The final driver for the inaugural TCR Australia season opener has been revealed as Aaron Campbell, with the 19-year-old joining the grid in a Volkswagen Golf GTi entered by Melbourne Performance Centre.
Campbell, 19, is the 17th driver to be confirmed for the first-ever round of the new Australian tin-top series, partnering up with Dutchman Rik Breukers at the team, which will run one Golf and one Audi RS3 LMS.
Campbell is the reigning Australian KZ2 Karting Champion, and he has also competed in Formula Ford, Super Utes and the Toyota GT86 Racing Series.
He is one of a select few Australian racing drivers to have experience of TCR machinery ahead of the opening round, having raced an Audi RS3 LMS TCR in the Creventic 24-Hour endurance races in Barcelona and Dubai last year.
“It’s great to be confirmed for the first round of the TCR Australia Series at Sydney Motorsport Park,” said Campbell. “As it turns out I’m the last name to be confirmed to do it so I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’ve driven the cars already at the test day and at a couple of 24 Hour races overseas, and I absolutely love the front-wheel drive aspect of these cars.
“I’m only 19 years old but I have a fair bit of racing experience already. I’m the current KZ2 Karting national champion, and previously raced Super Utes and the Toyota 86 Racing Series, so a nice variety of cars I’ve driven before stepping into the TCR Australia Series.
“I’ve done two Creventic 24 Hour races with MARC Cars Australia at Barcelona and Dubai, and it was great to share the car with some skilled racers and learn off them.
“These cars were great to drive for 24 Hour races and I’m sure they’ll be awesome in the sprint format as well.
“My expectation for the weekend is to try and stay out of trouble, we don’t know what the racing is going to be like in a sprint format here, but if we can get into a top five or a podium position by the end of the weekend that would be great.”
Matt Braid, Director of series promoter Australian Racing Group, is pleased to see a healthy grid taking shape for the start of the new series.
“It is fantastic to see 17 cars ready and revved up for the opening round of TCR Australia,” said Braid.
“I’ve had a lot of experience with putting together big motoring and motorsport programs, but this is the most satisfying, especially seeing the Australian racing public embrace this new class with such enthusiasm.
“We have a great array of cars. Eight different brands, some serious teams and real talented drivers. This is a new style of touring car racing for Australia, but it’s one that no one is going to want to miss.”
The inaugural round of the TCR Australia series gets underway at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend.