News
Experienced broadcasters to host TCR’s inaugural season
Greg Rust and Aaron Noonan have been confirmed as the hosts of both the free-to-air broadcast and live stream for the TCR Australia Series.
Available on Australian free-to-air broadcaster SBS in HD, the live stream will also be available globally via the TCR Australia and Shannons Nationals website.
Rust and Noonan will also act as co-hosts of the Shannons Nationals live stream.
The duo will be joined by Emma Notarfranceso and Cameron van den Dungen in pit lane throughout the Shannons Nationals in 2019.
Both Noonan and Rust are no strangers to broadcasting, having commentated and hosted a significant number of motor sport events in recent years and share a passion for the sport that is evident in the dedication to their craft.
The duo will make their debut at the opening round of the Shannons Nationals and TCR Australia Series at Sydney Motorsport Park on 18-19 May.
SBS’s coverage of TCR will begin on Saturday, 18 May at 2pm, with one race to feature on the one hour show on Saturday, while Sunday’s broadcast will showcase two back-to-back races and run from 1pm – 3pm on 19 May.
The Shannons Nationals live stream will be available to view on thenationals.com.au and tcraustralia.com, with a stream all day on both Saturday and Sunday.
QUOTES:
Greg Rust
TCR Australia commentator
“I had so much fun working on the Shannons National’s live stream last year. It was just good to do something fresh. With TCR joining the line-up and coverage on SBS 2019 is going to be a ripper year,” said Greg Rust.
“It kind of takes me back to where it all began. My first proper TV job was with SBS in the mid ’90s. And it has a little of a Super Touring vibe about it. I loved working on that series too. Different makes, drivers and teams from various motor sport backgrounds and a brilliant broadcast team. Plus I’ve seen TCR up close in Singapore when I’ve covered the F1 race there – it’s fantastic that it’s coming down under.
“The whole Shannons team’s passion will permeate the coverage of the Shannons Nationals. The producers did a brilliant job last year breaking the mould on various things which really enhanced the broadcast and the Shannons National’s categories all benefited from that. I love working ‘the lane’ and that won’t change on race day but I’m really excited to join my buddy ‘Noonz’ in commentary for TCR. His preparation is second to none and we both plan to make this fun. That’s my mantra these days.”
Aaron Noonan
TCR Australia commentator
“I’m really excited about the TCR Australia Series and bringing the action to fans around the country, mainly due to the simple fact it’s an all-new series that is absolutely impossible to predict – there’s no form guide or runs on the board yet,” said Aaron Noonan.
“There’s a whole fleet of cars brand new to the country, a range of well-credentialed drivers that will be adapting to them and a great blend of makes and models – it’s those elements that see me keen to get to Sydney for Round 1 and see who stacks up where.
“It’s sadly often overlooked, but Australia has a great history of small capacity touring car racing. From the Minis and Cortinas winning outright at Bathurst in the ‘60s to the Corollas that dominated Group A class racing in the ‘80s and early ‘90s and the amazing era of Super Touring in the mid to late ‘90s, TCR Australia is the next chapter of that history.
“The opportunity to link up with ‘Rusty’ to call the action on SBS is one that has taken nearly 20 years to come together. We have rarely worked on air together given we were on different broadcasters but on the very rare occasions where we have worked together, we’ve had a ball. And that’s what we’ll be doing with TCR and the Shannons Nationals this year. Regular TV commentary has been absent from my working world for a few years, so I’m energised and eager to get back into the commentary box and call the TCR Australia action live on SBS and for the live stream.”
Michael Smith
Director, Shannons Nationals
“We are thrilled to welcome back ‘Rusty’ to the Shannons Nationals to be joined by Aaron in the co-host chair after a successful 2018 season saw the Shannons achieve its highest ever audience. We’ve got no doubt there will be even more interest in 2019, with a host of exciting categories, including the debut of the TCR Australia Series,” said Michael Smith.
“Both ‘Noonz’ and ‘Rusty’ are talented broadcasters in their own right – we know together they will make a formidable and entertaining team, along with a highly skilled team working alongside them both on and off camera.”
Matt Braid
Director, Australian Racing Group
“The countdown to the debut of TCR Australia is well and truly on. After a successful test day on Monday at Winton, we are absolutely excited about what is to come,” said Matt Braid.
“There’s no doubt we have a great group of teams, drivers and cars all eager to get on track and show what they can do.
“Having ‘Rusty’ and ‘Noonz’ on board in 2019 as the faces of our broadcast on SBS and the live stream is an exciting development for the category and we know that these two experienced broadcasters will do an excellent job calling all the action, both on the track and in the pits.”