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From NASCAR to TCR, Rob Benson’s motorsport journey
Rob Benson currently spearheads HMO Customer Racing’s Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series and has done so for the past two seasons, but the latest issue of Auto Action details his amazing career from NASCAR to Group A to the World Rally Championship.
His engines have won across the world in a variety of categories, but a link-up with Hyundai by building up its WRC program led to Benson’s joining the inaugural series winning HMO Customer Racing team at the beginning of 2020.
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“I was nearing the end of my contract and I put a deal together with Barry,” Benson explained to Auto Action.
“Barry put his money where his mouth was and told me ‘When you want to get out, there is a job for you’.
His return to Australia also marked a change of role from engine development to engineering at HMO Customer Racing, which continues to be one of the leading teams in Supercheap Auto TCR Australia competition.
“At the moment I’m the chief engineer here and I’m doing chassis,” Benson said. That’s quite satisfying but there is not a lot of scope for adjustments.
“I’m also engineering Josh Buchan and he is really, really good. I think he could go a long way.
“It’s good work, and Barry is a really, really good guy.
This season HMO Customer Racing expanded to three full-time entries as rising star Bailey Sweeny joined Buchan and Nathan Morcom.
Sweeny took a dominant maiden victory at Bathurst, while Buchan is sixth and Morcom 13th in the title fight.
To read more on Benson’s remarkable motorsport journey, pick up the latest issue of Auto Action at your local outlet or CLICK HERE to access it online.
The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series headlines the third round of the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships where fellow Australian Racing Group categories the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship, Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters and Turtle Wax Trans Am Series feature at Sydney Motorsport Park on May 27-29.
Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, the Australian Production Car Series, Radical Cup and the Australian Prototype Series complete a stacked program of categories.
CLICK HERE to secure your tickets.
All the action can be viewed live and uninterrupted on Stan Sport, while a highlights package will be broadcast after the event on 9Gem (times to be advised).