Dual Australian Trans-Am Champion and American front runner Nathan Herne gave Australia first blood by taking the first race win in the inaugural Wilco Precast Australia Vs New Zealand Trans-Tasman TA2 Challenge at Euromarque Motorsport Park in Christchurch today.

After qualifying on pole by only six-hundredths of a second from 18-year-old New Zealander Ben Stewart, having his first TA2 drive in the John Roberts-owned Camaro, Herne led from lights out however was pressured all the way to the flag by Stewart, taking the win by six-tenths of a second.

Australian Graham Cheney placed third for IES Motorsport, defending from Kiwi Brent Collins in another race long clash.

South Australia’s Brad Gartner driving Peter Robinson’s Dodge Challenger had an intense battle with Mark Crutcher mid race, which resulted in Gartner turning the Australian TA2 Team Captain around at Turn 9 and copping a 20 second post-race penalty, while Crutcher recovered to ninth.

Gunnedah’s Greg Keam failed to finish lap one after differential failure off the start, while Michael Coulter’s Kolbelco Camaro made a demon start from the back of the grid after an incident in qualifying dropped him down the time sheets. 

Kiwi TA2 Team Captain Peter Ward, Andrew turner and Brett Rudd put in a good stint for the New Zealand Team, while Coulter, Crutcher and Steve Ross had a great race mid-pack with Coulter and Crutcher recovering to finish seventh and eighth, with Anthony Tenkate and Paul Hadley adding to the points tally further back.

24-year-old Amie Roberts had a solid run in only her second TA2 race meeting to finish 11th after recovering from recent ACL surgery. The NZ dirt bike champion will race tomorrow’s 10 lap event, then father John will do the 20 lap final.

While Australia won the race, Gartner’s penalty saw New Zealand now lead the overall point score for the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, while Nathan Herne heads the Trans-Tasman driver championship for the Howe Engineering Services Perpetual Trophy. Australia and New Zealand alternated the top six, with five racers from each country completing the top ten in a true Trans-Tasman contest.

Races 2 and 3 tomorrow will be televised live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo, along with the final round next weekend at Highlands Park.

QUOTES

Nathan Herne, #29 Howe Racing Enterprises Dodge Challenger

“Its great to be on the podium for Australia, especially to share it with Ben from New Zealand who did an outstanding job.

“It’s been a great event so far, we just going to try and keep it all together for the final weekend at Highlands Park. I’ve never raced in New Zealand before so I’m thoroughly enjoying the challenge so far, and really looking forward to racing at Highlands next weekend.

“Ben didn’t leave me alone! It’s awesome to see, especially for New Zealand, I started TA2 back in 2019 when I was a little bit younger than Ben, but, it's a bit weird for me to say, but for a young bloke only 18 years old and definitely at the heels of me, it's sort of been a passing of the baton I guess, it was an awesome race against him. Sometime in the future he could be the next Kiwi in supercars and take all our championships off us.”

Mark Crutcher, #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang

“I was struggling to get tyre pressures up early in the race, I knew Brad was there, it was light contact but enough to turn me around. He’s apologised and we will move on, but as Team Captain I was tempted to take him off the bench for 5 minutes, however Stewards thought 20 seconds was enough!

Ben Stewart, driver #43 Sky Window Construction Racing Chevrolet Camaro

“That was just so much fun, like, probably one of my most enjoyable races. These cars are just awesome on these massive tyres. You slide them around, they're pretty hard to drive. It’s cool racing Nathan, he's a high benchmark and just to be close to him, I'm pretty stoked. 

“On the last lap I was giving it my all but just didn't quite have enough, but tomorrow we'll probably make some changes overnight and give it our best. I think I just pushed a bit too hard at the start, so I need to work to not burn up my tyres as much as at the start.

Lismore’s Nathan Herne led an Aussie One/Two in practice for this weekends Wilco Precast Trans-Tasman TA2 Challenge at Ruapuna New Zealand. Herne, fresh from racing TA2 in the USA, is looking to get his eye in before he hopefully returns to the States to a busy season later this year.  Driving the Dodge Challenger that he raced at Mr Panorama in 2020, Herne was the only driver in the 26’s in the final session with a 1.26.8, 9/10ths faster than IES Camaro driver Graham Cheney.  Eighteen-year-old  NZ driver Ben Stewart was 3^rd fastest from Brent Collins with NSW driver Mark Crutcher 5^th and South Aussie’s  Brad Gartner in the Captain America Dodge 6^th.   All cars had a trouble-free run today under mixed condition, the first time TA2 Muscle Cars have raced on the South Island.
 
Qualifying will be held tomorrow morning,  followed by the first 10 lap sprint race, with another 10-lap sprint race on Sunday, and a 20-lap final, all televised live by Foxsport/Kayo.

The final round will be held at Highlands Park next weekend, with the overall winner taking home the Howe Engineering Services Perpetual trophy, while the highest scoring country overall will be awarded the prestigious Jason Richards Memorial trophy.  The New Zealand Team is Captained by Peter Ward, while Mark Crutcher has anointed himself as the Capt of the Aussie team and looking forward to leading Australia to victory in the first inter country TA2 Challenge to be held anywhere in the world.
 

Australian competitors are set to cross the ditch to the South Island of New Zealand this week for Round 1 of the Trans-Tasman TA2 challenge, held at Euromarque Motorsport Park in Christchurch for the Lady Wigram Trophy Event, February 9-11. 

The prestigious Jason Richards Memorial Trophy is up for grabs in the inaugural two event  TA2 Trans-Tasman Challenge, with Round Two as a support to the New Zealand Grand Prix the following weekend at Highlands Motorsport Park. (Feb 16-18). Jason  was a well-regarded driver both in New Zealand and Australia.  He was a three-time New Zealand Touring Car Champion followed by an extensive career in Australia racing Super Tourers, then V8 Supercars taking three second placed podiums at Bathurst with Jamie Whincup, Greg Murphy and Cam McConville.

Jason also took part in last true Trans-Tasman Challenge back in 2006 sharing a V8 Ute with Gary Baxter in the inaugural V8 Utes International at Manfield, before succumbing to cancer in 2011.

This prestigious trophy will be awarded to the Australian or New Zealand Team with the most points over the two Round Series. Howe Engineering Services, manufacturers of the PBR Spec TA2 race car will also put up a perpetual trophy for the series winners. The winning Team will get to hold the Trophy for 12 months in recognition of their efforts.  

Eight Australian drivers will take on eight New Zealanders in the six race, two event challenge.

Coming off a competitive season racing for Steven Millers Racing in the USA, Nathan Herne will lead the Aussie charge in his previously owned front running Dodge Challenger that will be left in New Zealand for future events. 

South Australia’s Brad Gartner will be racing the #10 Captain America Purple Dodge Challenger for series owner Peter Robinson, as Peter  lays low following a recent shoulder injury. 

TA2 regulars Michael Coulter, Anthony Tenkate, Mark Crutcher, Paul Hadley, Graham Cheney and 2023 Rookie of the Year winner Greg Keam will round out the Australian drivers competing in New Zealand. 

New Zealand’s eighteen-year-old young gun Ben Stewart will join the field in the #43 Chevrolet Camaro. Setting lap records at most tracks, he also won the Bathurst Toyota 86 Shoot Out last Year and scored a fully funded Drive at the Bathurst 1000 in a Toyota 86.

Former V8 Ute’s champion Brett Rudd, demolition expert Peter Ward, and NZ TA2 Muscle Car regulars, Steve Ross, Andrew Turner, Andrew Sinclair and John Roberts will round out the Kiwi line up with 2 cars for next weekend. 

The TA2 Aus vs NZ Trans-Tasman Challenge will have 3 races across the weekend with the option of single or co-driver teams. Race 3 will feature a final 20-minute race with a mandatory pit stop for a driver change or minimum timed stop for solo drivers. Catch all of Sunday’s action live on Sky Sports New Zealand, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports Australia.

QUOTES

Brad Gartner - #10 B Styled for Life, Dodge Challenger
"The Jason Richards Memorial Trophy is a great award that has been put up by TA2 Racing, and I am very excited to be heading over to New Zealand for the first time to be racing against some great competitors for what is going to be an awesome two weeks of racing. 

Thank you to Peter Robinson for giving me this opportunity to drive his Dodge Challenger, I am ready to put my best foot forward and take on the Kiwi's."

Gary Lathrope - New Zealand National Category Manager

“The winning team will get to hold the trophy for 12 months in recognition of their efforts.
“We feel it’s quite fitting to recognise the true spirit of Jason’s motorsport career in both
Australia and New Zealand by allowing this prestigious trophy to be awarded to the
Australian or New Zealand team with the most points over the two round series,”

Eight Australian TA2 Muscle Car competitors will freight their cars out of Brisbane this weekend to compete in two Trans-Tasman Rounds in the South Island of New Zealand next month, joining the New Zealand TA2 Muscle Car field for the Lady Wigram Trophy Event at Christchurch February 9-11, plus the New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands International Motorsport Park February 16-18 as a key support category.  Both events will be televised by Sky Sports New Zealand and Fox Sports/Kayo Sports Australia. 

Two-timeTrans-Am Champion and former TA2 Rookie of the Year Nathan Herne will lead  the Australian teams that will be competing in New Zealand. Coming off a competitive season racing TA2 in the USA, Herne will field his own front running Dodge Challenger that series owner Pete Robinson purchased for the trip with intentions of leaving it over in New Zealand for future events.  

Seven TA2 regulars Mark Crutcher, Graham Cheney, Paul Hadley, Anthony Tenkate, Greg Keam, Michael Coulter and Brad Gartner will join the field of eight TA2 cars already racing in New Zealand’s V8 Series with Gartner driving the Robinson Dodge Challenger repaired from a hit at the last TA2 round at Calder Park.

Cheney is the reigning TA2 Northern Series champ while Gunnedah’s Greg Keam won the Racetech Rookie of the Year award in his first TA2 season last year. Crutcher, Tenkate and Hadley are regular trophy winners in the TA2 Circo Master Class while South Australia’s Brad Gartner has proven to be a series front runner and is looking forward to his first overseas trip. Kobelco Racings Michael Coulter has been a long standing TA2 competitor sharing the drive with his father Steve to a fine second place during the TA2 King of the North event in Darwin last year.

New Zealand competitors include demolition expert Peter Ward, ex V8 Ute Champion Brett Rudd, Steve Ross, Andrew Turner, Andrew Sinclair, Maurice Shapley and ex speedway racer John Robert. Ben Stewart will join the field, the eighteen-year-old has been Karting since he was nine, then moved to the Mazda Racing Series at sixteen winning the 2020 and 2021 Championship, setting lap records at most tracks. He also won the Bathurst T86 Shoot Out last Year and scored a fully funded Drive at the Bathurst 1000 in a Toyota 86.

Former NZ V8 Ute Champion Paul Manuell, who partnered Nathan Herne to a podium in last year’s TA2 King's of the North Event in Darwin, distributes the TA2 PBR spec cars and components in New Zealand and will drive with Brett Rudd in the two-event series.

The TA2 Aus vs NZ Trans-Tasman Challenge will be held over 6 races, three at each race meeting with the option of single or co-driver teams. Each weekend’s final 20-minute race will feature a mandatory pit stop for driver change or minimum timed stop for solo drivers.

Overseas transport is being facilitated through Gibson Freight while PTS Logistics will handle the internal transport from Christchurch to Cromwell.

QUOTES:

Nathan Herne #29 PBR Distributions, Dodge Challenger 

" I am very excited to go race over in New Zealand, and visit the boys across the ditch. TA2 New Zealand is something that Pete and Paul have been working really hard at getting off the ground and running and to have a true Trans-Tasman racing series again is pretty cool. Hopefully they can drag a few of us Australian mainland boys over there and see what the kiwi’s have got for us.

New Zealand have some pretty awesome tracks that we will be racing at, it is going to be an awesome time.”

Brad Gartner #10 B Styled for Life, Dodge Challenger

“ I am very grateful for this opportunity to be heading over to New Zealand to drive Pete’s Dodge Challenger, it’s unfortunate that Pete can’t race but I am excited to put my best foot forward for Pete. 

I have never been overseas before, but I am excited to get some racing under my belt at two new tracks before Round 1 back here in Australia. 

I am most looking forward to racing at Highlands International Motorsport Park as it looks like a very unique track.” 

Round 1 - Sydney Motorsport Park (NSW) April 19-20, Round 2 Morgan Park Raceway (QLD) Provisional May 31 - June 2, Round 3 Queensland Raceway (QLD) June 28-30, Round 4 The Bend (SA), August 30-September 1, Round 5 Winton Motor Raceway (VIC) October 4-5, Round 6 TBC.

The 2024 TA2 Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing today released details of the 2024 calendar which will include a new multi-year television deal with SBS Free to Air television, simulcast on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo.

A two round Australia Vs New Zealand Trans-Tasman Challenge for TA2 Muscle Cars will kick off the season in February next year at Euromarque Motorsport Park in Christchurch  (Feb 9-11) followed by Tony Quinns Highlands International Motorsport Park circuit at Cromwell, near Queenstown, both in New Zealand’s South Island(Feb 16-18). This will be the first time the TA2 Muscle Cars will race as a stand-alone category on what will be two of New Zealand’s premiere race meetings, with the Highland Park round featuring the New Zealand Grand Prix. Eight Australian competitors will cross the Tasman and join eight New Zealand TA2 competitors for the six-race series. Both events will be televised live by Sky Sports New Zealand and Fox Sports/Kayo Australia.

The Hi-Tec Oils Super Series 2024 season will commence at Sydney Motorsport Park with Round One of the TA2 Muscle Car Series under lights in April and televised live on SBS in prime time.

South-East Queensland will hold Rounds 2 and 3, with Morgan Park Raceway listed provisionally, with a return to the 2 Days of Thunder meeting at Queensland Raceway June 28-30.

The TA2 Muscle Car Series will move to South Australia’s The Bend Motorsport Park for the first time since 2021 and will host Round 4 of the series in August/September then Winton Raceway in Victoria for Round Five over the October long weekend.

Dates and location for the final round in November are still to be confirmed, however likely to be NSW based. 

The Southern and Northern series point score system will return in 2024 with all rounds headlining the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series. Sydney Motorsport Park, Queensland Raceway and Morgan Park will be included in the Northern Series points, while Sydney Motorsport Park, The Bend and Winton Motor Raceway will be included in the Southern Series point scoring. 

A three round TA2 King of the West series will be launched for Western Australian competitors with Tailem Bend featuring as Round 1 (Aug 30-Sept 1, followed by rounds at Carco Wanneroo Raceway (Sept 13-15) and Collie Motorplex. (Sept 21-22)

The media platform will see free to air television coverage expanded to include both days, again simulcast on Fox Sports/Kayo, doubling the free to air television and Fox Sports content time for 2024.

QUOTES

Craig Denyer TA2 National Category Manager

“In many ways, 2023 was TA2’s best year yet, however expanding into New Zealand and doubling our free to air television coverage will give the series a great lead in for 2024 in what will be another exciting year for the TA2 family. The Hi-Tec Oils Super Series fits perfectly with our mandate of making serious racing fun again, while offering TA2 competitors a blend of racetracks and series options that can suit their individual budgets and needs.  They can compete at all rounds for the series championship ring and title, or choose a three round series which can be close to home therefore reducing time away from work and minimizing long distance travel.” 

#22 Brad Gartner, Palm Family Ford Mustang 

“The 2024 calendar is awesome for the teams. It’s great to see The Bend making a return, while tracks like Sydney, Queensland Raceway and Winton produce spectacular racing for our TA2 muscle cars.

"The new multi-year free-to-air broadcast deal with SBS as well as Fox and Kayo across both days of racing is amazing, putting our series in front of greater eyeballs than ever before. The primetime racing under lights in Sydney was fantastic this year and that will definitely be a sensational way to kick off the series in April.

“2023 was phenomenal, the battles on the track were intense and my race craft reached another level, but I reckon 2024 will see the competition step up another notch again."