News
TCMs most longstanding champion celebrates
Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters champion Steven Johnson is celebrating a birthday as the driver to have held the title for the longest consecutive period of time.
A three-time and reigning champion, Johnson claimed his first title with a dramatic victory on the streets of Newcastle in late November 2017, edging out John Bowe in a tense finale’.
He won again in 2018 and 2019 and remains unbeaten to this point following the cancellation of the 2020 championship and the mid-season pause in 2021 proceedings.
It’s a total unbeaten consecutive run of 1,380 days on top, which eclipses the former record held by John Bowe.
Bowe was on top of the TCM standings for 1106 consecutive days between November 2014 and November 2017, before he handed his crown over to his former Supercars teammate and long-time family friend.
The five-time champ, however, retains the record for the longest total time as the TCM king – his 2011 and 2012 titles added a further 721 days to his tally meaning Bowe has had a total of 1,872 cumulative days on top of the TCM standings in his remarkable career.
Johnson currently sits fifth in the 2021 TCM standings following his first race win aboard his Full Throttle Custom Garage XD Falcon at Sydney Motorsport Park earlier this year, while Bowe leads.
Johnson has started 126 races and 38 TCM rounds in his career, taking 45 race victories and 17 overall wins across the journey so far.
The TCM community wishes Steve a very Happy Birthday!