May 16, 2018 | General

PREVIEW: NEW METAL BUILDS WINTON GRID

A HOST of new cars and drivers will add to the depth of the grid when the Paynter Dixon Touring Car Masters series continues at Winton Raceway this weekend.

Races 7 8 and 9 of the 2018 series plus another thrilling Dometic Trophy Race will feature a near 30-car grid and cars yet to have turned a competitive lap in TCM competition.

A hugely competitive start to the season has seen 2017 title rivals John Bowe and Steven Johnson trade victories this year; Bowe winning in Adelaide before Johnson went to clean-sweep the results in Tasmania last month.

Adam Bressington and Jason Gomersall added their names to the winners roster via victories in the pair of Trophy Races held to date.

Bowe leads Johnson 415 points to 376 heading into a circuit where the Torana has dominated in recent years.

The ever-consistent Cameron Tilley sits third in the championship just 16 behind Johnson while Gomersall and Jim Pollicina complete the top five overall.

Pollicina (ProSports) Tilley (ProAm) and Bowe (ProMasters) lead their respective classes.

Winton marks the competitive racing return of well-known Super 2 series privateer Aaron McGill.

The Sydneysider has recently completed a ground-up rebuild of the ex-Doug Westwood Falcon GTHO once qualified on pole at Bathurst by Glenn Seton.

Complete with the same engine that powered John Bowe and Steven Johnson to multiple TCM race victories when it powered Mustang ‘Sally’ the stunning Falcon is set to debut in McGill’s hands this weekend.

After 10 years and 76 rounds in the Super 2 series McGill says he is ready to face the challenges of a new category after spending time with his growing family and establishing a new business.

“This is chapter one of a new story were not looking to go out and break any records this early on it is a new car new category so for us it’s all about getting it right†he said.  

“We’ve got some new sponsors on board to come along with us on the ride. Lifestyle Investments and APCD Australian Personal Computer Distributorsâ€Â.

“Learning from past experiences and knowing how important the engine is to the foundation of the car we’ve made a heavy investment so that in the long run we can be competitive in the Touring Car Mastersâ€Â.

Joining McGill will be Queenslander Ian Woodward who’s Fataz Racing Chevrolet Camaro SS is a new addition to the grid for the remainder of the season.

The Queenslander who has raced HQ Holdens Sports Sedans and is a multiple champion of the TransAm Muscle Car Series – several competitors of which have raced with TCM in recent years.

“We’re really excited to be stepping up as a team to the Touring Car Masters series and getting to race at the biggest motorsport events in the country†said Woodward.

“It’s a new challenge for the Fataz Racing team the field in the Touring Car Masters is a real step up in competition but we’re looking forward to getting the new car on track and building on that progress for the rest of the year.”

A third brand-new car to debut will be the 1972 Holden Monaro GTS to be driven by Rob Burns.

Built to TCM’s Pro-Sport class specifications the four-door Holden will add further variety to the grid amidst the popular two-door big capacity cars that are so popular in TCM competition.

Built by Gary O’Brien Racing the team behind John Bowe’s Giant-Killing Torana the car was recently shaken down at Winton ahead of its debut this weekend.

Graham Crawford will jump aboard the XA Falcon GT Phil Showers returns in his Ford Escort RS1600 while Bruce Williams (AC Delco Torana) Graham Alexander (Camaro SS) Blu Cannon (Falcon XY GTHO) Wayne Mercer (Falcon XY GTHO) and Porsche pair Rohan Little and Sven Burchartz will also return.

Cameron Mason also makes a welcome return in his Shelby Mustang having missed the Tasmanian round after battling engine issues in Adelaide.

After also sustaining engine dramas in Adelaide Allan Boughen’s iconic Ford Mercury Comet will likely return in Darwin while the debut of Cameron Wilson’s Mustang has also been pushed back until later this year.

A host of Victorian competitors will also join the grid this weekend.

Noted Historic Touring Car racers Brett and Rod Hotchkin will front with their pair of Falcon GTHOs taking to five the number of the iconic Ford products on track this weekend.

Damien Gambold will also race his Falcon XD in TCM for the first time. Though not built to full TCM specifications the car will run at an invitational level this weekend.

Gambold’s XD will be the first to run in TCM outside of the joint Central Muscle Cars event ran at Mount Panorama two years ago.

The highly anticipated debut of Marcus Zukanovic’s TCM specification car – the first of it’s kind – will likely now be at Hidden Valley as the car draws nearer to completion.

The Paynter Dixon Touring Car Masters field will be on track from Friday morning at Winton.

SCHEDULE – ROUND 3

Friday 18 May
Practice 1 – 10:50am (Live on FOX Sports)
Qualifying – 2:00pm (Live on FOX Sports)

Saturday 17 May
Dometic Trophy Race – 11:30am (Live on FOX Sports)
2018 Race 7 – 14:10pm (Live on FOX Sports)

Sunday 18 May
2018 Race 8 – 9:50am (Live on FOX Sports)
2018 Race 9 – 12:40pm (Live on FOX Sports)

ENTRY LIST – WINTON SUPER SPRINT

No	Sponsor Name	Name	Make	Model	Colour
1	Skunk Werks / Red Rock Winery	Rohan Little	Porsche	911 IROC	Aubergine
3	F3 Motor Auctions	Cameron MasonÂÂ	Ford	Mustang Fastback	Red/White
4	Northern BM	Phillip Showers	Ford	Escort RS 1600	Purple
5	ACDelco	Bruce Williams	HoldenÂÂ	Torana SL/R 5000	Blue
6	Multispares Racing	Ryan Hansford	HoldenÂÂ	Torana SL/R 5000	Yellow/Blue
8	Bendigo Retro Muscle Cars	Rob Burns	HoldenÂÂ	Monaro GTS	Black
9	Jesus Racing	Andrew Fisher	Ford	Falcon XY GT HO	Red
11	Pitman Trucks/Halkin Constructions	Graham Crawford	Ford	Falcon XA GT	Purple
17	WM Waste / Herrod Performance	Steve Johnson	Ford	Mustang Fastback	Yellow/Green
18	Wilson Security / PAYCE	John Bowe	HoldenÂÂ	Torana A9X	Red/White
27	MOCOMM Motorsport Communications	Jim Pollicina	HoldenÂÂ	Torana A9X	White
35	Bigmate Racing	Jason Gomersall	HoldenÂÂ	Torana A9X Hatchback	Red/White/Black
37	Gambold Mechanical	Damien Gambold	Ford	Falcon XD	Maroon
44	Brett Hotchkin	Brett Hotchkin	Ford	Falcon XY GT HO	Red
46	THD Motorsport	Leo Tobin	Ford	Boss Mustang	Orange
48	Rod Hotchkin	Rod Hotchkin	Ford	Falcon XY GT HO	Blue
57	Graham Alexander	Graham Alexander	Chevrolet	Camaro SS	Blue
60	Glennan Transport / ANGLOMOIL Lubricants	Cameron Tilley	Valiant	Pacer	Blue
65	Cannon Trailers	Blu Cannon	Ford	Falcon XY GT HO	Red
69	Fataz Competition Engines	Ian Woodward	Chevrolet	Camaro SS	Gold
74	Lyndways Builders	Wayne Mercer	Ford	Falcon XY GT HO	Blue
75	Ranger Lifting-Rigging-Safety	Aaron McGill	Ford	Falcon XW GT	White/Blue/Black
85	Whiteline Racing / King Springs	Mark King	Chevrolet	Camaro RS	Yellow
88	TIFS – Warehousing & Distribution	Tony Karanfilovski	Ford	Mustang Trans Am	Orange
90	Kalus Kenny Interlex / Skunk Werks	Sven Burchartz	Porsche	911 IROC	Orange
95	Whiteline Racing / vdc.com.au	Adam Bressington	Chevrolet	Camaro SS	Yellow
97	Johns Furniture Removals	Allen Boughen	Mercury	Comet	Black/Blue