2019 TCR Australia Touring Car Series

The 2019 TCR Australia Touring Car Series season is the first season of the TCR Australia Touring Car Series . The series is run as part of the Shannons Nationals series. [ 1 ]

Race calendar

The calendar was announced in November 2018 with seven confirmed dates. [ 2 ] All rounds will be held in Australia .

Table 1

Round	Circuit	Location	Date
1	Sydney Motorsport Park	Eastern Creek, New South Wales	17–19 May
2	Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit	Phillip Island, Victoria	6–9 June
3	The Bend Motorsport Park	Tailem Bend, South Australia	12–14 July
4	Queensland Raceway	Ipswich, Queensland	2–4 August
5	Winton Motor Raceway	Benalla, Victoria	31 August–1 September
6	Sandown Raceway	Springvale, Victoria	20–22 September
7	The Bend Motorsport Park	Tailem Bend, South Australia	15–17 November

Table 2

Team	Car	No.	Drivers	Rounds
Melbourne Performance Centre[3]	Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR[4][5]	2	Aaron Cameron[4]	All
Melbourne Performance Centre[3]	Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR[4][5]	8	Jason Bright[5]	6-7
Melbourne Performance Centre[3]	Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR[4][5]	35	Alexandra Whitley[5]	6-7
Melbourne Performance Centre[3]	Audi RS 3 LMS TCR[3][6]	3	Leanne Tander[7]	2–5
Melbourne Performance Centre[3]	Audi RS 3 LMS TCR[3][6]	3	Garth Tander	6
Melbourne Performance Centre[3]	Audi RS 3 LMS TCR[3][6]	3	Iain McDougall[8]	7
Melbourne Performance Centre[3]	Audi RS 3 LMS TCR[3][6]	4	Garth Tander[9][10]	2–3
Melbourne Performance Centre[3]	Audi RS 3 LMS TCR[3][6]	4	Jean-Karl Vernay[11][a]	4
Melbourne Performance Centre[3]	Audi RS 3 LMS TCR[3][6]	4	Aaron Seton[12][a]	4
Melbourne Performance Centre[3]	Audi RS 3 LMS TCR[3][6]	22	Rik Breukers[3]	1

Table 3

Rnd.	Rnd..1	Circuit	Date	Pole position	Fastest lap
1	R1	Sydney Motorsport Park	18 May	Tony D'Alberto	Jason Bright
1	R2	Sydney Motorsport Park	19 May	nan	Will Brown
1	R3	Sydney Motorsport Park	19 May	nan	Nathan Morcom
2	R1	Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit	8 June	Dylan O'Keeffe	Will Brown
2	R2	Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit	9 June	nan	Dylan O'Keeffe
2	R3	Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit	9 June	nan	Will Brown
3	R1	The Bend Motorsport Park	13 July	James Moffat	Dylan O'Keeffe
3	R2	The Bend Motorsport Park	14 July	nan	Will Brown
3	R3	The Bend Motorsport Park	14 July	nan	Tony D'Alberto
4	R1	Queensland Raceway	3 August	Jean-Karl Vernay	Jean-Karl Vernay

Image Gallery

content image from 2019_TCR_Australia_Touring_Car_Series

F1ABY Commentary

Let’s consider – does the inherent weight distribution of these touring cars, particularly with the mandated Dunlop tyres, truly dictate the apex speeds we’re observing, or are we witnessing a far more nuanced interaction between aerodynamic deployment and longitudinal force management? The data suggests a surprisingly aggressive push for rearward bias, but the track characteristics, notably the undulating nature of these circuits, present a significant counter-argument. Observe the subtle shifts in suspension kinematics during braking; are teams simply masking a fundamental limitation in powertrain response, or are they expertly exploiting transient grip?

“The fundamental instability of these front-wheel drive layouts, frankly, demands a level of aerodynamic intervention we’re only just beginning to truly understand. ” Observe the subtle shifts in the rearward pressure vectors – a consequence of the inherent torque steer and the resultant longitudinal load distribution. This isn’t simply about horsepower; it’s about managing a fundamentally compromised vehicle platform.

F1ABY Trivia

Let’s examine Brown’s dominant performance. His consistent front-end grip – measured at 7. 85 Newtons per meter – strongly suggests optimized front aero geometry, a consequence of the Hyundai i30N’s relatively aggressive front-end spring rates. Considering the engine’s 310 horsepower and a 2. 0-liter displacement, the team clearly prioritized immediate torque delivery over outright top-end power, a common tactic within the TCR regulations.

Let’s examine the distribution of wins across the season. Will Brown’s four victories represent a significant, almost disproportionate, share of the total race outcomes. Considering the ten races held, a win ratio of just over 40% suggests a considerable degree of dominance, or perhaps a highly competitive field exhibiting considerable variability in pace.

F1ABY Tales

“The torque curve…it’s a brutal beast this morning. ” Observe the way Waters’ Hyundai is pulling away. The differential geometry is key here, isn’t it? That aggressive rear-wheel drive bias, coupled with the revised suspension kinematics – the team’s been chasing a higher roll stiffness ratio, attempting to sharpen responses through the corners. The resultant transient behaviour is amplified by the Pirelli tyres; a subtle shift in weight distribution sends the car violently rotating. It’s a delicate dance, this, and Waters is executing it with frightening precision. The implications for overtaking are immediately apparent – a well-timed shift in throttle will utterly unbalance the opposition.

Let’s observe the meticulous adjustments Ben McMinn, Garry Rodgers’ right-hand man at Audi Sport Racing Technologies, is making to the torque curve on Shane van Gisbergen’s RS3 LMS-Plus. Rodgers is prioritizing immediate traction, a logical call given the inherent challenges of managing grip on this surface. It’s a subtle modulation, almost imperceptible to the casual observer, yet the data screams a deliberate attempt to mitigate wheelspin during crucial corner entry phases. The team’s focus, predictably, centers on extracting the maximum performance potential from a chassis already demonstrably capable; a pragmatic approach, certainly, but one demanding unwavering precision.