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TRANS TASMAN TCM CHALLENGE TO MAKE BATHURST RETURN
A SECOND Paynter Dixon Touring Car Masters Trans-Tasman epic is in store for the 2019 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 event this October.
An early entry list featuring 52 cars has been confirmed for the sixth round of the series that will culminate in an Australia-versus-New Zealand feature race on Sunday morning prior to the Great Race.
16 entries from across the Tasman to run under the banner of ‘Touring Car Masters New Zealand’ will join series regulars at Mount Panorama this year.
It will mark the second time the Kiwi contingent will have joined forces with their Australian cousins on the Mountain having first made an appearance in 2016.
That weekend the top New Zealand-fielded cars raced within the top-10 of the Aussie field with Dean Perkins finishing a stout fourth outright in the Sunday Trans-Tasman finale.
While Perkins is not scheduled to return several who competed in 2016 will compete once again this year alongside several fresh faces making their Bathurst TCM debut. ÂÂ
This year’s kiwi brigade is headed by champion New Zealand racer Angus Fogg who has a pair of Bathurst 1000 starts to his credit amidst an extensive racing CV that includes winning the 2011-12 NZ V8 Championship.
Fogg’s 1970 Ford Mustang is one of the fastest of its type in New Zealand and should pose a strong challenge to the Australian brigade on the Mountain.
Former Bathurst 1000 privateer Bruce Anderson will return with his Pinepac Mustang while NZ V8 front runner Nick Ross will field a 1971 Dodge Challenger.
The New Zealand contingent includes 16 cars including several Holden models – Commodore Monaro and Torana included – a Chevrolet Monza Valliant Charger and Ford Falcons and Mustangs.
The early entry list features a 36-strong Paynter Dixon Touring Car Masters grid that includes double champion Gavin Bullas targeting a return in his 1970 Ford Mustang.
A second entry from the Hillier Motorsport / THD team will see Leo Tobin debut a 1967 Mustang Coupe alongside his existing car now raced successfully by Aaron Seton.
The ever-popular Bathurst veteran Brett Youlden and one of TCM’s most experienced drivers Wayne Mercer are also entered in their Monaro and Falcon GTHOs respectively.
The event doubles as the penultimate round of the 2019 TCM title battle which is proving to be one of the most competitive on record.
Just 67 points split leader Steven Johnson John Bowe and Ryal Harris at the pointy-end of the standings with six championship races remaining.
A final entry list will be revealed closer to the October 10-13 event as will the unique race schedule that will culminate in the second Trans-Tasman challenge race on Sunday morning prior to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 event.
ENTRY LIST – BATHURST (PRELIMINARY)
| No | Sponsor Name | Ch Name | Surname | State | Year | Make | Model |
| 2 | MotorsportSales.com | Karl | Begg | QLD | 1974 | Holden | Torana A9X |
| 3 | Western General Body Works | Danny | Buzadzic | VIC | 1978 | Holden | Torana A9X Hatchback |
| 4 | Skye Sands | Rusty | French | VIC | 1970 | Ford | Mustang Fastback |
| 5 | ACDelco / Auto Action Magazine | Bruce | Williams | VIC | 1974 | Holden | Torana SL/R 5000 |
| 6 | Multispares Racing | Ryan | Hansford | QLD | 1974 | Holden | Torana A9X |
| 7 | MOCOMM Motorsport Communications | Jim | Pollicina | NSW | 1974 | Holden | Torana A9X |
| 8 | Bendigo Retro Muscle Cars | Gary | O’Brien | VIC | 1972 | Holden | Monaro GTS |
| 9 | Jesus Racing | Andrew | Fisher | NSW | 1971 | Ford | Falcon XY GT HO |
| 10 | Belair Homes | Bruce | Oaklands | NSW | 1980 | Holden | Commodore VB |
| 11 | J.A. Russell Ltd / Thorn | Angus | Fogg | NZ | 1970 | Ford | Mustang Fastback |
| 12 | The Lighthouse Hotel – Burnett Heads | Peter | Burnitt | QLD | 1974 | Holden | Torana A9X |
| 13 | Dr. John Elliot | Dr. John | Elliot | NZ | 1974 | Holden | Torana SL/R 5000 |
| 14 | Paul Smith Earthmoving | Bruce | Tinnelly | NZ | 1970 | Holden | Monaro HT GTS |
| 15 | Washdepot Racing | Hugh | Gardiner | NZ | 1970 | Chevrolet | Camaro |
| 16 | Rain City Industries | Gavin | Bullas | VIC | 1970 | Ford | Mustang Fastback |
| 17 | WM Waste / Kubota | Steve | Johnson | QLD | 1969 | Ford | Mustang Fastback |
| 18 | PAYNTER DIXON | John | Bowe | VIC | 1974 | Holden | Torana SL/R 5000 |
| 20 | Family Law Coach | Guy | Gibbons | QLD | 1973 | Holden | Monaro GTS |
| 24 | Wellpro Racing | Robert | Hackwood | QLD | 1972 | Pontiac | Trans Am |
| 25 | Vawdrey Trailers | Paul | Freestone | VIC | 1968 | Chevrolet | Camaro |
| 30 | Hillier Brothers / THD Motorsport | Aaron | Seton | QLD | 1969 | Ford | Boss Mustang |
| 33 | Juice Plus | Cameron | Mason | NSW | 1969 | Ford | Mustang Trans Am |
| 35 | iseek Racing | Jason | Gomersall | QLD | 1978 | Holden | Torana A9X Hatchback |
| 43 | Fluidex Transport / Engine Dynamics | Anthony | Gailbraith | NZ | 1972 | Valiant | Charger |
| 46 | Hillier Brothers/THD Motorsport | Leo | Tobin | VIC | 1967 | Ford | Ford Mustang |
| 50 | 13CABS | Allan | Hughes | QLD | 1974 | Holden | Torana SL/R 5000 |
| 52 | Timaru Metal Recyclers | John | Hepburn | NZ | 1972 | Holden | Monaro |
| 55 | AV8 Motorsport | Tony | Anderson | NZ | 1975 | Chevrolet | Monza 2 + 2 |
| 56 | Power Torque Finance | Brett | Youlden | VIC | 1972 | Holden | Monaro GTS Coupe |
| 58 | EFS 4X4 Accessories | Ryal | Harris | QLD | 1969 | Chevrolet | Camaro SS |
| 60 | ANGLOMOIL Lubricants/MD Steel Fabrications | Cameron | Tilley | NSW | 1969 | Valiant | Pacer |
| 67 | Bilstein/JMG Racing | Jeremy | Gray | NSW | 1972 | Ford | Capri Perana |
| 71 | Centec Security Industries | Markus | Zukanovic | VIC | 1980 | Ford | Falcon XD |
| 72 | GFR Industries | Geoff | Fane | QLD | 1972 | Chevrolet | Camaro SS |
| 74 | Lyndways Builders | Wayne | Mercer | VIC | 1971 | Ford | Falcon XY GT HO |
| 75 | Ranger Lifting-Rigging-Safety | Aaron | McGill | NSW | 1971 | Ford | Falcon XW GT |
| 77 | Red Rock Winery / Skunk Werks | Rohan | Little | VIC | 1974 | Porsche | 911 IROC |
| 85 | Whiteline Racing / Gawler Self Storage | Bernie | Stack | SA | 1970 | Chevrolet | Camaro RS |
| 88 | TIFS – Warehousing & Distribution | Tony | Karanfilovski | NSW | 1969 | Ford | Mustang Trans Am |
| 90 | Kalus Kenny Intelex. Lawyers-Advisors | Sven | Burchartz | VIC | 1974 | Porsche | 911 IROC |
| 95 | Whiteline Racing / VDC | Adam | Bressington | NSW | 1969 | Chevrolet | Camaro SS |
| 97 | Century Batteries | Allen | Boughen | QLD | 1963 | Mercury | Comet |
| 98 | Ross Brothers Racing | Nick | Ross | NZ | 1971 | Dodge | Challenger |
| 99 | Clifford Constructions / BP Botany | Ben | Dunn | NSW | 1975 | Chevrolet | Monza 2 + 2 |
| 117 | Chillex/Hermanses Contractting | Greg | Cuttance | NZ | 1983 | Ford | Falcon XE |
| 135 | Grant Dalton | Grant | Dalton | NZ | 1970 | Chevrolet | Camaro |
| 146 | Greg Donaldson Racing | Greg | Donaldson | NZ | 1982 | Holden | Commodore |
| 151 | Pak-n-Save/Cooke Howilson/Busy Bees | Michael | Wallace | NZ | 1976 | Chevrolet | Monza 2 + 2 |
| 165 | GDM Retail Systems | Michael | Eden | NZ | 1971 | Ford | Falcon XY |
| 169 | Pinepac Group | Bruce | Anderson | NZ | 1969 | Ford | Mustang Fastback |
| 171 | Pinepac Group | Andrew | Anderson | NZ | 1982 | Ford | Falcon XE |
| 888 | MWN Civil | Janine | Douglas | NZ | 1983 | Holden | Commodore VH |