27 October 2023 |

Last time in Sydney

Anticipation is continuing to build ahead of the Kumho TCR World Tour round at Sydney Motorsport Park next weekend, the first stop for the Shannons SpeedSeries international double-header.

Four exciting categories will go head-to-head across two jam-packed days of action, including TCR World Tour and Supercheap Auto TCR Australia, National Trans Am Series, Workhorse Radical Cup Australia and Series X3 NSW.

Tickets can be purchased at motorsporttickets.com.au

Three of the four categories will be making their return to Sydney Motorsport Park with the Shannons SpeedSeries after a fantastic rendition of the event in 2022, where a total of eight national categories continued their respective campaigns.

More than 16,500 fans entered the gates for the thrilling weekend taking place in May, in contrast to this year’s November meeting.

Supercheap Auto TCR Australia put on a show under the lights and delivered three different race winners along the way, with HMO Customer racing finding themselves in familiar winning territory.

It was an emphatic Saturday performance for Josh Buchan after the hometown-hero won the opening race of the weekend in dominant fashion, leading from start to finish after claiming pole position earlier on in the day.

However, it was his teammate, Nathan Morcom, who would have the last laugh after a race three victory ensured he would walk away as the round winner, with extra thanks to a higher place finish in the reverse grid race two, which was won by Jay Hanson.

In similar fashion, Nathan Herne was the driver to beat in the early stages of the weekend for the National Trans Am Series – claiming pole position and the first race win of the weekend ahead of Owen Kelly on both occasions.

Despite falling short in the opening outing, Kelly bounced back in race two to take the win in convincing fashion over Ben Grice after Herne suffered mechanical issues.

Herne was able to recover and make up places in the third and final race of the weekend, but would have to settle for second place behind Kelly – who had done enough to claim the round win.

Rounding out the returning categories for the 2023 edition was Workhorse Radical Cup Australia where the eventual 2022 series winner, Chris Perini claimed top honours.

Perini worked his way through the field from fourth on the grid to take the win in race one, earning enough points for the round win despite a fourth-place finish in the second and final race on Sunday.

Closely behind in second place were Peter Paddon and Peter Carr after the duo finished in second and third place respectively in both outings, while rookie Elliot Schutte impressed with third for the weekend.

Although we have to wait until Supercheap Auto Bathurst International to see them again in 2023, there were a number of other entertaining categories on show throughout the entirety of the weekend.

Two Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia title contenders continued their intense battle at the Eastern Creek circuit, as Ryan Wood claimed ultimate bragging rights.

Wood made up the vast majority of his points in an impressive Saturday outing, taking both race wins ahead of rival Tom Sargent.

Sargent would claw his way to the top step of the podium in race two, but it wasn’t enough to take round honours.

The ever-popular Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters was also in action, and it was a weekend to remember for the Tilley family after going one and two for the round.

Two race wins for Cameron Tilley was enough to edge out Jamie Tilley by just four points after the latter took a victory of his own in race one.

It was a solid performance for John Bowe in the Pro Masters class having won all three races for the weekend, while George Miedecke also had cause for celebration after taking out the Trophy Race in an impressive performance that saw him climb 15 places.

 

Another driver who was dominant all weekend long was Aaren Russell, clean sweeping the Mobil 1 Australian Production Car Series round in impressive fashion.

His form was evident early on in the weekend, taking wins in both races one and two ahead of Beric Lynton.

A 300-kilometre enduro race rounded out the weekend for the stacked category, where Aaren would ultimately make it a trio of wins, this time alongside co-driver Wayne Russell.

The two other categories in action were the Australian Prototype Series and S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship.

Both eventual series winners took out the weekend’s action, with Joey Mawson winning two races in S5000 while John Paul Drake claimed his first ever category round win with two race victories of his own.

The 2023 Race Sydney event will take place at Sydney Motorsport Park on 3-4 November and will be the first of two Kumho TCR World Tour rounds down under.

Tickets can be purchased at motorsporttickets.com.au