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14 November 2019 | Featured

Peugeot makes track debut as record TCR Australia field set for The Bend

The new Peugeot 308 TCR car has hit the track for the first time, ready for its Australian debut amongst a record field of 21 cars in the carsales TCR Australia Series at The Bend Motorsport Park this weekend.

French Peugeot factory driver Aurélien Comte was granted permission to do a 10 lap shakedown today, giving him and the DG Sport team the chance to get familiar with the new car and circuit.

The Peugeot entry into TCR Australia is being assisted by Garry Rogers Motorsport, who also run customer programs with the Renault Megane and Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce.

A new driver for the Melbourne Performance Centre Audi team has ensured a record field of 21 cars, with Victorian state-based driver Iain McDougall set to make his national circuit racing debut, driving the #3 Audi RS 3 LMS for the Melbourne Performance Centre squad.

The grid of 21 cars is the most number of cars to compete in the burgeoning carsales TCR Australia Series.

He will driver the silver #3 Audi, formerly raced by Leanne and Garth Tander is selected events.

McDougall, 28, has spent his racing career in production cars and sports sedans, racing for the past two seasons in the former MINI Challenge racers.

The Melbourne-based driver tested one of the MPC Audis two months ago during the category’s evaluation day at Winton, and is using this weekend’s event as a potential launch pad to a full program in 2020.

The TCR Australia field is one of the most diverse in the world of TCR, with 10 different car brands making up the 21 car field including Audi, Alfa Romeo, Cupra, Holden, Honda, Hyundai, Peugeot, Renault, Subaru and Volkswagen.

Two practice sessions will be held on Friday, followed by qualifying nd Race 1 on Saturday and two more races on Sunday.

All three races will be broadcast live, free and in HD on SBS, as well as the live stream coverage available on the TCR Australia website.

Iain McDougall
Driver, Melbourne Performance Centre Audi

“We had a really good day at the evaluation day and I can’t wait to get on track at The Bend,” said Iain McDougall.

“I’ve spent the last few years racing the ex-MINI Challenge cars. They are front wheel drive and it has prepared me extremely well for the TCR Australia cars.

“I felt comfortable at the test, so it was good to have that under my belt before this weekend, but we just want to get a feel for it and demonstrate that we can be competitive.

“We would like to do a full season next year, but we’ll just get through this weekend and see how we fair.”

TCR Australia Round 7 Entry List

Car # Team Driver State  Manufacturer  Model CC Colour
2 Melbourne Performance Centre Aaron Cameron VIC Volkswagen Golf GTI 1984 Red/White
3 Melbourne Performance Centre Iain McDougall VIC Audi RS 3 1984 Silver
7 Garry Rogers Motorsport Jordan Cox NSW Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce 1750 White/Red/Green
8 Taskforce/Melbourne Performance Centre Jason Bright VIC Volkswagen Golf GTI 1984 White/Blue
9 Ashley Seward Motorsport Dylan O’Keeffe VIC Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce 1750 White/Red/Green
10 Ashley Seward Motorsport James Allen VIC Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce 1750 White/Red/Green
11 HMO Customer Racing Nathan Morcom NSW Hyundai I30N 1999 White/Blue
19 Milldun Motorsport Matthew Simmons QLD Subaru WRX STI 1994 White
24 Wall Racing John Martin NSW Honda Civic Type R 1998 White/Red
27 Milldun Motorsport Barton Mawer NSW Subaru WRX STI 1994 White
30 HMO Customer Racing Will Brown QLD Hyundai I30N 1999 White/Blue
33 Garry Rogers Motorsport Chris Pither NZ Renault Megane RS 1800 Yellow/Black
34 Garry Rogers Motorsport James Moffat VIC Renault Megane RS 1800 Yellow/Black
35 Melbourne Performance Centre Alexandra Whitley QLD Volkswagen Golf GTI 1984 White/Blue
37 Kelly Racing Chelsea Angelo VIC Holden Astra 1998 White
50 Wall Racing Tony D’Alberto VIC Honda Civic Type R 1998 White/Red
64 Garage 1 Tim Brook NSW Cupra SEAT León 300 1984 White
97 Melbourne Performance Centre Liam McAdam QLD Audi RS 3 1984 Blue
100 Melbourne Performance Centre Russell Ingall QLD Audi RS 3 1984 Black/Red
308 DG Sport Aurélien Comte FRA Peugeot 308 TCR 1598 White/Black Red
777 Kelly Racing Andre Heimgartner NZ Holden