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Hyundai Motorsport keen to send guest driver for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series
Supercheap Auto TCR Australia could host one of Hyundai Motorsport’s factory race drivers, with the marque’s Customer Racing Manager Andrew Johns not ruling out sending one of its aces down under.
Hyundai Motorsport’s current WTCR line-up includes race winners Norbert Michelisz, Jean-Karl Vernay, Luca Engstler and touring car legend, the retiring Gabriele Tarquini.
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A combination of both Australia’s re-opening to overseas entries and the attraction of next year’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst International has grown Hyundai Motorsport’s interest in bringing one of its drivers down.
“It’d be something that we’d still consider to be able to send a driver over,” said Johns
“We’ll see what the future brings.”
During its inaugural season then-Audi driver Vernay was among three guest drivers to contest rounds, which also included his Honda rival Nestor Girolami and Peugeot’s Aurelien Comte at the final round.
Hyundai Motorsport was also in discussions to replicate a similar program, but circumstances prevented this from occurring.
“That was the intention,” Johns said. “We were damn keen to get over and do a round of TCR Australia.
“We were talking to the Australian Racing Group, as we were trying every which way we could to try and get a car over there, with a driver and engineer.
“We tried everything, but we didn’t have availability of cars because it would be gone for so long.”
Johns also congratulated Supercheap Auto TCR Australia team HMO Customer Racing on its initial successes and backed its decision to continue with the i30 N TCR of which it has four in its fleet.
“The relationship started off in a fantastic way results-wise and as we’ve seen in WTCR there are highs and lows,” said Johns.
“HMO set the bar in 2019 and others will be wanting to surpass its results, but we’re very happy with the team and its achievements this season
“We’re fully committed to supporting the i30 N TCR through engineering, development and spare parts support.”
The final round of the 2021 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series will be the TCR Bathurst 400 on November 30-December 4.