News

March 20, 2015 | General

TOURING CAR MASTERS TO DELIVER THE TASSIE TOUCH FOR SYMMONS FANS

THERE WILL BE a strong Tasmanian flavour on and off the grid when the ENZED Touring Car Masters return to Symmons Plains Raceway for the first time in five years this March 27-29.

The Shannons Tasmania Tourist Trophy will be the major support category to the V8 Supercars Tyrepower Tasmania Challenge and the series has gone all out to ensure local race fans are given the best possible show for the series return to the circuit just outside of Launceston.

TCM organisers have confirmed a 25-car field that includes a strong Tassie contingent including local hero Greg Crick and Targa Tasmania’s most successful ever competitor Jim Richards.

Two local Historic Touring Car competitors John Talbot (Ford Mustang) Leon Bell (Holden Monaro) and Darren Pearce (Camaro) will also join the field that features 25 classic muscle and sports cars from the ‘64-‘76 era.

Tassie fans will also get more on-track action than ever before with a special non-championship TCM race to close proceedings on Sunday afternoon once the V8 Supercars have finished.

The series is also pleased to confirm that iconic Tasmanian race commentator Barry Oliver for years the voice of the V8 Supercars on-track will commentate the racing for the trackside audience.

Though local hero John Bowe will be forced to miss the round due to existing commitments with a key sponsor elsewhere he has confirmed that his famous No. 18 Ford Mustang will race in Tasmania with a yet-to-be announced ‘high-profile’ driver behind the wheel.

Bowe will confirm the replacement driver early next week though the two-time TCM champion said the car would continue to compete at the front of the field.

The field doesn’t lack for star power however with Glenn Seton (Ford Mustang) making his return to Symmons Plains aboard the Thunder Road Racing Ford Mustang and Round 1 winner Andrew Miedecke confirmed to continue his championship challenge in his Whiteline Racing Chevrolet Camaro SS.

Though now based in Port Macquarie Miedecke grew up in Launceston and with no racing on the NSW Central Coast near his current home will likely consider this visit to Symmons Plains something of a racing homecoming.

Miedecke is one of three former Targa winners competing on the TCM grid his 1994 victory neatly sitting between Greg Crick’s back-to-back successes and the beginning of Jim Richards’ domination of the event from 1996.

Tasmanian identity Crick will likely be the fan favourite of the entire V8 Supercars weekend the double Targa winner remaining fiercely proud of his Tassie motorsport heritage.

His MOPAR-sponsored Chrysler Charger E55 has been one of the series’ frontrunners since his return to racing mid last season and will undoubtedly enjoy Symmons Plains’ long straights.

Next weekend will mark just the third ever visit to Symmons Pains for the Touring Car Masters field – and the first since 2010.

The last time the series visited Symmons Plains John Bowe scored pole position and two race victories on his way to the overall round victory.

The series also raced at the circuit near Launceston in 2007 and 2008 both times seeing Gavin Bullas triumph.

Bullas a two-time TCM champion has returned to the championship this year in a rebuilt 1970 Ford Mustang Trans Am after several seasons of only part-time competition and finished second in the Pro Master class in Adelaide earlier this month. 

After the opening round of the 2015 series in Adelaide Andrew Miedecke (Pro Master) Valliant Pacer driver Cameron Tilley (Valliant Pacer) and Chevrolet Monza driver Tony Hunter (Pro Sports) lead the three respective TCM classes.

Every session from Symmons Plains will be shown LIVE on FOX SPORTS across the weekend – check your local guides for broadcast details.

ENZED TOURING CAR MASTERS – SHANNONS TASMANIA TOURIST TROPHY
ENTRY LIST

  Sponsor Name Driver Name State Year Make Model Colour Cap
2 Shannons Insurance Jim Richards VIC 1972 AMC Javelin Grey/Green 5890cc
5 Light Car Club of Tasmania John Talbot TAS 1968 Ford Mustang Coupe Blue/Yellow 4992cc
7 Mick Webb’s SVO / calga.biz Bill Pye NSW 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Orange 5800cc
9 Jesus Racing Andrew Fisher NSW 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Grey/Red 5800cc
10 Sunliner RV Tony Hunter VIC 1971 Chevrolet Monza 2+2 White/Black 5000cc
11 Lion Mill Solutions/Ultra Performance Products Tony Edwards VIC 1973 Ford Falcon XA GT Violet 5768cc
16 Rain City Industries/Prodrive Racing Australia Gavin Bullas VIC 1970 Ford Boss Mustang Black 5800cc
18 Dunlop Super Dealers/Wilson Security Steven Johnson QLD 1969 Ford Mustang Trans Am Blue/Yellow 5800cc
20 Palmer Promotions Ian Palmer QLD 1970 Pontiac Trans-Am White/Blue 5800cc
25 Freestones Transport/Freestones Roadhaven Paul Freestone VIC 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS Blue 5800cc
30 Thunder Road Racing Australia Glenn Seton  QLD 1964 Ford Mustang Coupe Black/Gold 5000cc
35 iseek Racing  Jason Gomersall QLD 1974 Holden  Torana SL/R 5000 White/Blue 5047cc
38 Shearwater Storage/Penrite Oils Leon Bell TAS 1972 Holden  HQ Monaro Coupe Orange 5800cc
46 THD Motorsport Leo Tobin VIC 1969 Ford Boss Mustang Orange 5000cc
48 Melbournes Cheapest Cars Eddie Abelnica VIC 1974 Ford Falcon XB Coupe Red 5800cc
52 Outbound Racing / wheels.com.pg Keith Kassulke QLD 1974 Ford Falcon XB Coupe Blue/Silver 5800cc
56 Autolite Spark Plugs Brett Youlden VIC 1972 Holden  HQ Monaro Coupe Green 5800cc
60 Glennan’s Transport Cameron Tilley NSW 1969 Valiant Pacer Blue 4390cc
69 Kingston Locksmiths Darren Pearce TAS 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Yellow 5800cc
72 BMR Industries Bruce McLeod NT 1973 Ford Falcon XA Superbird Blue 5550cc
74 Mick Webb’s SVO / Lyndways Builders Wayne Mercer VIC 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Blue 5800cc
75 Mopar Performance Greg Crick TAS 1973 Chrysler Charger E55 Black/Blue 5570cc
85 Whiteline Transport Racing / King Springs Mark King QLD 1970 Chevrolet Camaro RS Red/Black/White 5800cc
88 TIFS – Warehousing & Distribution Tony Karanfilovski NSW 1969 Ford Mustang Trans Am Orange 5800cc
95 Whiteline Transport Racing / Lubrimaxx Andrew Miedecke NSW 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS Black/Blue 5800cc