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Expect the unexpected at The Bend doubleheader
The close fight for the minor placings in this year’s Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series could be won or lost at the recently confirmed doubleheader at The Bend Motorsport Park.
In what will be the first event for the series since Round 4 at Sydney Motorsport Park in May, Supercheap Auto TCR Australia competitors will contest two qualifying sessions and six races across a packed three days.
Running two rounds at The Bend comes after the Sandown round of the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships was cancelled due to the extension of Melbourne’s lockdown.
Ashley Seward Motorsport driver Lee Holdsworth is eager to return to the driver’s seat as he believes the six races will be make or break in the fight for second.
“The fight is on for second (in the title),” said Holdsworth.
“As we saw before that final race at Sydney Motorsport Park, I think Luke King was back in fourth or fifth and he came out of the weekend second, while it was vice versa for me. I dropped from I think second or third in the series to fifth, so it’s very tight and over six races it’s going to certainly shuffle the standings around massively from second onwards.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Holdsworth highlighted the importance of gelling with the car and set-up early on during the weekend.
“We’ve had a lot of time out of the car so there hasn’t been any time to develop the car and tune it,” explained Holdsworth.
“I doubt many people have been testing so I think those first few practice sessions will be critical in getting the car in the sweet spot to really capitalise on a huge event.
“It’s going to be so vital for the car to be strong from word go or from the first qualifying for the two events.”
While Holdsworth is fifth in the standings, Wall Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR driver Tony D’Alberto is aiming to avenge bad luck in this year’s series at The Bend where he enters in ninth, but just 56-points behind second.
“To be honest I think it’s a great idea for the series,” D’Alberto said.
“The Bend is a great facility, great track, the cars produce great racing there. We haven’t had a great year, but the series is still pretty tight so if you roll out well and really capitalise at The Bend there is no reason why you couldn’t jump up the order quite quickly.
“We’re going to go from nothing to a heap of seat time, I think that’s going to be exciting.”
The next rounds of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series will be held at The Bend Motorsport Park on October 15-17.