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Bathurst the turning point for lead privateer Brad Shiels
Leading Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series privateer Brad Shiels has endured a mixed season so far, but a trio of strong results at Bathurst marked a change of fortune for Tilton Racing.
Shiels’ relationship with Tilton Racing and founder Kosta Pohorukov began in time attack competition, but has evolved to TCR where the combination is punching above its weight lying 10th in the series.
Driving the striking blue Tilton Racing Hyundai i30N TCR, Shiels continues to improve after finishing an equal season-best seventh at Bathurst and scoring a top 10 last time out at Sydney Motorsport Park. It was at the Mountain where he enjoyed his most successful round as the reliability problems, which hampered the early stages of his season were rectified.
“Pretty good so far,” Shiels summarised his season so far. “It’s probably not the results we were hoping for yet, but we had some car reliability problems and a few other things due to this being our first year for me driving, plus the team running the car.
“It’s still pretty new for everyone and we’re learning, but it’s going pretty good.”
Despite the early season maladies, Shiels is within the 10-driver battle for second in the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, which continues at Morgan Park on August 13-15.
The Canberra-based driver is eager to continue his improvement in Queensland.
“We’re 10th in the series at the moment, which isn’t too bad considering we had a lot of car dramas at the first two rounds when it kept on going into limp mode,” he said. “We finished last a few times, which was pretty frustrating and it occurred when I was in some pretty positions.
“Since Bathurst onwards, my results have been a bit more consistent so I’m aiming to move up the field a bit further.
“It’s bloody competitive out there, you’ve got to drive pretty hard to even be in the top 10 so when you get a good result, you’ve earnt it.”
Currently leading the privateer entries, Shiels lauded his team for the efforts it has made despite the early season setbacks encountered and hoped to reward the team at Morgan Park.
“Our team – as for all the other privateers – are all new to it for this season,” explained Shiels. “Most of the other teams on the grid have had a season to learn and develop to know what makes the cars work.
“We’re still learning all this as we go.”
The next round of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series will be held at Morgan Park Raceway in Queensland on August 13-15. CLICK HERE for ticketing information.