died and been thrown in with an amateur run-what-you-brung (and similarly undersupported) series. We know have one series for two categories of about 5 cars each. Neither of which really need to exist anyway.

In the UK you have BTCC who’s cars are more similar hence why I’m not surprised it folded. Starting TCR makes more sense here then starting another Supercars based category as there’s already 3 or so series catering to them.

Add in that TCR is far cheaper to buy and race then a Supercar and I can certainly see it’s merits on that point alone.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by rich07

In the UK you have BTCC who’s cars are more similar hence why I’m not surprised it folded. Starting TCR makes more sense here then starting another Supercars based category as there’s already 3 or so series catering to them.

Add in that TCR is far cheaper to buy and race then a Supercar and I can certainly see it’s merits on that point alone.

A production car is cheaper still, as is a Formula Vee, yet neither of these attracts the spectator masses of Supercar..

[Speedy400]

You don’t have to hate it just because it’s not a Supercar.

I like Supercars, GT, Prod Cars - and I think the TCR thingy is pretty cool and I look forward to seeing it.

Those stupid utes though 👎🏽

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Speedy400

You don’t have to hate it just because it’s not a Supercar.

I like Supercars, GT, Prod Cars - and I think the TCR thingy is pretty cool and I look forward to seeing it.

Those stupid utes though 👎🏽

I dont hate anything.
The economics around the class do not stack up.
Used cars out of Europe are fine until someone buys the latest toy, rendering the rest uncompetitive.
It happened in SuperTouring... it will happen here...

[Speedy400]

The latest toy?

Happens in Production Cars, GT3 etc also
Just now the latest toy in Supercars is kicking the Commodore and Altimas backside.

By that thought process the only category that makes sense is Carrera Cup...


But anyway - about 18-20 cars announced and the drivers have pedigree.

86 Champ
Super2 Champs x 2
Bathurst 1000 winner & Indycar (CART) driver


It won't rival the spectacle of Supercars but i'm interested and plenty of others are also.

[Umai Naa]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

I dont hate anything.
The economics around the class do not stack up.
Used cars out of Europe are fine until someone buys the latest toy, rendering the rest uncompetitive.
It happened in SuperTouring... it will happen here...

BOP keeps the field fairly level.

The Hyundai was the car to have last year. Current BOP suggests it's not.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Speedy400

The latest toy?

Happens in Production Cars, GT3 etc also
Just now the latest toy in Supercars is kicking the Commodore and Altimas backside.

By that thought process the only category that makes sense is Carrera Cup...


But anyway - about 18-20 cars announced and the drivers have pedigree.

86 Champ
Super2 Champs x 2
Bathurst 1000 winner & Indycar (CART) driver


It won't rival the spectacle of Supercars but i'm interested and plenty of others are also.

....from the press officer of TCRA

[champcarman]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

....from the press officer of TCRA

This category will add a bit of quality to the Shannon’s Series that has been lacking since F3 was moved on. It is not meant to be a rival for Supercars although some may see it that way. With TCR , Porsche GT3 Challenge , S5000 and F4 the Series arguably is more attractive than the diet of Aussie RC, “super” utes etc that Supercars force us to endure.

[Mixer]

No doubt it is a great and relevant series but I hope we see some depth unlike most of the other series. The initial announcements are promising. Plenty of those second tier professionals around who should be able to bring a sponsor. I just want to see the manufacturers get behind it in a visible way, even if the monetary contribution is not large.

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[Speedy400]

Not an employee - just an interested motorsport fan.

I think it's cool - and there is a an enduro at Spa later in the year which in theory any Aussie team can put their car on a boat and race against the rest of the world.

As much as I like Supercars I never understood why we needed to be different than other touring car categories.

Not a rival - just something different and I think it makes sense.

Eagerly awaiting the next driver announcements!

[champcarman]

Originally Posted by Speedy400

Not an employee - just an interested motorsport fan.

I think it's cool - and there is a an enduro at Spa later in the year which in theory any Aussie team can put their car on a boat and race against the rest of the world.

As much as I like Supercars I never understood why we needed to be different than other touring car categories.

Not a rival - just something different and I think it makes sense.

Eagerly awaiting the next driver announcements!

More to come soon.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

A production car is cheaper still, as is a Formula Vee, yet neither of these attracts the spectator masses of Supercar..

Put all the Supercar drivers and teams in there with Mr Crompton doing the commentary, run them as the main events at the Adelaide 500, Bathurst 1000 or wherever, call it the ATCC and I doubt the figures would change much

Originally Posted by champcarman

It is not meant to be a rival for Supercars although some may see it that way

Super Touring started out as not meaning to be a rival to Supercars, same with PROCAR

Once a bit of momentum gets up with the class though hopes get up and the owners get ideas that this could be bigger then ben hur, combine that with Supercars getting protective and into war mode and before you know it the classes are rivals.

TCR will either die quickly or end up in a war with Supercars, touring car classes cannot co-exist in a post-1996 Australian motor racing scene.

Originally Posted by Speedy400

As much as I like Supercars I never understood why we needed to be different than other touring car categories.

Because in 1993 it made sense to race our bread and butter cars sold here, Commodore's and Falcon's, as other series around the world were doing, looking after their market.

In 2019 though it makes less sense to race the cars they currently do, perhaps apart from the Mustang

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by one five five

Because in 1993 it made sense to race our bread and butter cars sold here, Commodore's and Falcon's, as other series around the world were doing, looking after their market.

Yet why was the substantially similar BMW 540i excluded despite a willing Gardner BMW works team, which later had no choice but to go over to the Super Touring series where BMW were actually welcome...



Such a missed opportunity by the organisers, frankly a dumb omission IMO...

Similarly, why not retain RWD-only and (if required, four door) Skylines in the field, with a suitable equivalence between 2.5-2.6L turbo and the V8 of the BMW, Holden and Ford? The foolish ATCC rule makers seemed determined to alienate willing manufacturers, which is sheer madness.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

I dont hate anything.

So then I guess it’s just things you like/protect more than others?