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‘A Real Privilege’ Buchan Reacts to Second TCR Title
Press Release – Hyundai Australia / HMO Customer Racing
Hyundai driver Josh Buchan made history at Mount Panorama by claiming his second consecutive Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series victory.
The 29-year-old Sydneysider becomes the first two-time winner since the introduction of the TCR category to Australia in 2019, with HMO Customer Racing cementing itself as the most successful team with three titles in five years following Will Brown’s victory in the inaugural season.
Buchan’s weekend started on a high with a dominant performance in the opening practice session, but he struggled to match the front-running pace for the rest of the weekend as his Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR carried the maximum weight penalty.
His points advantage was narrowed in the opening race despite finishing third, and again in the second race when he was demoted behind his title rival following a post-race penalty for jumping the start.
That left an anxious wait to seal the title in the final race around the challenging 6.21km mountain circuit, in which he cruised to a sixth-place finish.
Teammate Tom Oliphant was also a standout weekend with two podium finishes and third outright for the final round in his Hyundai i30 N TCR. The former British Touring Car Championship race winner provided some of the highlights of the weekend; first with a brilliant three-wide pass across the top of the mountain to clinch third in race two, and then a charging drive to challenge for victory in the closing stages of the final race.
Car 1: i30 Sedan N TCR – Josh Buchan
“It’s pretty amazing to back it up and defend the crown by winning this year’s series. I felt quite a lot of pressure to deliver a result for everyone in the team, considering the amount of work they have put in this season. I felt good on Friday and we started really well out of the gate in the first free practice, but it was a struggle to maintain that speed for the rest of the weekend with the weight penalty we were carrying.
“But it’s a massive relief to bring it home, and it’s a real privilege to become the first two-time winner of the TCR Australia Series with consecutive titles.”
Car 15: i30 N TCR – Tom Oliphant
“It’s been a fantastic weekend for me personally and the team. My goal coming into the final round was to really attack the track and drive the mountain properly, and I was one of the fastest cars on track all weekend. The second goal was to try and win a trophy, which I achieved with third in race two.
“That created a new goal in trying to win the last race of the year, and I gave it my all. Honestly, I couldn’t have pushed any more: me and Dylan O’Keefe were putting in qualifying laps there at the end. We were right up against the walls, which I loved. To come away with second, having given it absolutely everything, I am really proud and it’s satisfying to finish the season on a high.
“On top of all that, I am really pleased that Josh won the championship. It was well deserved.”