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DRIVERS: SYDNEY RETURN ‘WILL BE EXCITING’
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PAYNTER DIXON Touring Car Masters stars have spoken of their excitement about returning to Sydney Motorsport Park on the Fathers Day weekend this year.
The fifth round of the 2019 series will highlight the Paynter Dixon Sydney MasterBlast featuring the Muscle Car Masters and will mark the series’ first visit to the Western Sydney venue since 2015.
In a momentous weekend the category will not only race under lights for the first time but will also notch up their 300th race in what shapes as a hugely significant weekend for the class.
Racing in Sydney means a home-town advantage for Whiteline Racing Chevrolet Camaro driver Adam Bressington a regular contender at the pointy-end of the TCM pack.
“I’m super stoked: It’s a home round for me and we don’t get many Sydney rounds for TCM†Bressington said.
“It’s a place with lots of good memories like driving the Steve Mason Camaro there for my first ever TCM round. It sounds like it’s going to be a really exciting round – the night race will be cool and we’re going to have a lot of family and friends there. With my business based in Sydney we’ll have a lot of people cheering us on.
“I can’t wait tog et there and race with Whiteline – we’ve had a lot of good times together and I can’t wait to have them together at my home round.â€Â
Bressington said he was looking forward to the show the category would likely produce when the sun goes down and the lights come on.
“I’ve done a few night races in events over the years – the idea of what we’re going to have is great†he said.
“The short circuit coming over the hump at turn four is going to be excellent and I think there’s a great opportunity to showcase how good our cars are and how exciting they are.
“Under lights Sydney Motorsport Park’s going to be fantastic.â€Â
Five-time Touring Car Masters Champion John Bowe is not only the categories most successful driver but has also won 17 of the 33 races held at the Sydney venue. ÂÂ
“We used to race there (Sydney Motorsport Park) regularly†said Bowe.
“Now they’re back on Father’s Day TCM are back and there will be lots of people there so it should be terrific.
“I’ve raced there many times in the Touring Car Masters and I like it it’s a great track. It’s got a long straight a really good mix of corners fast and slow and it’s a very good circuit.
“The ARDC who go back I think 50 years do a realty good job of running it.â€Â
Bowe joked that it’s fortunate that lighting will be installed around the 2.8-km ‘Druitt’ circuit to be used on Saturday evening suggesting that for all of their modern improvements TCM cars remained ‘period’ in one key area.
“The cars don’t have great lights – they’re 70s cars and in the ‘70s the cars didn’t have great lights so I hope the circuit is lit a bit!†he joked.
“Night racing is fun when you see things of a night they pop. I’ve done a few night races and they’re good fun; you think you won’t be able to see but you actually can – it’ll be good.â€Â
 A bumper 29-car field will tackle the biggest ever weekend in TCM history with more on-track action than any other round in the series’ history.
Action gets underway on Friday with private practice ahead of a massive Saturday program including two qualifying sessions and three races on two separate circuits across a bumper program.
Two further races on Father’s Day will conclude the round on Sunday 1 September.
Tickets for the event are available via the Sydney Master Blast official website.