News

8 February 2022 |

Reigning Targa Tasmania winner set for TCR Australia debut

Local Tasmanian driver Eddie Maguire will join the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia field at AWC Race Tasmania, driving a Melbourne Performance Centre-prepared Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR this weekend.

Maguire trades in his Targa Tasmania winning Dodge Viper for the turbocharged, front-wheel-drive Golf GTI TCR in what will be a new challenge.

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An experienced rally driver on both gravel and tarmac, this weekend’s event at Symmons Plains marks the first time Maguire will enter circuit racing, albeit the venue is where the majority of testing is done in preparation for events he contests Australia-wide.

Maguire will drive the Golf leased by Purple Sector and driven by debutant Keegan Brain at Bathurst, but previous to this it was a race winner with Aaron Cameron during the inaugural season, before it was used by Chelsea Angelo for much of 2021.

The local driver joins an impressive entry for the opening round of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia as part of the second running of AWC Race Tasmania at Symmons Plains February 11-13.

CLICK HERE for tickets.

Racing will be available to stream ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport, with live coverage also on the Nine Network.

QUOTES

Eddie Maguire, Melbourne Performance Centre Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR

“We’ve done a lot of gravel and tarmac rallying with quite a bit of success, but after winning Targa Tasmania last year we just wanted to look for some different things to do in motorsport,” said Maguire.

“I haven’t got any circuit racing experience at all, but I’ve had a few conversations with Lee and Troy at MPC, I’ve probably known them for 15 years.

“I’ve said to them over the years if there are any other opportunities and I received a phone call from Lee last week to say MPC had a spare car to have a go in at Tassie. I thought, ‘if there was anywhere I was going to start it would be around a familiar track’.

“I’ve never driven a front-wheel-drive race car, prior to the Viper I’ve always driven Mitsubishi Lancer Evos on gravel and tarmac. I’m hoping I can get my head around it in practice and we’ll see how we go.

“If by the end of the weekend I’m putting down some good laps and maybe even claw our way up the field then that would be great, but I don’t have any huge expectations. I’m just there for the experience.

“I’ve been keeping my eye on the TCR Australia Series for a while now and I think it’s a great concept. Certainly, if we have a good weekend, we enjoy it and go alright, we’d look at doing other rounds.”

Troy Russell, Managing Director, Melbourne Performance Centre

“We’ve had a long standing relationship with Eddie and the opportunity to offer him a drive at his home event was one not to pass up,” said Russell.

“Eddie is experienced around Symmons Plains and won Targa Tasmania last year, so hopefully that success to the circuit.

“It’s awesome to welcome another driver to Supercheap Auto TCR Australia. It continues to grow and so has our team with its commitment including the new Audi RS3 LMS TCR for Jay Hanson.”