News
TCM field ready for The Bend debut
THE GULF WESTERN OIL Touring Car Masters series thunders into The Bend Motorsport Park and the OTR SuperSprint this weekend, marking their first ever visit to the South Aussie venue.
It’s a great time for TCM to make their debut at the circuit as the championship enters the second half of a season with plenty of storylines.
Series leader Steven Johnson has won the last five rounds in a row, a record for the series, and has a commanding lead in the championship heading into the second half of the year.
However, the level playing field that is the 4.9km circuit means that while Johnson running at the front is likely, it’s by no means assured.
The nature of The Bend’s fast and flowing layout means it’s hard to know whether it’s going to suit the more powerful but heavier Mustangs and Camaros, or the less grunty but lighter and more agile Torana’s best.
Chasing Johnson will be the regular pack, including John Bowe who is in the midst of his ‘Ciao for Now’ tour, hanging up the TCM helmet at the end of the year.
Cameron Tilley’s thundering Valiant Pacer will be fun to watch, as will Marcus Zukanovic’s XD Falcon, while Torana pilots Ryan Hansford and Andrew Fisher will be factors as ever.
And then there’s the local connection, headed up by Adelaide icons Whiteline Racing.
The team, based in the Northern suburbs, has drafted in a local champion in the form of Joel Heinrich add to their home ground advantage this weekend.
The Bend will be the 16th different venue to host TCM and, if previous visits to similar circuits are any indicator, it’s likely to be highly entertaining racing from the high powered, high speed but low grip muscle cars that make up the field.
As well as series regulars, several local competitors will run in the invitational class this weekend.
Chris Meulengraaf returns in his Porsche 911 IROC, as does Jason Palmer in his BMW E30.
Hagen Zerk will field his period-correct XA GT Falcon Coupe’ while Tasmanian Adam Williams will field his Torana.
The Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters field will tackle the regular four races across the weekend, commencing with the Trophy Race on Friday afternoon.
The three championship races will be broadcast live and ad-break free on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sport this weekend.
Read the official Program for The Bend at this link
| Car # | CL | SPONSOR | DRIVER | SURNAME | STATE | MAKE | MODEL | CC | COLOUR |
| 2 | Pro Am | Garwood Racing | Gerard | McLeod | VIC | Holden | VB Commodore | 6000 | White/Blue/Red |
| 3 | Pro Am | Western General Body works | Danny | Buzadzic | VIC | Holden | Torana A9X | 6000 | White |
| 4 | Pro Sport | Northside Taxis | Allan | Hughes | QLD | Holden | Torana | 5000 | White |
| 6 | Pro Master | Multispares Racing | Ryan | Hansford | QLD | Holden | Torana A9X | 5000 | Yellow/Blue |
| 12 | Pro Sport | Depulu Wheel Reconditioners Gold Coast | Peter | Burnitt | QLD | Holden | Torana A9X | 5000 | White |
| 15 | Pro Master | Jesus Racing | Andrew | Fisher | NSW | Holden | Torana A9X | 5800 | Red |
| 18 | Pro Master | Rare Spares / Apex Steel / Mobil 1 | John | Bowe | VIC | Holden | Torana SL/R 5000 | 5000 | Black/White |
| 30 | Invitational | Chris Meulengraaf | Chris | Meulengraaf | SA | Porsche | IROC | 3600 | White |
| 33 | Pro Master | Tyrepower NSW / Toronto Hotel | Steven | Johnson | NSW | Ford | Mustang Trans Am | 5800 | Silver/Green |
| 53 | Pro Sport | Pearcedale Plant Hire | Dave | Hender | VIC | Ford | XY Falcon GT | 5800 | Blue |
| 55 | Pro Sport | Bullet Trailers Racing | John | Adams | VIC | Ford | Falcon XY GT | 5800 | White |
| 60 | Pro Am | Anglomoil Superior Lubricants | Cameron | Tilley | NSW | Valiant | Pacer | 6000 | Blue |
| 62 | Invitational | Palmers Sales and Marketing | Jason | Palmer | SA | BMW | E30 | 3250 | White |
| 70 | Invitational | Hagen Zerk | Hagen | Zerk | SA | Ford | XA GT Coupe | 5800 | Black |
| 71 | Pro Master | Action Motor Industries | Marcus | Zukanovic | VIC | Ford | Falcon XD | 5800 | White/Blue |
| 75 | Invitational | Williams Outdoor | Adam | Williams | Tas | Holden | Torana | 5000 | White/Blue |
| 77 | Pro Sport | SNB Berryman Racing | Warren | Trewin | VIC | Holden | HQ Monaro | 5810 | Blue |
| 85 | Pro Am | Daimler Trucks Adelaide/Ausblue/NTI Insurance | Geoff | Fane | QLD | Chevrolet | Camaro SS | 5800 | Yellow |
| 88 | Pro Am | TIFS Third Party Logistics | Tony | Karanfilovski | NSW | Ford | Mustang Trans Am | 5800 | Orange |
| 95 | Pro Master | Daimler Trucks Adelaide/Ausblue/NTI Insurance | Joel | Heinrich | SA | Chevrolet | Camaro RS | 5800 | Yellow |