Touring Car Masters New Zealand will add some international flavour to the already-stacked Supercheap Auto Bathurst International next month, with seven competitors currently confirmed to take to the track.
The exciting category will line-up alongside the Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters Series at Mount Panorama for the first of two Trans-Tasman battle rounds this year, giving motorsport and racing enthusiasts an intriguing blend of old-school muscle cars to indulge in.
With one month to go until the final round of the 2023 Shannons SpeedSeries season, get a quick insight into the New Zealand drivers already confirmed to cross the Tasman Sea in November.
Tickets for Supercheap Auto Bathurst International can be purchased here.
Colin Meadows
A resident of Blockhouse Bay in Auckland, Meadows has always had great passion for racing, having started with a 1300cc Escort before progressing through the ranks in karting and Targa Rally events in a Turbo MR2.
Over the years, he has been lucky enough to pilot a great range of muscle cars, including an A9X Torana and C4 Corvette, but will be behind the wheel of a RS Camaro built by Harris Race Cars next month.
He will be one to keep a close eye on in Bathurst, having previously picked up a TCM Trophy Race win at the challenging circuit back in 2016.
Tim Dawson
Dawson will take the wheel of a 1982 XE Falcon at Bathurst before handing the reigns to stepfather, Greg Cuttance for the Adelaide round.
Dawson previously campaigned a couple of rounds of TCMNZ in 2022, piloting his mother’s DJR tribute Greens-Tuff Fox Body Mustang.
He found success in the BMW E30 Scholarship Series in 2017/18 before switching to TCMNZ not long after with the love of muscle cars running through the family.
Previous appearances at Mount Panorama have indicated significant improvement in lap times, meaning he could play a factor come November.
Sean McCaughan
McCaughan will relish the opportunity to take to the track at mount Panorama in a beloved 1971 XY Falcon, which is a tribute to the Super Falcon driven by Pete Geoghegan.
The car first raced in 2017 and has since completed up to 28 events, while McCaughan himself has previously won the Legends of Speed race at Hampton Downs.
Hooked into motorsport ever since, he was absolutely thrilled at the prospect of joining the field this November and certainly will not take it for granted.
Dennis Lovegrove
Lovegrove will fulfill a life-long dream of driving at Bathurst when he takes to the track for the trans-Tasman battle and will catch the attention of motorsport enthusiasts with a unique 1971 Pontiac Trans Am.
He first started racing at the young age of 17-years-old in an MK Escort, where he would then transition into drag racing, running a 1967 Camaro before he was reeled back into the circuit scene.
His experience behind the wheel of the 1971 Pontiac will give him plenty of confidence when he takes to the mountain for the first time, a moment he will likely never forget.
Tony Galbraith
Plenty of drivers say they wish they could live at a racetrack, but Galbraith is one of the lucky few who can say he actually does.
Residing out of Hampton Downs Racetrack, Galbraith has seen it all in his time in motorsport, having raced Modifieds on dirt for 15 years, Marathon Boat for two years, Charger for 10 years and F5000 in the last threeyears.
The 1972 Fluidex Transport & Engine Dynamics Valiant Charger will be a sight for sore eyes this November, adding some extra firepower to an already stacked combined TCM field.
Lance Hughes
Hughes is the newest member of the TCMNZ field but is certainly one to not be underestimated with an impressive racing resume.
He started racing in 2009 with a E30 BMW, did a Supercar round at Pukekohe in a TL, then purchased a TLX and raced that in Touring Cars for nine years.
This year, he will pilot the 1976 Torana SLR5000 – the newest car in the TCMNZ field.
Hughes owned a SLR5000 in his mid-20’s before it was unfortunately stolen, but will have a grand opportunity to return to the wheel come November.
Craig Buchanan
Buchanan will bring some international flavour of his own having raced in both Australia, New Zealand and the USA in his entered 1967’ Shelby Mustang.
The car has spent plenty of time out on track, having competed in every decade since it was built while Buchanan has an impressive racing resume himself, amassing some impressive category results in the past.
He will be looking to repeat previous top three finishes when he tackles Mount Panorama and could pose a serious threat to frontrunners ahead.
Tickets for Supercheap Auto Bathurst International can be purchased here.
Touring Car Masters New Zealand will join the Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters Series at Supercheap Auto Bathurst International at Mount Panorama on 10-12 November.
