A strong field will venture to Symmons Plains to open the National Trans Am Series at AWC Race Tasmania this weekend.
While back-to-back series winner Nathan Herne won’t defend his title and will be starting his first full-season in the American Trans Am Series, there is no lack in talent for the opening round.
Herne’s former team Garry Rogers Motorsport finished 1-2 last year with veteran Owen Kelly returning for another tilt at the title, as does fellow Tasmanian Lochie Dalton as his team-mate.
The popular Melbourne-based team welcomes James Moffat to its Trans Am program following three seasons in Supercheap Auto TCR Australia as it expands to four entries with Edan Thornburrow also joining for 2023.
Matching GRM with four entries is Dream Racing Australia as team owner Craig Scutella is joined by three young guns led by former Super2 driver Tyler Everingham partnered by Tasmanian pair Adam Garwood and Josh Webster.
A new operation joins National Trans Am for 2023 as multiple karting champions Tom Williamson Motorsport under The Racing Academy moniker enters current Supercars driver Tim Slade alongside Jaylyn Robotham and youngster Cody Gillis.
These entries join regular frontrunners Brett Holdsworth in the TPG Group Chevrolet, Ben Grice’s All American Driveline Mustang, the Pioneer DJ Camaro of Elliot Barbour and the third-generation racer Jett Johnson’s NAPA Auto Parts-supported Ford further enhance the field quality.
Family-run teams also feature as James Simpson and Tom Hayman, who scored a podium at Sandown last year, will make the trek down south to AWC Race Tasmania.
Scutella will contest the Masters Cup where competition will come from John Holinger and the ever improving Mark Crutcher.
Action begins on Friday with two practice sessions before two-part qualifying and the opening race on Saturday, with two to follow on Sunday.
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Stan Sport will provide live, uninterrupted and on-demand coverage of all Shannons SpeedSeries rounds. AWC Race Tasmania will also feature free-to-air broadcasting on the Nine Network’s digital channels on Saturday afternoon from 2-5pm (February 25).
