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New Challenges for TCR and Trans Am in Tailem Bend Return

May 28, 2024

It’s a long-awaited return to Shell V-Power Motorsport Park this weekend for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia, and a maiden visit for the Trico Trans Am Series.

Both categories embark on their fourth round of the season, where GRM hold the top spot in the Drivers’ Standings via Ben Bargwanna and James Golding in the Peugeot 308 TCR and the Ford Mustang Trans Am.

For TCR Australia it’s the third time the series has taken to the Tailem Bend facility, but both prior appearances were back in 2019. Aaron Cameron was part of the field that season, taking a race win in the second round. Jordan Cox and James Moffat were also in attendance, with both spending time at the front. Bargwanna was also there but working as a tire technician in our TCR programme! Ryan Casha raced at the circuit in his title-winning Toyota 86 year in 2023.

Cox is fifth in the points, only 35 points behind Bargwanna. Casha is just eight points further back in his rookie season while Cameron will be vying to turn his bad luck around from ninth in the standings.

The Trans Am field have never been to the Tailem Bend track before, but Moffat (TCR) along with James Golding and Tim Slade (Supercars) have all logged plenty of miles around the South Australian circuit in various categories.

Edan Thornburrow and Tom Davies complete the five car line-up in Trans Am, where the field is expected to be tough to separate once again.

Golding has two pole positions to his name in 2024, but it’s Moffat with the most victories (four) thanks to his sweep at Sandown. Slade, Davies and Thornburrow are all hunting for their first podium results of the season but have been edging closer and closer with each round.

This weekend’s action takes place on the West Circuit, in contrast to the regularly used International layout. The shorter circuit should provide more passing opportunities, with a shorter lap meaning more laps in each race and more opportunity for drama. It also shortcuts a number of the high-speed corners, which should eliminate a large chunk of the ‘dirty air’ effect that can make following closely trickier in high-speed turns.

TV coverage will be live and free on 7plus from 10am to 4:30pm (local time, ACST) on both Saturday and Sunday. The Trans Am crew will also return to the four-race format that saw Golding take his first round and race wins in Tasmania.