May 16, 2017 | General

TOUGH WINTON FIELD INCLUDES NEW AND RETURNING NAMES TO TCM

RETURNING FRONTRUNNERS and a new yet very familiar name highlight a strong Touring Car Masters grid for round two of the 2017 series this weekend at Winton.

While Eddie Abelnica (XB Falcon Hardtop) and Bruce Williams (Holden Torana SL/R 5000) will both return to TCM this weekend former Supercars driver Melinda Price will make her debut in the category driving Phil Morris’ four-door XA Falcon GT.

A former member of the all-female ‘Castrol Cougars’ squad in the 1990s Price has made a gradual return to racing in recent years and recently contested the first round of the Australian GT trophy series at Sandown racing a Ford Focus MARC Cars Australia entry.

Her TCM debut at Winton is the first round in a planned full-year campaign in the category.

“I was excited to be running historics a few years ago and then to be on the grid at Sandown in the GT race last month was amazing – it keeps getting better and better.

“I can’t wait to get in one of those cars and on track with those legends.. I was on the Supercars grid with some of them 20 years ago.

“I’m looking forward to having a steer of a muscle car and be part of the Supercar show again.â€Â

Price said several members of the TCM family had been working hard to help her quest to join the grid.

 “I’ve got a few really great people who are on my side helping and encouraging me while I’ve been trying to get back into racing.

“John (Bowe) has been saying for a while how good Touring Car Masters is and how great it would be if I could do it. I’m grateful for his help to Phil Morris for letting me drive his car and to Tony Hunter for welcoming me to the category.

“I really want to do them justice and make them feel like it’s been worthwhile and get on the grid for the full year.â€Â

Price’s XA GT has a strong TCM pedigree and was raced to a round podium finish at Winton in 2010 when in the hands of Leanne Tander.

Price has secured several key backers for the Winton round to be announced later this week.

Meanwhile former AUSCAR and Formula Holden racer Bruce Williams will make his return to the category having made his TCM debut at Winton in his Les Small-built Torana SL/R exactly one year ago.

Williams qualified an impressive eighth with his then-undeveloped Torana at Winton last year however sat the remainder of the year out while developing the car and raising sponsorship for the 2017 season.

His Torana will sport major support from a high profile new sponsor for the season to be announced this week.

After missing the opening round at the Clipsal 500 Eddie Abelnica will also return in his storming Melbourne’s Cheapest Cars XB Falcon Coupe’.

Abelnica finished third in the TCM ProMasters category last year and the seven-time TCM race winner will be keen to return to his regular place at the pointy-end this weekend.

Also returning this weekend include Terry Lawler with his Ford Mustang repaired after it’s unfortunate turn one crash in Adelaide. Paul Freestone returns in his Chevrolet Camaro while Tony Karanfilovski will be keen to make amends for a disappointing opening round in Adelaide.

The Ford Mustang driver had crossed the line first in the Trophy race however was subsequently penalised 22 seconds for a safety car restart infringement – handing the win to Brad Tilley.

The Sydneysider has a strong record at Winton having won a race there in 2014 and finished third in the trophy race twelve months ago.

Current TCM class leaders Leo Tobin (ProSport) Adam Bressington (ProAm) and John Bowe (ProMasters) are all likely to face serious opposition.

In ProSports Tobin will need to deal with a host of the IROC Porsche 911s at Winton the nimble light sports cars always strong on the 3.1km Winton twists and turns.

Last year at Winton John Bowe edged out Jason Gomersall for pole by 0.08s and led home his fellow Torana driver to win two of the three races at the country Victorian circuit.

Adam Garwood was then on to make it a Holden clean-sweep in the Trophy race before Glenn Seton executed a stunning last-lap pass to grab the victory – the first time Bowe and his Torana has been beaten at Winton in five races.

Three races will make up round two of the 2017 Touring Car Masters Series each to be broadcast live on FOX Sports 506 throughout the weekend. 

ENTRY LIST – ROUND 2 (WINTON)

No	Sponsor Name	Ch Name	Surname	State	Year	Make	Model
3	Hercules Engines	Cameron	Mason	NSW	1966	Ford	Mustang Fastback
5	ACDelco	Bruce	Williams	VIC	1974	HoldenÂÂ	Torana SL/R 5000
6	Multispares Racing	Ryan	Hansford	QLD	1974	HoldenÂÂ	Torana SL/R 5000
7	Wisely Motorsport	Bob	Wisely	QLD	1974	HoldenÂÂ	Torana SL/R 5000
8	Lady Luck Racing	Terry	Lawlor	NSW	1964	Ford	Mustang Coupe
9	Jesus Racing	Andrew	Fisher	NSW	1971	Ford	Falcon XY GTHO
11	Lion Mill Solutions	Melinda	Price	VIC	1974	Ford	Falcon XA GT
12	Giraffe Civil Contracting	Adam	Garwood	TAS	1974	HoldenÂÂ	Torana SL/R 5000
17	WM Waste / Illusion Gas Log Fires	Steve	Johnson	QLD	1969	Ford	Mustang Fastback
18	Wilson Security / PAYCE	John	Bowe	VIC	1974	HoldenÂÂ	Torana SL/R 5000
19	Tincone Industrial Services	Darren	Beale	QLD	1972	HoldenÂÂ	Monaro GTS Coupe
25	MAXI TRANS / Freestones Transport	PaulÂÂ	Freestone	VIC	1968	Chevrolet	Camaro SS
35	Bigmate RacingÂÂ	Jason	Gomersall	QLD	1978	HoldenÂÂ	Torana A9X Hatchback
38	Gawler Self Storage	Bernie	Stack	SA	1974	Porsche	911 IROC
46	THD Motorsport	Leo	Tobin	VIC	1969	Ford	Boss Mustang
48	Melbournes Cheapest Cars	EddieÂÂ	Abelnica	VIC	1974	Ford	Falcon XB Coupe
57	Graham Alexander	Graham	Alexander	VIC	1968	HoldenÂÂ	HT Monaro GTS
60	Glennan Transport / ANGLOMOIL	Cameron	Tilley	NSW	1969	Valiant	Pacer
65	Cannon Trailers	Michael (Blu)	Cannon	QLD	1971	Ford	Falcon XY GTHO
74	Lyndways Builders	Wayne	Mercer	VIC	1971	Ford	Falcon XY GTHO
77	Red Rock Winery / Werks Garage	Rohan	Little	VIC	1974	Porsche	911 IROC
85	Whiteline Racing / King Springs	Mark	King	QLD	1970	Chevrolet	Camaro RS
88	TIFS – Warehousing & Distribution	Tony	Karanfilovski	NSW	1969	Ford	Mustang Trans Am
90	Kalus Kenny Interlex  / Werks Garage	Sven	Burchartz	VIC	1974	Porsche	911 IROC
91	SA Structural	Manny	Palyaris	SA	1974	Porsche	911 IROC
95	Whiteline Racing / Fabre Australia	Adam	Bressington	NSW	1969	Chevrolet	Camaro SS
911	Performance 9 / Werks Garage	Stan	Adler	QLD	1974	Porsche	911 IROC