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23 February 2023 | News

Bailey Sweeny tops Kumho TCR tyre test at Symmons Plains Raceway

The Thursday of AWC Race Tasmania hosted the first opportunity for the drivers of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia to sample the new Kumho tyre, with HMO Customer Racing’s Bailey Sweeny setting the pace at the end of the four-hour session.

Sweeny, driving his Hyundai i30 N TCR, set a time of 55.877s to lead last year’s series runner Will Brown in the MPC Team LIQUI MOLY Audi RS3 LMS TCR Gen 2 by a mere 0.023s.

Making his debut in the same model as Brown, privateer Zac Soutar finished the day third on a 55.999s in the Tufflift Racing example ahead of Burson Racing GRM’s Ben Bargwanna, driving his Peugeot 308 TCR.

Fifth was Bargwanna’s stablemate Aaron Cameron in the Valvoline Team GRM Peugeot ahead of teammates Jordan Cox in the Schaeffler 308 TCR and Kody Garland.

Reigning title holder Tony D’Alberto was eighth in his Honda Wall Racing Civic Type R TCR from Carl Cox Motorsport Audi RS3 LMS TCR Gen 1 of Michael Clemente as the similar Challenge Motorsport model of Iain McDougall rounded out the top 10.

Long runs were completed by the majority of the field as the drivers came to grips with the new control Kumhos tyres, which have been introduced this season and ensure Supercheap Auto TCR Australia is aligned with many of the top TCR categories in the world led by the TCR World Tour.

Practice begins tomorrow at AWC Race Tasmania at 12:10pm ahead of a second session at 3pm.

CLICK HERE for tickets.

All of the racing action can be seen live and ad-break free on Stan Sport, plus free-to-air coverage on 9GEM on Saturday, February 25 from 2-5pm.

Josh Buchan
HMO Customer Racing, Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR

“The new Kumho tyres were excellent,” Buchan said.

“We haven’t really had to adjust the car too much to be honest, we basically bolted the Kumhos on and away we went.

“The life of the tyre is very good. In the past, we’ve maybe had to conserve tyres possibly a little bit more, whereas now I know other drivers have completed 60 laps and they are still good to go.

“It’ll make for good racing as we can push harder for the race’s duration.”

Watch raw sights and sounds of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series cars from Symmons Plains today.