Reigning Formula RX8 Champion Brock Paine is set to take the next big step in his motorsport career, making his TA2 Muscle Car Series debut this weekend under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park for Round 3 of the TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series presented by Maritimo Luxury Motor Yachts.

The Queensland-based driver will line up as a rookie in the field this weekend, marking his first-ever drive in a TA2 car and says he is super stoked to be joining the series.

“I am really excited to be joining the series this weekend. It’s obviously a big step up from what I’ve raced in the past.”

“I’m really looking forward to the competition, there are a lot of quality drivers in the field, and I can’t wait to prove myself against them.”

After a dominant season in the Formula RX8 category, the 23-year old said he is ready to step up to the high-powered TA2 grid.

“Winning the Formula RX8 championship was a huge milestone, but now it’s time to push myself even further. The TA2 cars are a big step up in power and competition, but I’m confident in the work we’ve put in to get here.”

Paine has completed several test days in preparation for his debut, building confidence behind the wheel of his V8-powered TA2 Camaro. While practice has been promising, he acknowledges there’s no substitute for real race conditions.

“The biggest thing I have found so far is getting used to the car positioning as it’s a left hand drive vehicle, as everything else I have driven has been right hand drive.”

“I feel really comfortable in the car, I have had a few test days but there is no real way to know until we get out on track this weekend.”

While this marks his first TA2 start, Paine is entering the weekend with a focused mindset and a clear performance goal.

“I put a fair bit of pressure on myself on race weekends to do well, but as this is our first round in these cars, if we can be inside the top 10 by the end of the weekend, I think the whole team will be pretty stoked with that.”

Round 3 of the 2025 TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series - Presented by Maritimo Luxury Motor Yachts kicks off May 30-31 at Sydney Motorsport Park. Friday and Saturday’s races can be watched live and free to air on SBS Viceland, simulcast on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports. 

The sale of the National Trans AM Series from the Australian Racing Group to HCC Pty Ltd has been completed with the new owners taking control of the series, effective immediately, and planning underway for another large field at Round 3 of the Trico Trans AM series as a support to the Supercar Hidden Valley event in Darwin next month.

HCC Pty Ltd, (Hadley, Crutcher, Cheney), a new syndicate formed by regular TA2 competitors Paul Hadley, Mark Crutcher and Graham Cheney also purchased the TA2 Muscle Car Series from founder’s Peter and Dayna Robinson earlier this year.  

Up to 30 Trans AM entries are expected for the Northern Territory event, while negotiations completed this week will also see the TA2 spec cars replace TCR as a support category at the upcoming Western Australia Supercar round at Carco.com.au Raceway. This will be a one-off non-championship event for the “King of the West” title.

“All the formal paperwork with Motor Australia has been signed regarding the transfer of ownership, settlement has been completed, and we are now focussed on growing both the Trans AM and TA2 Muscle Car platforms. We have already invested in a much larger trailer to service both series on track with parts and components, expanded staffing where required, ordered more new cars from Howe Engineering in Michigan, confirmed supply of Chevrolet crate engines as well as Holinger Engineering for the supply of an optional gearbox to the original G Force for both series,”  HCC’s Mark Crutcher explained.

“My role is to head up the new entity and continue the expanding trajectory for both categories and as well as being a quick driver, Graham has a good engineering and racing head and will support the technical side with ongoing product development.  Paul brings an enormous breadth of business skills to the table, I believe we are a very complementary team.”

The recent 41 car field for Round Two at the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour was a record grid for the series so far, and there’s strong competitor interest in both the Trico Trans AM and the TA2 Muscle Car Series, both serving a different level of competition. With round 3 of the Hi Tec Oils Super Series taking place at Sydney Motorsport Park at the end of May.

Following TCR’s withdrawal as a support category to the Perth Supercar event, HCC will step in with a field of TA2 spec cars as a one-off event.

“Due to our previous King of the West titles in Western Australia, there’s quite a number of cars and drivers already in Perth that are keen to compete. Previous WA champions Brett Niall and Ron Moller have entered, along with speedway star Jason Pryde and we are confident of delivering a field of up to 15 cars. We plan to send 3 or 4 cars from the East over to Perth to top up the field. It will be a super busy time between TA2 and Trico Trans AM with Perth, Darwin, Sydney and Queensland Raceway all in a space of 5 weeks!” said TA2 Category Manager Matty Mack.

In a dominant performance by the TFH Team, Mustang driver Todd Hazelwood was the overall National Trans AM round winner while Ben Gomersall claimed the TA2 Muscle Car maximum points haul after Race Two of the combined championship round at Mt Panorama this morning. All positions are provisional at this stage due to post race investigations yet to be heard.

The race was red flagged when Mustang driver Jordan Cox slammed the wall after hitting an oil patch while running second in the Dipper, setting off a chain reaction that ultimately blocked the track.

James Golding made the best of his pole start to lead into Turn One, Elliot Barbour who started on the second row was hung out to dry on the outside of Turn 1 dropping back to 15^th, while TA2 lead runner Jarrod Hughes sat in 5^th behind Nathan Herne.

Jordan Cox made a move on Todd Hazelwood for 2^nd into the Chase while Ben Grice sent it down the inside on Jarrod Hughes for 5^th into Turn, however losing control under brakes taking both out of contention.

Rookie Charlie Nash ended up bunkered in the gravel after damage to the front end, with the safety called at the end of Lap 1 and Hi-Tec Oils Camaro driver Robbie Farr pitted to tape up the driver’s side door with the race going green again on Lap 4.

National Trans AM reigning champ Todd Hazlewood passed Cox for second on the re-start and then James Golding with a superb run-down Conrod Straight taking the lead into the Chase.

TA2 racer Aaron Prosser was served with a 5 second penalty for overlapping at the re-start while Jordan Cox passed Golding’s GRM Mustang up Mountain Straight for second place on Lap 5.

Across the top of the Mountain, it all came undone when Cox hit the wall hard in the Dipper, taking out Adam Garwood and ultimately setting off a chain reaction that blocked the track and caused officials to shut down the race due to the lengthy clean up. Reports had oil on the track from Skyline to the Dipper which may have contributed to the incident overall.

With the race declared after only 6 laps, Hazelwood maximised his weekend efforts to take the overall win from Golding and former TA2 Rookie of the Year Nathan Herne.

Due to Hughes finishing well down as a result of the Turn 1 slam dunk from Grice, TFH Mustang driver Ben Gomersall ending up with the TA2 winner’s trophy.

The Circo Master Class was dominated by TA2 regulars Graham Cheney, Paul Hadley and Mark Crutcher and Team RSG Dodge driver Hayden Jackson won the $500 Hypercoil Hard Charger Award with a 16-spot gain in Race 2 from grid 40.

Cameron Laws for the Racing Academy was awarded the Rookie of the Round Award, while NZ young gun Ayrton Hodson won the Wilwood Big Braker Award for his first impressive appearance on Mt Panorama.

Results are still provisional at the time of posting, however Jarrod Hughes and Ben Gomersall continue to dominate the TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series - presented by Maritimo Luxury Yachts series points after the second round. Hi-Tec Oils Brad Gartner was a non-starter this round however will be back for Round Three at Sydney Motorsport Park under lights at the end of May. 
 

QUOTES 

Ben Gomersall, #35 Unit Racing/TFH Racing Ford Mustang

“I am super stoked to come away with the Race 2 win and an outright win here at Bathurst. The Unit Racing Mustang has been quick all weekend. There was a fair bit of action in there last one so I was just trying to manage to pick our way through the field and stay out of trouble, but overall was good to come home with a win.”

Josh Thomas, #69 TFH Racing Mustang 

“I had a great weekend in Bathurst, it is actually my first outright podium in the TA2 series and I am so pumped about that. A 41 car grid it was very chaotic at times but the racing was awesome and it is good to be here with everyone. Huge thank you to my team and sponsors, I can’t wait for the next one at Sydney Motorsport Park.”

Graham Cheney, #51 IES Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro

“It was a pretty good day here for me at Bathurst after the mistake I had yesterday but today was definitely an interesting race. It was very tricky with all the oil that was across the top of the mountain, but I was very lucky not to put it in the wall. It was awesome to see this many cars here for the weekend with lot’s of good racing.”

A lap time of 2.09.16 by GRM driver James Golding delivered the Mustang driver a front row start by 4/10ths of a second over former TA2 rookie Nathan Herne and National Trans Am reigning champ Todd Hazelwood in qualifying for todays combined TA2 Muscle Car Series and National Trans AM round at Mt Panorama Bathurst. Jarrod Hughes was the best of the regular TA2 point scorers qualifying 6^th outright, just ahead of Tom Davies Mustang.

Qualifying caught out 17-year-old Kiara Zabetakis in the Cutting, forcing the rookie to miss race 1, while reigning TA2 Champ Josh Haynes also hit the wall hard and was forced to start from the rear of the grid. IES Camaro driver Graham Cheney was the fastest of the Circo Master Class from Mark Crutcher and Aaron Prosser.

The record 41 car TA2/Trans AM grid rolled out for a 45-minute race with Golding covering off Herne into Turn 1 to lead up Mountain Straight for the first time, with Hazelwood, Nash Morris and James Moffat line astern.

Sixteen-year-old Diesel Thomas in the TFH Mustang was first into pit lane with a loose plug lead, then Herne came under pressure with a very loose Blue and Gold Industries Mustang allowing Moffat and Morris to move by. On Lap 7, Moffat made a lunge on Morris at Forest Elbow, causing both to spin before Morris was again clouted hard by Charlie Nash and forced to retire. Moffat was given a drive through penalty as a result.

TA2 Muscle Car Master Warren Wadley had a massive moment at the Chase, running deep then spinning and hitting the inside wall in the 88 Mustang with significant damage, while Hayden Jackson’s Dodge retired in the Turn 1 run off early in the race with drive shaft bolt failure. Aaron Prosser having his first Bathurst race also retired the Security of Supply Mustang early in the race.

2024 TA2 Champ Josh Haynes was up 20 spots by Lap 9 in the Herzog Steel Mustang before speedway legend Robbie Farr in the Hi-Tec Oils Camaro backed it in hard at the Cutting while C and H Trucking’s Domain Ramsay and Mark Crutcher came together on the entry to Forest Elbow with damage to both setting up a safety car 1 lap dash to the end. Ramsay copped a post-race 30 second penalty while Crutcher’s Mustang has significant damage.

On the green, Golding under pressure kept his cool to go on and win by just 2/10ths of a second from Hazelwood, Herne, Elliot Barbour and Jordan Cox. Jarrod Hughes was the first of the TA2 point scorers from Ben Gomersall and Tom Davies, while Josh Thomas had a solid run in the TFH Mustang to edge out NZ rookie Ayrton Hodson having his first Bathurst run ahead of Castle Railings Cameron Laws.

Despite a spin mid race in Turn 1, Bathurst local Graham Cheney extended his lead in the Circo Master Class from IES team mate Paul Hadley.

TFH Racing’s Des Collier, Ambrose Racing’s Josh Webster and Turps Tippers Mustang driver Michael Coulter wrapped up the TA2 Top Ten points earners.

Race Two of the TFH Hire Muscle Car Series - presented by Maritimo Luxury Yachts will be on track tomorrow morning from 9.55, and broadcast live on Fox Sports/Kayo.
 

QUOTES

Jarrod Hughes, #118 Road Active Suspension Chevrolet Camaro
It was a bit of an up and down race for me, I started off Race 1 really well, kept onto sixth place until we got to Conrod Straight but unfortunately, I didn’t have the top end speed. The whole race we were pretty strong everywhere around the track except the straights but all in all I am pretty happy with how today has gone, looking forward to Race 2 tomorrow. 

Graham Cheney, #51 IES Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro
I had a  good start in Race 1, got through a few people, but it was really fantastic  to see some clean racing. I made a stuff up coming into Turn 1 spinning the car, but managed to get it back on track. I was catching up to everyone until the safety car came out, which was a bit of a bummer as I definitely had pace over the guys in front, but overall I  am really happy with today and looking forward to tomorrow’s race. 

Mark Crutcher, #4 Crutcher Developments Ford Mustang
Race 1 for me was a bugger, I enjoyed the race a lot but I got tangled up with one of my great mate’s Domain Ramsay at the top of the mountain which ruined both our races. No hard feelings between us two, but it was a disappointing end for the both of us. Onwards and upwards and we will see if we can get it fixed for tomorrow. 

Following their recent purchase of the TA2 Muscle Car Series, HCC Pty Ltd announced at Mt Panorama this morning they have also purchased the National Trans AM Series from the Australian Racing Group, headed by Garry and Barry Rogers. The purchase comes only 2 months after HCC acquired the TA2 series plus all the parts supply and infrastructure from founders Peter and Moana Robinson and comes on the weekend of a record 41 car Trans AM/TA2 field at the legendary Bathurst circuit.

HCC Pty Ltd, headed by long time TA2 competitors Mark Crutcher, Graham Cheney and Paul Hadley currently supply cars and componentry for both series, recently announcing a 5-year supply agreement between the two parties, which is now underpinned by the outright purchase and management of the National Trans AM series offering a long-term stable development platform and horizon for both.

Trans AM and TA2 will continue to be promoted as two separate series, given there’s over 100 PBR Spec TA2 cars in the country, with strong demand to grow significantly.

“This completes the circle for what we think is going to be a very exciting period for Trans AM and the TA2 Muscle Car Series. We have been inundated with new car orders given the strong calendar and television package offered for either championship this year, and the talent line up in this weekend’s round at Mt Panorama highlights the value proposition that both TA2 and Trans AM now offer. The last time there was a 40 plus grid of pure V8’s at the Mount was the Supercar Development Series in 2006, almost 20 years ago! I would also like to acknowledge the efforts that Garry and Barry have put into building the Trico Trans AM series over the last 6 years and their support and ease of making this opportunity a reality,” explained Mark Crutcher.

Garry Roger’s Motorsport will remain active competitors in the series and continue to run a multi car Trans AM team as stated by Barry Rogers.

“The timing is right for GRM to step aside from the category management of Trans Am. The series under the guidance of Liam Curkpatrick has certainly stepped up to a very competitive and professional level. As a business, we are primarily focused on our racing and particularly the development of young drivers.  We have found that as the competition has become more intense, the management of the category has become a distraction. For the continued upward trajectory of Trans AM, it made good sense overall to have the HCC Group lead the way, given their recent investment in TA2 ownership, cars, parts supply and on track service to both Trans AM and TA2.   On behalf of all Trans AM and TA2 car owners, I think it’s important to acknowledge the foresight of Peter Robinson who saw the potential of these fabulous race cars when he imported the first car into Australia some 9  years ago, and none of this would have been achieved without his initial investment and belief in what has turned out to be one of the most exciting and entertaining motorsport categories in Australia and New Zealand.”

Both series will continue with their separate 2025 calendars, the TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series - presented by Maritimo Luxury Yachts with the Hi-Tec Super Series and Trico National Trans AM as a support to three Supercar rounds plus Race Winton and Race Mallala. Liam Curkpatrick stays on in his role to oversee Trans AM and Matt MacKelden will remain National Category Manager of the TA2 Muscle Car Series, while Cameron Sendall will continue his role as the lead Technical Consultant for both series.

For more information contact Mark Crutcher CEO HCC Pty Ltd on 0411 481 595