TA2 Racing Australia management have today announced the sale of over 25 cars as the grid continues to build in Australia ahead of a planned expansion in 2019.

Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series manager Craig Denyer and PBR Distribution’s Peter Robinson made the announcement alongside a new Ford Mustang for former Sports Sedan racer Tim Tritton that will hit the track at the series’ final round at Sydney Motorsport Park on October 27/28.

The series launched in Australia in 2016 as a cost-effective state-level racing platform, but expanded to a national calendar of events for the first time in 2018.

The series has already welcomed the likes for former Toyota 86 Series racer Aaron Seton, Prodrive Racing Australia co-owner Rusty French, and next round former national Saloon Car champion Simon Tabinor along with Audi TT Cup racer Drew Ridge will join the field.

The category recently placed an order for another eight cars to head down under, taking the total car count to 33 cars by the end of this year, including a two-seater Chevrolet Camaro ride car for corporate rides and drive days.

Denyer confirmed ongoing discussions are being held with a variety of event promoters to put together a national calendar of events for 2019, and aims to have a calendar revealed shortly.

“It’s a very exciting time for the TA2 Muscle Car Series at the moment, we are shaping up to have grids of over 20 cars at every championship round in 2019, which could be as high as 24 or 26 at some events.”

“These cars are landed in Australia for about $130,000 fully turn-key, ready to race and cost less than $2000 per round to run, which is outstanding value for a racing package of this calibre.

“Engines can last up to four seasons, tyres are only $250 each, and you would be hard pressed to wear out a set of pads or rotors in a season.”

Aaron Seton dominated the penultimate round of the series at Queensland Raceway, taking pole position and a clean sweep of all four races as he climbed to sixth in the Performax Cup standings. The third-generation racer rates the series very highly.

“They’re somewhere between a NASCAR and a Supercar to drive, they’re high horsepower, low aero and low grip so they’re a lot of fun to drive and a platform that produces great racing, plus because the series is so tightly controlled and the cars are so even, it’s great for honing your race craft,” Seton said.

Denyer believes the series can cater for both aspiring racers and gentleman drivers.

“It’s not just the gentleman drivers that enjoy the category, there’s more young drivers coming through and a real dynamic change as the series establishes itself as a true feeder category for Australian motorsport.

“There’s currently a big step for example between the Toyota 86 Series and Kumho V8’s or Dunlop Super 2, so for any driver aspiring to a Supercars career, TA2 fits perfectly as a bridge between those categories.”

Peter Robinson, the importer of the TA2 cars has been overwhelmed by the growth of the series this year.

“The interest in the TA2 cars from the racing industry and the general public has been unbelievable, I don’t know another class of motorsport in Australia that’s taken off like this category has,” said Robinson.

“We have received many enquiries from first time racers, Speedway racers and drivers who have been around in other categories of circuit racing and are looking for a great bang-for-buck racing experience.”

PBR Distribution's Peter Robinson with TA2 newcomer Tim Tritton and Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series Manager Craig Denyer making the major announcement of over 25 cars sold for the series. 

The Howe Racing Enterprises-constructed TA2 platform is used in a variety of categories around the world, including the Trans-Am Series in America, the Costa Rican Touring Car Championship, the V8 Thunder Cars in Scandinavia, the Danish Thundersport Championship, Trans-Am Euro Racing, and a TA2 series has recently been launched in Asia by expat Kiwi Craig Corliss.

“TA2, based on the American Trans-Am formula and a Trans-Am class in its own right has proven itself to be an extremely popular and successful category in America and Europe, and now we are seeing huge growth here in Australia as well as in Asia,” explained Robinson.

“We are very busy in the workshop with more cars coming from America later this year. We now have a technical engineer full-time working on the cars as the series continues to grow from strength-to-strength.”

Just 16-points separate series leader Ashley Jarvis in the Lighthouse Electrical Chevrolet Camaro from second-placed Russell Wright’s RoadBees Transport Ford Mustang with one round remaining.

The final round of the 2018 Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series takes place with the Australian Motor Racing Series at Sydney Motorsport Park on October 27/28, with an awards presentation dinner to be held on the Sunday night.

Just three points separate the top two in the standings as the Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series returns to Queensland Raceway for the penultimate round of the series this weekend, September 15-16 at the Queensland Racing Driver’s Championship (QRDC) meeting.

Lighthouse Electrical Chevrolet Camaro driver Ashley Jarvis regained the series lead from Russell Wright’s RoadBees Transport Mustang after winning round five of the series at Wakefield Park last month, highlighted by the clash between the Mustangs of title contenders Wright and Hugh McAlister on the opening lap of race three of the weekend.

McAlister dropped back to third in the points as a result and now sits 35 points away from Jarvis.

Camaro racer Cameron Sendall completes the top five in the standings, just 14-points off Ian McAlister with two rounds remaining.

A 13-car grid heads to the Ipswich circuit this weekend, as the series continues to grow with sales behind the scenes in the lead up to the 2019 season.

Season regular Greg Willis will miss this round with overseas commitments, but will leave the door of the #44 SuretyIT/Interfinancial Camaro open for Historic Touring Car racer Guy Gibbons to take the wheel as substitute.

The series also welcomes the debut of former Queensland Touring Car Championship racer Murray Kent, as he steps up from state-level racing to the national TA2 series in a Chevrolet Camaro.

Young-gun Aaron Seton remains the driver in-form heading into the weekend at Queensland Raceway. Seton took two out of four race wins last time out at Wakefield Park, and scored the round win at round four at Queensland Raceway with a clean sweep and the lap record.

The Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series will have four races across the weekend, headlining the fifth round of the QRDC, with live timing available at Natsoft Race Results.

ENTRY LIST

2018 Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series - Round 6, Queensland Raceway (QLD)

#4 - Mark Crutcher (NSW), Chevrolet Camaro - Crutcher Developments

#5 - Ian McAlister (NSW), Ford Mustang - McAlister Motors/Performax

#6 - Hugh McAlister (NSW), Ford Mustang - McAlister Motors/Performax

#7 - Michael Kulig (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Kulig Engineering

#10 - Peter Robinson (QLD), Dodge Challenger - PBR Distributions/BStyled For Life

#14 - Cameron Sendall (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - PBR Distributions/BStyled For Life

#22 - Ashley Jarvis (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Lighthouse Electrical

#44 - Guy Gibbons (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Cross Torque Racing/Surety IT

#55 - Russell Wright (QLD), Ford Mustang - RoadBees Transport

#69 - Anthony Tenkate (QLD), Ford Mustang - Tenkate Plant Hire/Performax

#74 - Murray Kent (QLD), Chevrolet Camaro - Underground Civil Supplies

#88 - Aaron Seton (QLD), Ford Mustang - Castrol Harris Racing

#92 - Scott Textor (QLD), Dodge Challenger - Textor Racing