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Former WRC star tests Audi RS3 LMS TCR
Former factory Subaru World Rally Team driver Chris Atkinson has sampled TCR for the first time after completing a handful of laps in privateer Liam McAdam’s Audi RS3 LMS TCR.
Atkinson drove the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia entry at Queensland Raceway for a story, which will appear soon on Car Expert comparing road going models to race prepared variants.
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Circuit racing is not new to Atkinson having finished runner up contesting the inaugural Bathurst 12 Hour in 2007 in a factory Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C, but driving a front-wheel-drive touring car was.
“I’ve been doing a lot of car tests at Queensland Raceway so we wanted to put a TCR car on there to see how it compared to the road cars we’d been testing,” Atkinson explained.
“I was pretty happy with my pace straight away, but it’d be good to explore it a bit more. It nearly did the same time as I’d done in a GT3RS with a lot less power, so it shows how much performance these TCR cars have. And I think there’s a lot more in it.
“It was good because I’d never tested a race car at Queensland Raceway and it’s funny how the lines are more aggressive as well as the positions you’re able to put the TCR car in compared to a road-going model.
“The fact I could be much later into the corners and wider where a road car doesn’t let you go that far across the track, but the TCR handled it with ease.
“It was impressive.”
Atkinson hinted he’s like to contest a round of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series if the opportunity did arise.
“I haven’t done much racing lately so it’s definitely something that is on my radar if a good opportunity comes up,” Atkinson said.
“I think the TCRs are the sort of cars that would be great fun racing as well. Super close competition, door-to-door racing would be really cool in them and you see that in the racing as well.
“The speed you get for the lap time, the value is a great level to get into motorsport.”
McAdam was also joined by Luke King, who raced a Melbourne Performance Centre Audi in last year’s series, while fellow Supercheap Auto TCR Australia privateer Lachlan Mineeff completed laps in his Purple Sector Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR.
Race Tasmania will launch the 2022 Australian motorsport season featuring Supercheap Auto TCR Australia, S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship and the Turtle Wax Trans Am Series.
Make sure you get your tickets through Moshtix.
Image: Matthew Paul Photography