Category: News

Josh Buchan scored Hyundai’s best results at Queensland Raceway with a double podium finish in Round 5 of the 2024 TCR Australia Championship on the weekend.

The defending series champion clawed back from a difficult start to the weekend in qualifying, his Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR hampered by carrying the maximum weight penalty, to finish fourth in the opening race and then third in both the reverse-grid second race and final sprint to claim his third podium result of the season.

Buchan’s two third places are the best results – and the first ever podium finishes – for HMO Customer Racing at the 3.16km circuit, located near Ipswich on the south-western outskirts of Brisbane.

It also cemented his second place on the championship ladder heading into the final two rounds of the season at Sydney Motorsport Park and Mount Panorama at Bathurst, which have been two of the team’s strongest tracks in the past.

Teammate Tom Oliphant looked set for his best individual results since joining the TCR Australia Championship last year. Despite never having raced at Queensland Raceway before, the former British Touring Car Championship race winner scored his first-ever pole position in the series but was forced to start the opening race from sixth following a grid penalty for an engine change in the lead-up to the event.

The 33-year-old took full advantage of the pace in his Hyundai i30 N TCR during the opening race, charging his way to fourth position as the only driver to overtake in a processional opening race. He was moving through the field again in the reverse-grid second race until he was handed a contentious drive-through penalty that dropped him to 11^th when the chequered flag fell.

Oliphant was the fastest driver in the final race, consistently re-setting his own fastest laps, to come home fourth in the race and the same position for the overall round.

HMO Customer Racing will next head to Sydney Motorsport Park for the sixth round of 2024 TCR Australia Championship on October 18-20.

Car 1: i30 Sedan N TCR – Josh Buchan

“It is great to finally break our hoodoo at Queensland Raceway and score the team’s first podium results at this track. It didn’t look like it was going to happen on my side of the garage at the start of the weekend; it was pretty dismal on Saturday morning after qualifying but my guru engineer Rob Benson tuned up the car and (team boss) Barry Morcom slapped me around the head and here we are with a double podium that limited the damage at what is historically our worst track.

“Now, we’re heading to two of our better circuits and let’s hope the racing gods are on our side, and we can make a good push for back-to-back titles over the last two rounds.”

Car 15: i30 N TCR – Tom Oliphant

“We had the fastest car, and I was the quickest driver all weekend, and we came away with nothing to show for it which is hugely disappointing. I put it on pole and took my five-place grid penalty, but the potential for podiums and wins got taken away from me for a pointless penalty that wasn’t even my fault.

“I overtook more cars this weekend than anyone else and I’m really pleased with the pace, but I leave Queensland with a sour note in my mouth.”

Race Results: Round 5, Queensland Raceway, Queensland

	Josh Buchan	Tom Oliphant
Practice 1	P3 (1:14.1560sec)	P4 (1:14.1599sec)
Practice 2	P2 (1:14.1490sec)	P7 (1:143649sec)
Qualifying	P7 (1:14.1115sec)	P1 (1:13.4314sec)
Race 1	P6 (1:14.8794sec)	P4 (1:14.7109sec)
Race 2	P3 (1:15.1695sec)	P11 (1:149923sec) – FL
Race 3	P3 (1:9789sec)	P4 (1:148355) – FL

2024 TCR Australia Championship Standings – After Round 5

Position	Name	Car	Points
1.	Zac Soutar	Audi RS3 LMS	531
2.	Josh Buchan	Hyundai i30 N TCR	504
3.	Jordan Cox	Peugeot 308 TCR	479
4.	Brad Harris	Honda Civic Type R	465
5.	Ben Bargwanna	Peugeot 308 R	464
6.	Ryan Casha	Peugeot 308 TCR	461
7.	Tony D’Alberto	Honda Civic Type R	447
8.	Aaron Cameron	Peugeot 308 TCR	405
9.	Dylan O’Keefe	Lynk & Co 03 TCR	403
10.	Clay Richards	Cupra Leon TCR	347
11.	Tom Oliphant	Hyundai i30 N TCR	341

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Hyundai’s Josh Buchan is aiming to break through for HMO Customer Racing’s first podium finish at Queensland Raceway, which hosts the fifth round of the 2024 TCR Australia Championship this weekend.

The reigning series champion enters the round hoping to continue the momentum from the previous round at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia, where he scored a rare triple podium result that elevated him to second place on the drivers’ championship ladder.

But the technical 3.12km circuit has never been a happy hunting ground for HMO Customer Racing and is the only circuit on the calendar where it has yet to score a top three finish from the 12 races it has hosted in four previous visits.

Buchan scored a string of top-six finishes last year in the first appearance at the circuit for the new-generation Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR and is confident he will be among the front runners this weekend as the team has more information on how to extract the maximum from the vehicle.

However, the 29-year-old Sydneysider doesn’t underestimate the challenge ahead of him, especially considering he will carry the maximum weight penalty following his front-row qualifying position at The Bend.

Teammate Tom Oliphant will also carry a penalty into this weekend’s fifth round as the team was forced to install a new engine in his Hyundai i30 N TCR hatchback after the previous motor was damaged in the final race in South Australia.

The expat Brit, and former British Touring Car Championship race winner, will lose five places from his qualifying position but is confident he can fight back through the field despite never having raced at Queensland Raceway before.

HMO Customer Racing will have two 30-minute practice sessions at Queensland Raceway on Friday ahead of qualifying on Saturday at 8:45am and the opening race, which starts at 2:05pm. The team will return to the track on Sunday for the two remaining races, with the top-10 finishers from Saturday’s first race reversed for the second sprint.

Fans can catch all the action from Round 5 of the TCR Australia Championship at Queensland Raceway and the Motorsport Australia Shannons Speed Series live and free via 7Plus.

What the drivers said:

Car 1: i30 Sedan N TCR – Josh Buchan

“Historically, Queensland Raceway has been pretty tough on us. But I’m back in the Hyundai i30 Sedan N again this weekend and hoping to keep up the front-running form we showed at The Bend and banish the hoodoo that this track holds over us.

“I’m confident we have a great race car that can overcome the weight penalty, but I know it won’t be easy. If we can get through this weekend relatively unscathed then it puts us in a really strong position for the remaining two rounds at Sydney Motorsport Park and Mount Panorama at Bathurst, which are two of our best tracks and where we have always targeted in our push for back-to-back titles.”

Car 15: i30 N TCR – Tom Oliphant

“Queensland Raceway is the one track I missed last year as I was getting married at the time, so I’ll be heading into the unknown again this weekend. But that doesn’t concern me, as I’m confident I’ll get on top of it quite quickly in practice.

“However, I will be racing from being the eight ball with a five-place grid penalty for an engine swap after The Bend, which is a bit frustrating. But it is a track where you can overtake and the Hyundai i30 N TCR is strong under brakes, so I’m looking to recover as much as I can and, really, I have nothing to lose considering my position in the championship and will be going for it this weekend. My only goal from now until the end of the season is to win as many races as possible.”

2024 TCR Australia Championship Standings – After Round 4, The Bend, SA

Position	Name	Car	Points
1.	Zac Soutar	Audi RS3 LMS	414
2.	Josh Buchan	Hyundai i30 N TCR	393
3.	Ben Bargwanna	Peugeot 308 R	383
4.	Jordan Cox	Peugeot 308 TCR	378
5.	Ryan Casha	Peugeot 308 TCR	366
6.	Brad Harris	Honda Civic Type R	365
7.	Clay Richards	Cupra Leon TCR	347
8.	Dylan O’Keefe	Lynk & Co 03 TCR	343
9.	Tony D’Alberto	Honda Civic Type R	315
10.	Aaron Cameron	Peugeot 308 TCR	306
11.	Tom Oliphant	Hyundai i30 N TCR	238

2024 TCR Australia Championship, Round 5: Queensland Raceway

Track Facts
Location	Willowbank, Queensland
Length	3.126 km
TCR Pole Record	1:12.5223sec, Tony D’Alberto (Honda Civic Type R) – 2022
TCR Lap Record	1:13.9090sec, Jay Hanson (Audi RS3 LMS) – 2022

TCR Schedule – Round 5: Queensland Raceway, QLD

Friday August 2	Saturday August 3	Sunday August 4
Practice 1: 9:00am	Qualifying: 8:45am	Race 2: 1:45pm
Practice 2: 1:40pm	Race 1: 2:05pm	Race 3: 4:15pm

HMO Customer Racing’s Josh Buchan took his first overall round victory of the 2024 TCR Australia Championship with a string of podium finishes at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia on the weekend.

Finishing with two thirds and a second place from three dramatic races, it is only the second time since Buchan joined the TCR series in 2021 that he has finished on the podium in every race during a single round.

His consistent run of form, driving the Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR that took him to the 2024 TCR Australia crown for the first time this season, gave him the overall round victory by just four points and elevated the defending champion to second position on the championship ladder at the halfway point of the season.

Buchan made a cautious start to the weekend’s on-track action and forfeited most of the two 30-minute practice sessions on Friday, which were held in wet and slippery conditions, to protect to his car.

This had no detriment on his speed when it came to qualifying, with Buchan narrowly missing out on pole position by less than 0.2sec as a result of being impeded by a rival driver on his fastest lap.

He was forced to start the opening race in seventh position following a five-place penalty for changing engines mid-season as a consequence of returning to the i30 Sedan N TCR for the first time this season.

He bolted off the line, swerving around the stranded Audi of Zac Soutar just in front of him, and charged into third position during the opening laps, before maintaining a watching brief for the rest of the race over a wheel-banging battle between Jordan Cox and Tony D’Alberto in front.

Buchan got a slow start from eighth place in the second reverse-grid race and dropped positions on the opening lap but clawed his way back onto the podium in third.

Starting from pole position for the final, he again struggled to get off the line with too much wheelspin and fell back into the mid-pack by the first corner. Showcasing his exceptional race craft and the speed of his Hyundai, Buchan sliced through the field with lap record pace but ultimately ran out of laps to catch race winner Soutar by the time the chequered flag fell.

Teammate Tom Oliphant also proved to be one of the fastest drivers in the field, despite having never raced at the fast and flowing 3.4km circuit located just outside of Tailem Bend, 100km south-west of Adelaide.

Oliphant took full advantage of practice in spite of the conditions to become familiar with the circuit and topped a session for the first time since joining the TCR Australia Championship last year with the fastest lap in second practice.

In Qualifying, he missed out on a promotion to the Top Six shootout by less than 0.1sec with the seventh fastest time. However, like his teammate, Oliphant also incurred a five-place grid penalty as he switched into the race-winning i30 N TCR that Buchan had driven during the opening three rounds.

Oliphant became embroiled in a number of skirmishes with slower drivers in the opening laps. Once he cleared the mayhem, the Brit matched the leaders’ pace and put up a valiant fight to try and finish 10^th and secure a front-row start for the reverse-grid race. But a late lunge in the final stages didn’t pay dividends, and Oliphant finished 11^th.

He showed what could have been in the second race, muscling his way through the field and gained seven positions to finish fourth across the line with the fastest lap of the race. However, he incurred a five-second penalty for a collision, which later dropped him back to fifth.

Oliphant started the final race with a potential issue when he received warning light on his dashboard during the formation laps, which eventually caused him to stop on track after just a few laps and retire the car.

HMO Customer Racing will next head to Queensland Raceway for the fifth round of 2024 TCR Australia Championship on July 12-14.

Car 1: i30 Sedan N TCR – Josh Buchan

“What a chaotic weekend it’s been out on track. We’ve got some battle scars on my Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR after three hectic races, but I’ve also got a bag of trophies to take home with me, which is extremely rare in this category, and the overall round victory which is amazing.

“I’m positive the results could have been ever better – with a couple of race wins potentially – if I had started from the front row in race one and had better starts in the last two races. But we showed the i30 Sedan N TCR is mega-fast, and it’s nice to be back behind the wheel of my championship-winning car and take another step closer to the lead in the driver’s standings.”

Car 15: i30 N TCR – Tom Oliphant

“It was a real up-and-down weekend for me at The Bend. We had some great pace in the car, and it was a shame to miss out on getting into the Top Six during qualifying, because that really put us behind the eight ball with the penalty. I’m confident we would been on the first two rows if we had made it through, and that would have had a massive outcome and potentially changed our weekend completely.

“The second race was a real highlight, coming through from 11^th to cross the line in fourth with the fastest lap. The other two races didn’t showcase our potential: we just caught up in avoidable incidents. Overall, I think there’s a lot of positives that give me confidence for better results in the next round at Queensland Raceway next month.”

2024 TCR Australia Championship Standings

Position	Name	Car	Points
1.	Zac Soutar	Audi RS3 LMS	414
2.	Josh Buchan	Hyundai i30 N TCR	393
3.	Ben Bargwanna	Peugeot 308 R	383
4.	Jordan Cox	Peugeot 308 TCR	378
5.	Ryan Casha	Peugeot 308 TCR	366
6.	Brad Harris	Honda Civic Type R	365
7.	Clay Richards	Cupra Leon TCR	347
8.	Dylan O’Keefe	Lynk & Co 03 TCR	343
9.	Tony D’Alberto	Honda Civic Type R	315
10.	Aaron Cameron	Peugeot 308 TCR	306
11.	Tom Oliphant	Hyundai i30 N TCR	238

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HMO Customer Racing’s Josh Buchan will resume his 2024 TCR Australia Championship campaign in the title-winning Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR for the first time this season in Round 4 of the series at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia this weekend.

The reigning champion was forced to start his title defence in the previous-generation Hyundai i30 N TCR hatchback after his HMO Customer Racing team discovered a minor technical issue with the i30 Sedan N TCR during pre-season testing.

Despite the setback, Buchan has had his strongest start to a championship season so far and currently sits third on the standings, just 22 points behind the leader, with one pole position and six podium finishes from the nine races, including his first victory of the year during the previous round at Phillip Island.

Teammate Tom Oliphant will also switch machinery at The Bend, jumping into the driver’s seat of the newer, race-winning i30 N TCR hatch that Buchan drove in the first three rounds.

The double car swap will place additional emphasis on the drivers in qualifying as the TCR regulations mandate a five-place grid penalty for any driver swapping into a different car during the season.

Amplifying the challenge is the fact that neither driver has any experience racing a TCR car at The Bend Motorsport Park, which returns to the TCR Australia Championship for the first time since the inaugural season in 2019.

However, HMO Customer Racing have race-winning pedigree at the South Australian circuit as the team clinched its first TCR Australia Championship victory at The Bend with Will Brown in 2019.

HMO Customer Racing will have two 30-minute practice sessions at The Bend on Friday afternoon ahead of qualifying on Saturday at 9:30am and the opening race, which starts at 2:45pm. The team will return to the track on Sunday for the two remaining races, with the top-10 finishers from Saturday’s first race reversed for the second sprint.

Fans can catch all the action from Round 4 of the TCR Australia Championship at The Bend Motorsport Park and the Motorsport Australia Shannons Speed Series live and free via 7Plus.

What the drivers said:

Car 1: i30 Sedan N TCR – Josh Buchan

“It’s exciting to be back behind the wheel of the Hyundai i30 Sedan N TCR. I obviously have a great affinity for this car, and there’s a sticker on the dash in front of me reminding of the championship victory that I’ll be happy to see again.

I have only raced once before at The Bend in an F3 car in 2019 but know the track very well through activities like the Hyundai N Festival and driver coaching so I don’t think that will be too much of a disadvantage for us. Besides, the team has a great understanding of what’s required to be quick around there and I’m also racing in the GT4 series again, which will give me extra time to iron out any lumps and bumps in terms of getting up to speed with the circuit.

“The penalty does put us behind the eight-ball a little from the start, but The Bend is a good racetrack with plenty of overtaking opportunities so I’m confident we’ll be competitive this weekend.”

Car 15: i30 N TCR – Tom Oliphant

“I have never been to The Bend before, which is exciting. I’ve raced on a lot of circuits around the world, and I think learning new tracks is a strength of mine. Plus, I’ve spent some time on the simulator just getting familiar with it, and it doesn’t seem too complex with plenty of overtaking spots. I think it will be a really good race with plenty of action and opportunities.

“Overall, I think it is a circuit that should suit the characteristics of the Hyundai i30 N TCR hatch. The penalty for swapping cars is a bit stupid in my opinion, but it is what it is, and we just have to knuckle down and recover from that with some good overtaking.”

2024 TCR Australia – Round 4: The Bend Motorsport Park Grand Prix Circuit

Track Facts
Location	Tailem Bend, South Australia
Length	3.41 km
TCR Pole Record	1:55.62sec, Dylan O’Keefe (Renault Megane RS) – 2019
TCR Lap Record	1:57.050sec, Nathan Morcom (Hyundai i30 N TCR) – 2019

TCR Schedule – Round 4: The Bend Motorsport Park

Friday May 31	Saturday June 1	Sunday June 2
Practice 1: 10:50am	Qualifying: 9:30am	Race 2: 11:20am
Practice 2: 2:20pm	Race 2:45pm	Race 3: 3:50pm

2024 TCR Australia Championship Standings (after round 3)

Position	Name	Car	Points
1.	Ben Bargwanna	Peugeot 308 R	300
2.	Zac Soutar	Audi RS3 LMS	293
3.	Josh Buchan	Hyundai i30 N TCR	278
4.	Clay Richards	Cupra Leon TCR	277
5.	Jordan Cox	Peugeot 308 TCR	265
6.	Ryan Casha	Peugeot 308 TCR	257
7.	Brad Harris	Honda Civic Type R	256
8.	Dylan O’Keefe	Lynk & Co 03 TCR	242
9.	Aaron Cameron	Peugeot 308 TCR	220
10.	Tony D’Alberto	Honda Civic Type R	215
11.	Tom Oliphant	Hyundai i30 N TCR	210

HMO Customer Racing’s Josh Buchan closed in on the championship lead with a double podium finish in the third round of the 2024 TCR Australia Championship at Phillip Island last weekend.

The reigning TCR Australia Champion scored his first race victory of the season in the opening race when he stole the lead on the opening, and then managed his lap-record pace advantage over the rest of the field to greet the chequered flag first.

Looking to repeat his 2023 overall round victory at the spectacular seaside circuit, Buchan was prepared for a conservative run in the second race, which starts with a reversed grid for the top 10. But his plan was foiled before half a lap was completed when a rival crashed into his Hyundai i30 N TCR, which caused severe damage to the rear suspension and an immediate retirement.

Determined to salvage a positive result after his HMO Customer Racing team heroically repaired the car in time to start the third and final race, the 29-year-old Sydneysider charged through the field to finish on the podium, which subsequently elevated him to third place on the driver’s championship ladder, just 22 points behind the new leader, Ben Bargwanna.

Teammate Tom Oliphant had a consistent run of top 10 finishes in the three races, finishing seventh, ninth and seventh respectively. His pace was hampered by carrying the maximum success ballast weight penalty following his maiden TCR Australia Championship round victory in the previous event at Symmons Plains. The former British Touring Car Championship race winner was on course for a potential podium result in the reverse grid second race, having started on the second row, but, like Buchan, was crashed into by a rival which sent him off the road and lost numerous positions.

HMO Customer Racing next returns to The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia for the first time since the inaugural TCR Australia Championship in 2019 for the fourth round of the 2024 series on May 31-June 2.

Car 1: i30 N TCR – Josh Buchan

“When you look at the results – a double podium with a race victory – is pretty good, but it was also an unfortunate case of ‘what could have been’ after being poorly taken out in race two. I get racing, but that was a bit much.

“It was a great recovery drive to finish third in the final race, and miraculously climbing to third on the championship standings which I am quite pleased about. I’m now looking forward to the next round at The Bend and another opportunity to reclaim the lead in the title race.”

Car 15: i30 N TCR – Tom Oliphant

“We had a lot going against us on my side of the garage this weekend carrying the success ballast from Symmons Plains, which hurt us in terms of outright pace and tyre life. We had a real chance to making something from nothing in race two and I was sneaking my way into a potential podium finish, but then I was speared off the track.

“I should be leaving Phillip Island with a few more points on the scoreboard, which would be nice as I need every point I can get. I’ll take the positives though, as we finished all three races and scored a decent haul. It wasn’t spectacular, but I’m determined to create some spectacular at The Bend for the next round.”

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Race Results: Round 3, Phillip Island, Victoria

	Josh Buchan	Tom Oliphant
Practice 1	P4 (1:37.1401sec)	P9 (1:38.0104sec)
Practice 2	P3 (1:36.4139sec)	P9 (1:37.4311sec)
Qualifying	P3 (1:35.7174sec)	P8 (1:36.7756sec)
Race 1	P1 (1:36.7171sec) – FL	P7 (1:37.2998sec)
Race 2	DNF	P9 (1:36.8806sec)
Race 3	P3 (1:36.7254sec)	P7 (1:37.5507sec)

2024 TCR Australia Championship Standings – Provisional

Position	Name	Car	Points
1.	Ben Bargwanna	Peugeot 308 R	300
2.	Zac Soutar	Audi RS3 LMS	293
3.	Josh Buchan	Hyundai i30 N TCR	278
4.	Clay Richards	Cupra Leon TCR	277
5.	Jordan Cox	Peugeot 308 TCR	265
6.	Ryan Casha	Peugeot 308 TCR	257
7.	Brad Harris	Honda Civic Type R	256
8.	Dylan O’Keefe	Lynk & Co 03 TCR	242
9.	Aaron Cameron	Peugeot 308 TCR	220
10.	Tony D’Alberto	Honda Civic Type R	215
11.	Tom Oliphant	Hyundai i30 N TCR	210

Hyundai drivers Josh Buchan and Tom Oliphant are prepared for a new challenge on the resurfaced Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend during the third round of the 2024 TCR Australia Championship.

Buchan dominated the previous event at the fast and flowing seaside circuit last year, scoring pole position and two race victories and is confident of repeating his front-running form this weekend. The 29-year-old Sydneysider, who sits fourth on the championship ladder, is hoping to reclaim the title lead after being robbed of a potential round victory at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.

Buchan was on course for a consecutive podium result after finishing second in the opening race at Symmons Plains but lost his pointscore when the officials declared the race didn’t complete the full distance following a lengthy red-flag period.

On the flipside, the decision allowed teammate Tom Oliphant to score his maiden overall round victory in the TCR Australia Championship – and his first race win with HMO Customer Racing. On the back of that success, the former British Touring Car Championship race winner is confident he will also be among the front runners at Phillip Island and continue his front-running momentum.

Both drivers will, however, face a new challenge at Phillip Island as the 4.445km circuit has been completely resurfaced, which is expected to offer more grip and generate faster lap times.

This will create additional pressure on the drivers and engineers to adapt to the new conditions during practice to fine-tune the cars for qualifying and then manage tyre preservation during the race.

HMO Customer Racing will have two, shortened 20-minute practice sessions at Phillip Island on Friday afternoon ahead of qualifying on Saturday at 11:25am and the opening race, which starts at 3:15pm. The team will return to the track on Sunday for the two remaining races, with the top-10 finishers from Saturday’s first race reversed for the second sprint.

Fans can catch all the action from Phillip Island and the Motorsport Australia Shannons Speed Series live and free via 7Plus.

What the drivers said:

Car 1: i30 N TCR – Josh Buchan

“The track is very different with a lot more grip than we’ve had in the past and it will be interesting to see how much faster we can go now, and how it evolves over the weekend. It will be a real test for the engineers to chase the track with the set-up, and for us drivers in how the tyres last over the race distance. We’re stepping into the unknown this weekend, which is a great challenge.

“Phillip Island has always been a track that I’ve gone well at, and scoring pole and two wins last year was a great result that really set us up for the championship victory in the end. I’m pretty motivated after what happened in Tasmania as I feel like I was robbed of a good result. I just want to have a clean run at the front to wipe that one from my memories.”

Car 15: i30 N TCR – Tom Oliphant

“It is fantastic to come to Phillip Island off the back of a victory at Symmons Plains, and I’m looking to continue that momentum this weekend at one of the fastest and most challenging circuits. Yes, there was a bit of luck involved in our success in Tassie, but more than anything we proved we were fast, and I think we’ve unlocked the speed and I’m now really comfortable and confident in the car. I still have some improvements to make in qualifying, and that is what I’ll be focusing on at Phillip Island to ensure we’re at the front again this weekend.

“Phillip Island, along with Sydney Motorsport Park, is a track that suits my driving style the best as it is quite similar to my favourite track in the UK, Donnington, which is also very fast and flowing. If we can grab a win that would be great, but with 40kg of weight penalty on board I’ll take podiums all day long.”

2024 TCR Australia Championship, Round 3: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Track Facts
Location	Phillip Island, Victoria
Length	4.445 km
TCR Pole Record	1:35.8130sec, Jay Hanson (Audi RS3 LMS) – 2022
TCR Lap Record	1:37.1991sec, Will Brown (Audi RS3 LMS) – 2022

TCR Schedule – Round 3: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Friday April 12	Saturday April 13	Sunday April 14
Practice 1: 11:25am	Qualifying: 11:25am	Race 2: 1:25pm
Practice 2: 3:10pm	Race 1: 3:15pm	Race 3: 4:10pm

2024 TCR Australia Championship Standings – Provisional

Position	Name	Car	Points
1.	Zac Soutar	Audi RS3 LMS	187
2.	Ben Bargwanna	Peugeot 308 R	186
3.	Jordan Cox	Peugeot 308 TCR	186
4.	Josh Buchan	Hyundai i30 N TCR	169
5.	Clay Richards	Cupra Leon TCR	168
6.	Ryan Casha	Peugeot 308 TCR	164
7.	Dylan O’Keefe	Lynk & Co 03 TCR	161
8.	Brad Harris	Honda Civic Type R	133
9.	Aaron Cameron	Peugeot 308 TCR	125
10.	Tony D’Alberto	Honda Civic Type R	124
11.	Tom Oliphant	Hyundai i30 N TCR	121

Hyundai’s Tom Oliphant scored his breakthrough first overall round victory in the TCR Australia Championship during an action-packed and heated round two of the 2024 series at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.

The expat Brit, who made his debut in the TCR Australia Championship at Symmons Plains in 2023 and has joined the reigning teams’ champions HMO Customer Racing this season, bounced back from a disappointing qualifying position to charge through the field and score a double podium result, finishing second in the reverse-grid race and then clearing out to a dominant victory during a door-banging and dramatic final 30-lap sprint.

It was Oliphant’s second race victory in the TCR Australia Championship after winning the reverse-grid race at Winton Raceway in 2023 and elevated him back into title contention and into the top 10 in the drivers’ standings.

The weekend was marred by controversy both on and off the track, with teammate Buchan losing a significant number of points after finishing second in the opening race when stewards declared it didn’t meet the prescribed time allowance following a lengthy red-flag period to recover a competitor after an opening-lap incident.

The reigning champion gained positions in the reverse-grid second race to finish sixth and was set to start the final race on the front row – and potentially steal the championship lead from rival Ben Bargwanna – but was forced to start in the middle of the pack following the late decision to scrap the points from race one following an appeal by a competitor team.

In the race, Buchan muscled his way into a podium position only to be spun out by Zac Soutar while racing through the fastest section of the circuit, sending his i30 N TCR off the circuit in a dramatic cloud of dust. He managed to rejoin the race and nurse his damaged Hyundai across the line in 11^th.

HMO Customer Racing now heads to Phillip Island in Victoria for the third round of the 2024 TCR Australia Championship on April 12-14.

Car 1: i30 N TCR – Josh Buchan

“I don’t really know how to sum up such a weird weekend. We had the second fastest car all weekend, but the events that unraveled in race one led to the confusing decision that was made to start the final race, which was chaotic. In all honesty, it was actually good fun out there – there was a lot going on. At this point, I don’t really want to say anything about the incident, but I think there will be a lot to unpack from this weekend and Phillip Island can’t come soon enough. I’ll just press on and try again another day.”

Car 15: i30 N TCR – Tom Oliphant

“I reckon I’m the happiest guy on the grid after everything that has happened. It’s been an entertaining weekend – let’s put it that way. We were quick in the opening practice but then went into the wrong direction in qualifying. We made great changes for the race set-up and we were rapid. The car I had underneath me was superb and to come away with the most points from the weekend is a surprise. I’m well aware it had a lot to do with a judicial decision, but I’ve been in this game long enough and have had my share of bad luck – so I’ll happily take a dose of good luck for this one. Either way, this is exactly the result I needed to turnaround my championship aspirations. I’m really, really pleased.”

Race Results: Round 2, Symmons Plains Raceway, Tasmania

	Josh Buchan	Tom Oliphant
Practice 1	P9 (56.5462sec)	P5 (56.4056sec)
Practice 2	P5 (56.5222sec)	P10 (56.8956sec)
Qualifying	P2 (56.1652sec)	P10 (56.8568sec)
Race 1	P2 (56.8963sec)	P8 (56.7549sec)
Race 2	P6 (57.0215sec)	P2 (56.9321sec) – FL
Race 3	P1 (56.8927sec)	P1 (56.9118sec)

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2024 TCR Australia Championship Standings – Provisional

Position	Name	Car	Points
1.	Zac Soutar	Audi RS3 LMS	187
2.	Ben Bargwanna	Peugeot 308 R	186
3.	Jordan Cox	Peugeot 308 TCR	186
4.	Josh Buchan	Hyundai i30 N TCR	169
5.	Clay Richards	Cupra Leon TCR	168
6.	Ryan Casha	Peugeot 308 TCR	164
7.	Dylan O’Keefe	Lynk & Co 03 TCR	161
8.	Brad Harris	Honda Civic Type R	133
9.	Aaron Cameron	Peugeot 308 TCR	125
10.	Tony D’Alberto	Honda Civic Type R	124
11.	Tom Oliphant	Hyundai i30 N TCR	121

Hyundai’s Josh Buchan and HMO Customer Racing teammate Tom Oliphant are both seeking revenge at Symmons Plains Raceway as the 2024 TCR Australia Championship resumes for round two in Tasmania this weekend.

Buchan, who scored a podium finish on his TCR debut at the short yet fast circuit in 2021, was robbed of victory the next year when he was penalised for a rule that no longer exists (weaving under the safety car) and then denied a front-row start in 2023 due to a technical issue.

This year, having kick-started his TCR Championship defence with second place in the opening round at Sandown, the 29-year-old reigning TCR Australia champion is aiming for redemption on the Apple Isle and reclaim the lead in the drivers’ standings.

Similarly, former British Touring Car Championship race winner Oliphant is hoping to re-start his championship attack at Symmons Plains and recover lost ground after a tricky debut with HMO Customer Racing, where technical gremlins hampered the top speed of his Hyundai i30 N TCR.

Oliphant is confident the team has rectified the issues after a positive test session and plans to unleash some aggressive driving tactics on the technical 2.4km circuit.

Having made his first appearance in the TCR Australia Championship in Tasmania last year, Symmons Plains will be the first circuit that Oliphant has previous experience and says it has a lot of familiar characteristics from ‘old school’ circuits in his native Great Britain.

HMO Customer Racing will have two 30-minute practice sessions at Symmons Plains Raceway on Friday afternoon to fine tune the cars ahead of qualifying on Saturday at 12:05pm and the opening race, which starts at 3:15pm. The team will return to the track on Sunday for the two remaining races, with the top-10 finishers from Saturday’s first race reversed for the second sprint.

Fans can catch all the action from Symmons Plains Raceway and the Motorsport Australia Shannons Speed Series live and free via 7plus.

What the drivers said:

Car 1: i30 N TCR – Josh Buchan

“I love Symmons Plains as a racetrack; it’s a little bullring! Traditionally in the past, it has been a happy hunting ground for HMO Customer Racing as a team. For me, I scored my first podium on my TCR debut in Tassie in 2021 and have always had good pace at Symmons Plains. But last year we were chasing a technical issue all weekend that set us back, and the year before I was on for the win but copped a penalty for a punishment that no longer exists. So, I’m looking to avenge those results this time around. I’m pretty keen to get one back.”

Car 15: i30 N TCR – Tom Oliphant

“We didn’t have the greatest start to the season at Sandown, so there is only one way option for me and that is to go absolutely hell for leather and try to reclaim as many points as possible. I have absolutely nothing to lose, and that makes me a little more dangerous. Josh has proven the i30 N is competitive and there is no reason why I wouldn’t be up the front where he was at Sandown. Basically, I am going to Symmons to start my championship again.”

2024 TCR Australia Championship Standings

Position	Name	Car	Points
1.	Ben Bargwanna	Peugeot 308 R	125
2.	Josh Buchan	Hyundai i30 N TCR	123
3.	Jordan Cox	Peugeot 308 TCR	119
4.	Zac Soutar	Audi RS3 LMS	116
5.	Ryan Casha	Peugeot 308 TCR	108
6.	Clay Richards	Cupra Leon TCR	101
7.	Tony D’Alberto	Honda Civic Type R	99
8.	John Martin	Honda Civic Type R	83
9.	Dylan O’Keefe	Lynk & Co 03 TCR	81
10.	Aaron Cameron	Peugeot 308 TCR	80
14.	Tom Oliphant	Hyundai i30 N TCR	39

2024 TCR Australia Championship, Round 2: Symmons Plains Raceway

Track Facts
Location	Launceston, Tasmania
Length	2.411 km
TCR Pole Record	55.2931sec, Nathan Morcom (Hyundai i30 N) – 2022
TCR Lap Record	55.7811sec, Jay Hanson (Audi RS3 LMS) – 2022

TCR Schedule – Round 2: Symmons Plains Raceway

Friday March 15	Saturday March 16	Sunday March 17
Practice 1: 10:55am	Qualifying: 12:05pm	Race 2: 12:15pm
Practice 2: 1:45pm	Race 1: 3:15pm	Race 3: 3:15pm

Hyundai driver Josh Buchan began his TCR title defence with his first podium appearance at Sandown Raceway, finishing second in the opening round of the 2024 TCR Australia Championship.

Buchan was among the front runners all weekend, scoring pole position, finishing sixth in the reverse grid sprint and twice runner-up in the maximum points-scoring races. He is second in the championship standings, just two points behind the leader, Ben Bargwanna.

Buchan was immediately on the pace as he began his title defence, setting the fifth and fourth fastest times respectively in the opening practice sessions on Friday.

On the other side of the garage, it was a difficult start to the season for HMO Customer Racing’s new recruit, Tom Oliphant, who was hampered by technical issues on his Hyundai i30 N TCR.

Oliphant took a more conservative approach to practice while becoming familiar with the Hyundai i30 N TCR and finished eighth and 11^th in opening practice respectively.

Buchan turned up the heat in qualifying to score his third pole position since joining the TCR Championship while Oliphant nursed a technical issue that restricted his top speed and could only manage the 12^th fastest time.

In the opening race, Buchan made a strong start from the front row and led for most of the opening lap, only to lose first place to Ben Bargwanna in the last corner after he pinched the brakes and ran slightly wide. He maintained pressure on the new race leader for the next few laps, but Bargwanna had the advantage and eventually took the chequered flag 5.9 seconds in front of Buchan.

Oliphant had a fast getaway and claimed five positions on the opening lap, but a minor clash damaged the cooling of his car that caused a loss of power. The British expat desperately attempted to defend his position but dropped back to finish 11^th.

In the second race, which reversed the top 10 on the starting grid, Buchan made a clean start and improved three places to finish sixth while Oliphant incurred extensive damage to the front of his car when a spring became lodged in his front bumper following a first-lap incident between two other competitors. He soldiered on to cross the line in 12^th.

Starting from pole position in the final race, Buchan was overtaken by race one rival, Ben Bargwanna, off the start line. He harassed the Peugeot driver for the entire race, but a fuel pressure problem late in the race stymied his chances of challenging for the lead and he crossed the line in second once again.

Oliphant was another innocent victim in someone else’s accident when he was spun around in the middle of the race. The incident caused further damage to his car, forcing him into the pits for repairs. He returned to the race and took the chequered flag in 12^th position, but was later declared a non-finisher as he only completed 12 laps.

HMO Customer Racing now heads to Symmons Plains in Tasmania for the second round of the 2024 TCR Australia Championship on March 15-17.

Car 1: i30 N TCR – Josh Buchan

“I’m extremely happy with the performance and our results from the weekend, especially considering the troubles we encountered in the lead-up to Sandown. The i30 N proved to be fast and reliable on our side of the garage, with pole position, two fastest laps and a podium finish with second overall on the championship points.

“Little Bargs (Ben Bargwanna) did a great job and I don’t think we had the car to get him in the last race when a little technical issue crept in with a few laps to run. Either way, it’s my best result at Sandown Raceway, which I’m very happy with, and I can’t wait to go to Tassie and hopefully get to stand one-step higher on the podium at Symmons Plains.”

Car 15: i30 N TCR – Tom Oliphant

“It’s been a very mixed bag for the team this weekend. Congratulations to Josh and the guys on his side of the garage, but unfortunately it wasn’t the same for me. The team is fantastic, and the atmosphere is exactly what I want, but sadly we had issues with our car that go beyond anybody’s control. We had a severe case of bad luck this weekend, but the good news is we think we understand the problem and I’m confident we will have a fast car that will bring us back to the front in Tassie”

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Race Results: Round 1, Sandown Raceway, Victoria

	Josh Buchan	Tom Oliphant
Practice 1	P5 (1:15.6598sec)	P8 (1:15.8122sec)
Practice 2	P4 (1:15.3996sec)	P11 (1:16.1922sec)
Qualifying	P1 (1:14.7689sec)	P12 (1:15.8946sec)
Race 1	P2 (1:15.6444sec) – FL	P11 (1:16.4844sec)
Race 2	P6 (1:16.5919sec)	P12 (1:17.2595sec)
Race 3	P2 (1:15.9554sec) – FL	DNF (1:17.0625sec)

2024 TCR Australia Championship Standings

Position	Name	Car	Points
1.	Ben Bargwanna	Peugeot 308 R	125
2.	Josh Buchan	Hyundai i30 N TCR	123
3.	Jordan Cox	Peugeot 308 TCR	119
4.	Zac Soutar	Audi RS3 LMS	116
5.	Ryan Casha	Peugeot 308 TCR	108
6.	Clay Richards	Cupra Leon TCR	101
7.	Tony D’Alberto	Honda Civic Type R	99
8.	John Martin	Honda Civic Type R	83
9.	Dylan O’Keefe	Lynk & Co 03 TCR	81
10.	Aaron Cameron	Peugeot 308 TCR	80
14.	Tom Oliphant	Hyundai i30 N TCR	39

Hyundai’s Josh Buchan and HMO Customer Racing are set to begin defending their sensational double TCR Australia Championship victories in the opening round of the 2024 season at the historic Sandown International Raceway in Melbourne this weekend.

Buchan scored his maiden TCR Australia title in dramatic fashion during the final round of the 2023 season at Mount Panorama, at the same time helping HMO Customer Racing seal its third teams’ championship in four years.

The 29-year-old Sydneysider heads into the 2024 championship as a pre-season favourite with a new teammate in Tom Oliphant, who joins HMO Customer Racing with a wealth of international racing experience.

Oliphant, 33, won the Rookie of the Year award in his debut TCR Australia season last year after finishing eighth on championship standings which included a breakthrough race victory at Winton.

The British expat has previously competed in top-level European touring cars, including the British Porsche Carrera Cup and international Porsche Supercar series, and was a front-runner in the British Touring Car Championship.

Both drivers will commence the 2024 TCR Australia Championship behind the wheel of proven race-winning machinery with the i30 N TCR hatchback.

Buchan was scheduled to continue in his championship-winning i30 Sedan N TCR, but the team discovered a minor technical issue during pre-season testing.

A new addition to the TCR series in 2024 is the return of the Australian Manufacturers’ Championship in which HMO Customer Racing’s Hyundai drivers will score points for the brand against competitors in rival machinery.

HMO Customer Racing will have two 30-minute practice sessions at Sandown International Raceway on Friday afternoon to fine tune the cars ahead of qualifying on Saturday at 10:30am and the opening race, which starts at 1:15pm. The team will return to the track on Sunday for the two remaining races (2:05pm & 3:20pm), with the top-10 finishers from Saturday’s first race reversed for the second sprint.

Fans can catch all the action from Sandown International Raceway and the Motorsport Australia Shannons Speed Series live and free via 7Plus.

What the drivers said:

Car 1: i30 N TCR – Josh Buchan

“It’s been a long time since winning the championship at Bathurst last year and I cannot wait to go racing again. It’s always exciting to start a new season. I am not treating this year any differently, and don’t consider the upcoming season as a defence of my title but rather an attack for another one. The points score is re-set back to zero at Sandown and the competition will be intense.

“I feel confident we have all the right ingredients to win again with the best team in pitlane and the best cars on the grid, but we have a long year ahead of us and I cannot take the number one for granted.

“It’s unfortunate not to be starting the series in my championship-winning i30 Sedan N TCR, but the hatch is a proven race winner and will be well-suited to the unique demands of Sandown with its long straights.”

Car 15: i30 N TCR – Tom Oliphant

“I’m really excited to get started with my new team at HMO Customer Racing and looking forward to racing at Sandown in the Hyundai i30 N TCR, which was the fastest car on that track last year. My aim is to get three very solid finishes, with a podium or if not better, and put some strong points on the table to establish my position in the championship.

“The team has been very welcoming and I feel very comfortable with everyone and the car after our pre-season testing. The car feels fantastic, but you’re never really sure until you get on the track against all the other competitors. But I am optimistic we will have the pace to be up the front.

“I like Sandown: it’s a track that rewards horsepower along the straights and you have to be aggressive over the kerbs through the corners, which is good fun. It’s got a great flow to it, and I think it’s a great track to start the championship at with the Hyundai i30 N.”

2024 TCR Australia Championship, Round 1: Sandown Raceway

Track Facts
Location	Melbourne, Victoria
Length	3.10 km
TCR Pole Record	1:12.229, Jay Hanson (Audi RS3 LMS) – 2022

TCR Schedule – Round 1: Sandown Raceway

Friday February 9	Saturday February 10	Sunday February 11
Practice 1: 11:40am	Qualifying: 10:30am	Race 2: 2:05pm
Practice 2: 2:00pm	Race 1: 1:15pm	Race 3: 3:20pm