TCR Australia 2024

[one five five]

New broadcast deal announced today, free live stream on 7+plus plus some FTA content on 7mate. Cue the same people who complained about STAN now complaining about ad breaks or that 7+ is too hard to find…….

Given the narrative that the STAN deal was holding back the class and putting off competitors, I would assume there will be a full grid for Rd1 at Sandown on February 10-11.

Who will be in the cars?

HMO Hyundai - Buchan, Sweeney? Third Car? Another Elantra to come out?

Wall Racing - D’Alberto to stay with the new car? Harris brothers for a full season?

GRM - Four Peugeots presumably again? Cameron? Cox? Bargwanna? Garland?

ASM - Olyphant was on a two year deal wasnt he? Up-spec’d Lynk or the same old one?

MPC - Audi’s to continue? Will Brown allowed by T8 to compete? Seuter owns his car correct? What about McDougal?

Cupra - Presumably Carl Cox Motorsport with Clemente does another season in the relatively new car?

Any other new cars rumoured?
Any other new drivers rumoured? Clay Richards?

What about the likes of Luke King & Jay Hanson who’ve seemingly disappeared into Carrera Cup and Super2 oblivion since they left?

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by one five five

New broadcast deal announced today, free live stream on 7+plus plus some FTA content on 7mate. Cue the same people who complained about STAN now complaining about ad breaks or that 7+ is too hard to find…….

Given the narrative that the STAN deal was holding back the class and putting off competitors, I would assume there will be a full grid for Rd1 at Sandown on February 10-11.

Who will be in the cars?

HMO Hyundai - Buchan, Sweeney? Third Car? Another Elantra to come out?

Wall Racing - D’Alberto to stay with the new car? Harris brothers for a full season?

GRM - Four Peugeots presumably again? Cameron? Cox? Bargwanna? Garland?

ASM - Olyphant was on a two year deal wasnt he? Up-spec’d Lynk or the same old one?

MPC - Audi’s to continue? Will Brown allowed by T8 to compete? Seuter owns his car correct? What about McDougal?

Cupra - Presumably Carl Cox Motorsport with Clemente does another season in the relatively new car?

Any other new cars rumoured?
Any other new drivers rumoured? Clay Richards?

What about the likes of Luke King & Jay Hanson who’ve seemingly disappeared into Carrera Cup and Super2 oblivion since they left?

I’m not sure that narrative was thought by anyone to be the main reason.Although Stan didn’t help.
The main reason it has fallen away is that since Mr PAYCE took the pot of gold away the money just isn’t there.
Also there will actually be less FTA broadcast TV next year.In 2023 there were 3 hours each round on 9.For all but 2 or 3 rounds next year the coverage will only be on 7’s streaming platform.Good if you are committed to watching it but out of sight for the casual viewer.Same arrangement and probable profile as the Trophy series this year.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by Alan52

I’m not sure that narrative was thought by anyone to be the main reason.

It was literally the reason that the likes of speedcafe and V8Sleuth kept trotting out as the reason for the SpeedSeries not going well, week after week.

[Umai Naa]

Meanwhile, Mr D'alberto has confirmed he'll line up in the FL5 Civic, with Honda money.

[Umai Naa]

The Hall brothers are also back.

The family has acquired the FL5 Civic Mr Girolami ran during the Australian leg of the World Tour.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

The Hall brothers are also back.

The family has acquired the FL5 Civic Mr Girolami ran during the Australian leg of the World Tour.

Harris?

[one five five]

99 Motorsport are in top with the ex-Mostert/Brown Audi, second car mooted too, assuming a fellow Audi

GRM are working on new model Peugeots

[Umai Naa]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Harris?

Yes, my bad.

[GTRMagic]

A View of TCRA

[Umai Naa]

The author has undersold the angst among the teams, from what I'm learning.

Perhaps, if the fixed operating costs weren't so allegedly high, then maybe a Super2 budget isn't required to rent a TCR car?

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Perhaps, if the fixed operating costs weren't so allegedly high, then maybe a Super2 budget isn't required to rent a TCR car?

This has been the issue, with no funds from racing going to any teams, the costs to lease is completely out of step with the exposure generated pushing talent to PCC, TA2, Super2/3 etc.

Meanwhile ARG blames Supercars for their talent moving to those categories for licensing reasons.

[Mixer]

Josh Buchan and Hyundai back for 2 years:
https://tcraustralia.com/2024/01/18/...SM1CyckCV1eVlo

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Mixer

Nobody is going to pay to advertise a boring grocery getter that isn't even a volume seller anymore.

People do however pay money to promote their brand via aspirational cars like the Mustang and Camaro because people ASPIRE to own them.

You'd be surprised how many people aspire to own mildly souped-up grocery getters like the Volkswagen Golf R or Audi A3 RS3, even though they aren't that interesting.

[The Hyundai i30 N sedan is also proving popular for its value for money among (largely) new members to the club of Hyundai enthusiasts.]

TBH I don't think cars like the Mustang or Camaro are on the radar of VW Audi enthusiasts, nor necessarily to Hyundai enthusiasts buying i30 Ns either. The Audi RS5 was probably the closest thing in the VW Audi space back when that had a V8, but that was years ago. Hyundai used to have a Genesis V6 coupe which was similar to a V6 Mustang or V6 Camaro, but this was never offered in Australia.

In any case, the old Mustang Shelby GT350R was lovely, but I have no interest in the new Mustang GT as there is no steering feel and the suspension is too soft (much like the aforementioned Golf R and Audi RS3). It would be nice if Ford would bring out more of a honed version again and less of a cruiser, but we need to wait and see on that I guess.

Steering feel and handling was something that Chevrolet definitely got right on the Camaro. If only Ford would let the engineers have final say like Chevrolet do, instead of giving priority to requests for "less steering effort" and "a softer ride" from customer focus groups! But then the Camaro didn't have the rental car market like the Mustang did and still does, so that's why it doesn't exist anymore (aside from possible buyers who were also put off by the claustrophobic cabin styling).

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

You'd be surprised how many people aspire to own mildly souped-up grocery getters like the Volkswagen Golf R or Audi A3 RS3, even though they aren't that interesting.

<irrelevant blahblah removed>

None of these cars are in the top 10 in national sales. Some of them don't even have a future.

Those things are also in TCR, which also has a questionable future - they moved to eTCR, fragmenting their manufacturer ranks - I enjoyed the racing actually but it's already dead.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

You'd be surprised how many people aspire to own mildly souped-up grocery getters like the Volkswagen Golf R or Audi A3 RS3, even though they aren't that interesting.

[...]

In any case, the old Mustang Shelby GT350R was lovely,

I'm interested to see that a 5-cyl 2.5L car generating 401hp is considered 'mildly souped-up', but a 5L car generating 526hp is 'lovely'.

Out of curiosity, have you ever driven an RS3 to understand how hard / soft the suspension is?

[Mixer]

I live in Sydney and I would describe the RS3 ride as unbearable.

It's why the RSQ3 exists... Imagine that

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I'm interested to see that a 5-cyl 2.5L car generating 401hp is considered 'mildly souped-up', but a 5L car generating 526hp is 'lovely'.

Out of curiosity, have you ever driven an RS3 to understand how hard / soft the suspension is?

I have not. I understand it is very soft compared to cars I like, like the Civic Type R and Megane RS Trophy, but if the transient response and body control is equivalent to those feel free to correct me!

Look at the roll (and listen to the tyres) when compared to the Civic, how is that not soft, am I missing something?
Audi RS3 L'Argus test
Civic Type R LE L'Argus test

I like hoppy/darty and eager to turn. Remember the old Super Tourers? So fun!

The Civic has that classic hoppiness/overdamping which just makes things fun! Eager to turn!

Originally Posted by Mixer

I live in Sydney and I would describe the RS3 ride as unbearable.

I don't understand how people like numb steering and soft sidewall tyres.

The road is perfectly smooth? You don't feel anything.
The road is bumpy? You still don't feel anything.

Perfect for a Buick Park Avenue, but for cars that are meant to be fun it makes everything the same, I'm not a fan.

[one five five]

Olyphant has moved from ASM to HMO.

Where’s Sweeney going? His website says he’s running with HMO in TCR in 2024, but also says his plans will be announced shortly…..confusing?
Any truth to rumours that he felt the team favoured Buchan over him? One rumour even suggested a second hand turbo was used at Bathurst?

Who’s driving the Lynk & Co, or are ASM and the car gone?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by one five five

Olyphant has moved from ASM to HMO.

Where’s Sweeney going? His website says he’s running with HMO in TCR in 2024, but also says his plans will be announced shortly…..confusing?
Any truth to rumours that he felt the team favoured Buchan over him? One rumour even suggested a second hand turbo was used at Bathurst?

Who’s driving the Lynk & Co, or are ASM and the car gone?

Wasn’t the championship winner in a current shape car, and Mr Sweeney in the prior model?

[one five five]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Wasn’t the championship winner in a current shape car, and Mr Sweeney in the prior model?

Correct.

Though I’ve never established it the reason Sweeney was in the old model was because they couldn’t afford two new models, or because Hyundai wanted them to keep advertising the hatch model alongside the sedan?

[GTRMagic]

Mr Clemente Out!

[GTRMagic]

[Umai Naa]

What happened to Mr Clemente's Cupra backing?

[Umai Naa]

Current entries:

Wall Racing -

Tony D'Alberto Civic FL5
Brad Harris Civic FL5
Will Harris Civic FK7

HMO -

Josh Buchan Elantra N
Tom Oliphant i30N

99 Motorsport -

Marcus LaDelle Audi RS3

Team Soutar -

Zac Soutar Audi RS3
Glenn Nirwan Audi RS3

GRM -

Aaron Cameron Peugeot 308
Ryan Casha Peugeot 308
Ben Bargwanna Peugeot 308

[one five five]

Presumably Cox in the fourth GRM Peugeot and someone in the ASM Lynk will be added

I’d assume any new entries would have been announced by now

The 7plus effect must be a long game…..