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 |