August 19, 2015 | General

TASSIE TEENAGE TEARAWAY TO TASTE TCM

TASSIE TEENAGER Adam Garwood will join the ENZED Touring Car Masters series for the remainder of the 2015 season becoming the youngest driver on the grid by some margin in the process.

The 16-year-old from Launceston will race at Muscle Car Masters Bathurst and Phillip Island in a Holden Torana SL/R 5000 owned by Sunliner’s Tony Hunter.

The first-year mechanic at Launceston’s Neil Buckby Motors currently leads the three-round Sports GT series that has supported selected V8 Supercar rounds this season.

Racing a Porsche GT3 Cup Car the second-generation racer (his father Greg also races) battled current TCM racer Rusty French for outright honours in the most recent Sports GT round at Queensland Raceway.

“People all over the country love these cars they are loud and fast and most people seem to be able to relate to them” Garwood explained.

“I have been racing the Porsche which is a great car but most people seem to love the noise and close racing of these big V8s.

“Racing in the Touring Car Masters at Bathurst – against some of the biggest names in Australian motorsport names I grew up watching and reading about – will be both an honour and massive challenge but I am excited to get the opportunity and I just can’t wait to hit the track.â€Â

At 16 Garwood will be the youngest ever to race in TCM and will also showcase a signficant age difference between the youngest and oldest on the grid.

With Rusty French a youthful 72 years young there will be 56 years between the pair when they take the starter at Sydney Motorsport Park in three weeks time.

Garwood says this year’s three-round trip into TCM will likely set up a full campaign in 2016.

“Doing 3 rounds in the Torana this year will hopefully give me a good chance to do well in next year’s series but I also hope to do a good job in both cars to thank everyone who has helped me during the yearâ€Â’ he explained.

“I can’t thank my parents and crew enough for everything they do for me and I also need to thank Tony Hunter and his team at Sunliner for making the Torana available it’s basically a new car and I can’t wait to drive it.â€Â

The Tony Hunter-owned Torana is yet to race in TCM and will – along with its new young driver – make its racing debut at Muscle Car Masters this September 4-6.