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Kody Garland Optimistic for Phillip Island after Disappointment at Round 1
Garry Rogers Motorsport rookie Kody Garland is eager for redemption after his Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series debut was cut short after an incident during opening practice at AWC Race Tasmania, but a successful test day at Phillip Island yesterday has provided much confidence.
Garland will return to Phillip Island for Round 2 of his maiden season in the turbocharged front-wheel-drive formula following an impressive display during the GRM Combine – Powered by Marcos Ambrose provided an opportunity to transition into the category.
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The GRM crew has completed the repairs and yesterday provided Garland with valuable time behind the wheel of his Valvoline-supported Renault Megane R.S. TCR.
“The boys have done an absolute mega job to get the car back to shape after the incident in Tasmania,” said Garland.
“It’s great to be in the car today just to gain confidence back after what happened and everything’s feeling good, lap times are there so yeah hopefully we can keep it inside the top 10 at the next round, which would be great.
“Just can’t thank the guys at GRM enough for the work they’ve done. Hopefully we can have a good round next time, keep it on the black stuff and push forwards.”
Garland tested alongside GRM’s Turtle Wax Trans Am drivers Lochie Dalton and Owen Kelly, as Director Barry Rogers is excited to watch Garland’s progress at Round 2.
“Kody impressed Garry and I from the very first time that he introduced himself to us several years ago at Eastern Creek,” said Rogers.
“Unfortunately, Kody’s debut at Race Tasmania did not go as planned with the car sustaining irreparable damage during practice.
“I expect Kody to bounce back well, and his display today shows he is on track.
“At GRM we measure the quality of our people from how they react to setbacks, not how they are when everything is going along swimmingly. From the little I have seen of Kody’s attitude and approach he is very much heading in the right direction.”
Garry Rogers Motorsport Competition Director, Marcos Ambrose lauded the GRM crew for its ability to repair the Renault prior to yesterday’s test.
“It was a win on two fronts the first one was that we rebuilt Kody’s car in record time; been a full rebuild basically so were shaking the car down faultlessly,” said Ambrose
“So, on the GRM side I think it’s been a really good day for us to do that, then for Kody to get back in the car and get a lot of laps in, get some confidence around a track he hasn’t run on before. He’s applied himself really well for the day and bounced back from a difficult Symmons Plains so all around it’s been a real success.”
The second round of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia will be part of the opening Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships event of the season at Phillip Island on March 18-20.
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Anyone wishing to attend the event is reminded tickets will not be available for purchase at the gate. Tickets must be purchased via Eventbrite prior to entry. Purchasing your tickets in advance will save you time at the gate.