When this year’s Race Tailem Bend takes place later this month, a number of categories will be reach the midway point of their 2024 seasons.
One of those is the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, which has held three rounds already in 2024.
Ahead of its fourth round of 2024, which takes place at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, speedseries.com.au looks back at how the season has gone so far.
Top Five
Ben Bargwanna – 300 points
Zac Soutar – 293
Josh Buchan – 278
Clay Richards – 277
Jordan Cox – 265
See the full standings
Wins
Ben Bargwanna – 2
Brad Harris – 2
Josh Buchan – 1
Jordan Cox – 1
Dylan O’Keefe – 1
Tom Oliphant – 1
Podiums
Josh Buchan – 3
Clay Richards – 2
Dylan O’Keefe – 2
Ryan Casha – 2
Jordan Cox – 2
Tom Oliphant – 1
Tony D’Alberto – 1
Ben Bargwanna – 1
Aaron Cameron – 1
Zac Soutar – 1
Pole Positions
D’Alberto – 2
Buchan – 1
The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series is certainly heating up after three rounds for the 2024 season, with just 35 points separating the top five drivers.
Such is the closeness of the competition this year, 10 drivers have picked up podiums in the eight classified races this year – more than half of the entry list.
No one driver has dominated the series throughout the first three rounds though, with just series leader Ben Bargwanna and Brad Harris the only two drivers to win twice.
In the battle for the outright lead, Bargwanna has a slender gap over Zac Soutar, who is yet to pick up a race win himself. Despite having no wins and just one podium finish, the Audi driver has been an ever-consistent presence in the top five, finishing there on five occasions.
Bargwanna has produced similar numbers, with one podium and a further four top five placings making up his pool of results.
Interestingly, Bargwanna’s most prolific weekend came during the opening round of the season when he picked up two wins, which was when reigning champion Josh Buchan also picked up his best results.
In third place, Buchan leads the way for the most podiums with three for the season, two of which came during the season opener when he finished second behind Bargwanna.
A forgettable weekend in Symmons Plains was slightly made up for by a mixed weekend at Phillip Island where Buchan enjoyed a win and a podium either side of a DNF.
While that DNF looks to be the difference between leading the series and where he is currently placed, the New South Welshman will have confidence of reaching the top by the end of Race Tailem Bend.
Sitting one point behind him on the standings is rookie Clay Richards, who is enjoying an impressive maiden campaign in TCR.
So far, the Victorian has two runner-up finishes to his name, one of which came at Race Tasmania, while claiming a trio of top five finishes in the most recent round, which elevated him to fourth.
Brad Harris currently sits seventh overall, despite having two wins to his name. Phillip Island was undoubtedly his best weekend in TCR since debuting last year with his two victories coming back-to-back on the island.
Rounds remaining in 2024
Race Tailem Bend
Race Queensland
Race Sydney
Supercheap Auto Bathurst International
