TCR is set to expand even further in 2019 with the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) signing a five-year agreement for the development of a TCR Australia touring car series.
There have been no international rules adopted for touring car racing in Australia since the 1990s, when Super Touring had a foothold all over the world.
Since then, Australian touring car racing has forced its own path, but the introduction of TCR looks set to allow the country to jump on board with the global concept.
“This is an exciting development for Australian motor sport,” explained Eugene Arocca, CEO of CAMS. “TCR will provide the opportunity for affordable-cost, competitive action in cars that are direct derivatives of popular road going cars.
“We are looking forward to working with manufacturers and competitors to ensure the success of this category. The worldwide interest in TCR has been very encouraging and we anticipate that the competitive Australian car buying market will see a number of manufacturers support the category.
“We are now inviting expressions of interest from relevant parties in regard to the promotion of the TCR Australia series through a commercial management agreement. Anyone interested in finding out more should head to cams.com.au.”
Marcello Lotti, CEO of TCR parent company WSC, believes that the educated motorsport fans in Australia will soon get behind the TC concept on their own soil.
“We are absolutely delighted,” added Lotti. “The deal with CAMS, which is the driving force behind the success of Australian motor sport, adds a fourth continent to those – Europe, Asia and the Americas – where TCR series have already been established.
“This is also a great challenge, because touring car racing is hugely popular in Australia and the local motor sport fans are enthusiastic and competent. We are confident that they will soon learn to love TCR just as has happened with their fellow fans across the rest of the world.”