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WILSON TRANS-TASMAN CHALLENGE TO IGNITE SUPERCHEAP AUTO BATHURST 1000
MORE THAN 50 of the most spectacular muscle cars from Australia and New Zealand will be one of the highlights of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 event this October 6-9 at Mount Panorama.
A collaboration between Touring Car Masters New Zealand’s Central Muscle Cars series and with the full support of event promoters Supercars the Wilson Trans-Tasman Challenge will see the Bathurst grid filled with 600-plus horsepower muscle cars from both sides of the Tasman.
Cars from Australia’s Touring Car Masters (TCM) series will be joined by more than 25 entries from New Zealand’s Central Muscle Cars (CMC) Series to offer fans a spectacular show of classic racing machinery from the early 1960s to late 1970s / early 1980s.
The Wilson Group will be the major sponsor for the event supported by long-term TCM sponsors Shannons Insurance Rare Spares Total Lubricants Hoosier Tyres and Waeco Fridges.
It is set to be one of the largest grids of purely V8 (and selected six-cylinder) muscle cars assembled on the Mountain in years.
The bumper field will contest three races across the October 6-9 weekend including a preliminary race on Friday and a Trophy Race on Saturday prior to the Supercars Top-10 shootout.
Sunday morning will feature the main event – the Wilson Trans-Tasman Challenge where the 25-plus cars from each series will line up side by side for a stunning rolling start on the mountain.
The New Zealand contingent will be made up of 25 Central Muscle Cars representing both of their classes.
Touring Car Masters competitors are already looking forward to their moment in the spotlight at Australia’s most famous circuit.ÂÂ
“The cars will be the stars and we will have a collection of race cars never assembled together before in this number†Touring Car Masters category manager Tony Hunter said.
“The Sunday Wilson Trans-Tasman challenge race could be one of the best sights ever seen on the Mountain with Touring Car Masters cars on one side of the grid and Central Muscle cars lined up on the other for an incredible rolling start.. there will be thunder in the hills!
“For many drivers racing at or in the Bathurst 1000 is a dream so for a lot of people this will be a pinnacle event of their racing careers.
“We are very thankful to the Wilson Group for supporting what is set to be one of the most incredible fields of Muscle Cars in Australian history.â€Â
Visiting Central Muscle Cars include the Group 1 Falcon XD driven by Dean Perkins the Group 2 champion in Steve Noyer (Shelby Mustang) and former Group 2 champion Dr. John Elliot’s Torana GT-R XU1.
Tony Galbraith will also bring his fire-breathing V8-powred Chrysler Charger to the Mountain to put on a show for Chrysler fans. ÂÂ
More details including technical details relating to each class will be released ahead of the October 6-9 event.
ENTRY LIST – WILSON TRANS TASMAN CHALLENGE
| TOURING CAR MASTERS |  | CENTRAL MUSCLE CARS | ||
| Jim Richards | AMC Javelin |  | Tristan Teki | Chevrolet Camaro |
| John Bowe | Holden Torana |  | Anthony Galbraith | Chrysler Charger |
| Glenn Seton | Ford Mustang |  | Dean Perkins | Ford Falcon |
| Tony Hunter | Chevrolet Monza |  | Steven Ross | Holden Commodore |
| Andrew Fisher | Ford Falcon |  | Andrew Turner | Holden Commodore |
| Tony Karanfilovski | Ford Mustang |  | John Elliot | Holden Torana |
| Keith Kassulke | Holden Monaro |  | Greg Cuttance | Ford Falcon |
| Adam Bressington | Chevrolet Camaro |  | Sean Fowler | Holden torana |
| Mark King | Chevrolet Camaro |  | Stephen Noyer | Ford Mustang |
| Leo Tobin | Ford Mustang |  | Mark Holland | Chevrolet Camaro |
| Wayne Mercer | Ford Falcon |  | Bruce Anderson | Ford Mustang |
| Rusty French | Ford Mustang |  | Cameron Crawford | Ford Falcon |
| John Roberts | Chevrolet Camaro |  | Murray Graham | Holden Torana |
| Grant Wilson | Chevrolet Camaro |  | Michael Eden | Ford Falcon |
| Jason Gomersall | Holden Torana |  | Calvin Andrew | Holden Commodore |
| Brett Youlden | Holden Monaro |  | Stephen Scoles | Chevrolet Camaro |
| Blu Cannon | Ford Falcon |  | Grant Dalton | Chevrolet Camaro |
| Al ‘Cusso’ Boughen | Mercury Comet |  | Anthony Barrow | Holden Commodore |
| Greg Garwood | Ford Capri |  | Colin Meadows | Chevrolet Camaro |
| Adam Garwood | Holden Torana |  | John Midgley | Ford Falcon |
| Eddie Abelnica | Ford Falcon |  | David Hopper | Chevrolet Camaro |
| Cameron Tilley | Valliant Pacer |  | Brendan Mason | Chevrolet Camaro |
| TBC | Chrysler Charger |  | Steven Hildred | Holden Monaro |
| Nigel Benson  | Holden Monaro |  | Gregory Holden  | Ford Falcon |
| Paul Freestone | Chevrolet Camaro |  | Duane Ingley | Dodge Challenger |
| Darren Beale | Holden Monaro |  | Roderick Hayman | Pontiac Firebird |
| Steven Johnson | Ford Falcon |  |  |  |
| Garry O’Brien | Holden Monaro |  |  |  |