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

ÂÂ	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 SetonÂÂ	QLD	1964	Ford	Mustang Coupe	Black/Gold	5000cc
35	iseek RacingÂÂ	Jason Gomersall	QLD	1974	HoldenÂÂ	Torana SL/R 5000	White/Blue	5047cc
38	Shearwater Storage/Penrite Oils	Leon Bell	TAS	1972	HoldenÂÂ	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	HoldenÂÂ	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