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Tufflift Racing Expands to Two Cars for the 2024 Season
Tufflift Racing has revealed that it will take a huge leap forward and expand to two cars for the 2024 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series season.
Along with announcing their continued support of current driver Zac Soutar, Tufflift Racing has also confirmed that Indonesian driver Glenn Nirwan will join the team in a second Gen 2 Audi RS3 LMS TCR touring car for this season.
Nirwan is a hugely successful racer in his home country of Indonesia. Hailing from Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Nirwan competed with great success in National rally events for many years, before switching his focus over to circuit racing at the beginning of last season.
In 2023 Nirwan was triumphant in the Indonesian ITCR 3600 Max National championship aboard an Audi RS3 LMS TCR Car, meaning that he is no stranger to Audi TCR equipment. This season, Nirwan will pilot the same Audi that Will Brown drove to two Kumho TCR World Tour victories at Sydney Motorsport Park in 2023.
Soutar, who was the first driver to win a race as a privateer entry in 2022, will be hoping to take what was learned about the team’s new Audi last season and turn it into a fully fledged championship assault in 2024. The #110 Tufflift Racing Audi managed to bring home five podium place finishes last season, demonstrating the potential that both the car and driver have. However, reliability and consistency will be the focus this season to ensure that the team is in the championship hunt come the final round at Bathurst in November.
For the first round at Sandown at the beginning of February, Melbourne Performance Centre will run Nirwan in the second Tufflift Racing Audi. For round two onwards, Indonesia’s BRM Motorsport will take over the operation of the car during race weekends whilst working closely with Melbourne Performance Centre and Team Soutar Motorsport.
Round one takes place at Sandown Raceway from February 9-11, as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries. All the action will be live and free on the Seven Network.
Tickets can be purchased via motorsporttickets.com.au
Quotes:
Zac Soutar – Driver – Tufflift Racing
“I’m hugely excited not only to announce the continuation of Tufflift Hoist’s support of myself and my racing endeavours, but to also welcome Glenn Nirwan to the Tufflift Racing family,” said Soutar.
“It’s an absolute dream come true to be a part of a two-car team, and I can’t wait to get to Sandown and see two identical Tufflift Racing Audi’s lining up on the grid. It will definitely be a surreal moment for everyone involved.
“Glenn is definitely a very capable driver with a great motorsport history back home in Indonesia. I’m sure that we’re going to have a very successful year together whilst having a lot of fun. Let’s get after it,” concluded Soutar.
Glenn Nirwan – Driver – Tufflift Racing
“Driving in Australia has been my dream. I was surprised and honoured when Team Soutar Motorsport approached me at the end of last season to join forces,” said Nirwan.
“There is no target for this year, its more to get my feet wet. All the circuits here are new to me, so nothing too crazy. Will just keep my head straight, adapt as fast as I can, learn from my teammate, I’m very lucky to have Zac as my teammate. He is a very experienced driver, there is a lot I can learn from him I’m sure.
“I used to live in Brisbane for 12 years, so this feels like coming back home to be honest,” said Soutar.