Melbourne Performance Centre (MPC) will enter the 2022 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series season geared up with a brand-new race car after securing one of the first available AudiRS3 LMS TCR cars.
Only recently becoming available to customer orders after being built in Audi Sport’s Martorell factory in Spain, Audi’s WTCR race-winning RS3 LMS is the latest generation of the Audi RS3 LMS model. The previous model is currently steered by Luke King in the 2021 Australian series for MPC, while Chaz Mostert also drives the same generation Audi in the Australian series but not for MPC.
However, there are some notable differences between the current crop of cars and the new WTCR car with the interior ergonomics and the six-point fixation Protection Seat both improved.
Melbourne Performance Centre co-owner Troy Russell was looking forward to acquiring the new Audi, which has won two WTCR races since making its debut this year.
“A new car is always good to have,” Russell said.
“From what we have seen in the images and information provided by Audi Sport, the new RS 3 is an extremely good car. It’s probably the best TCR car that has ever been built.
“This one is really an evolution of the older model, which still remains competitive as proven by Chaz and Luke this year.
“With the way that the TCR balance of performance works, it’s not going to be allowed to race off into the distance. But what we do know is that the car is going to be very competitive straight out of the box.
“We are excited for it to land here in Australia and really looking forward to getting our hands on it.”
Head of Audi Sport customer racing, Chris Reinke was also thrilled to have the car confirmed for the 2022 season.
“We have seen great, great interest from all national importers of Audi Sport to try to get a car early on, which is also very positive for us that they are all behind it,” Reinke said.
“There’s excitement for TCR, which is happening in Australia, similarly in the US and Canada, in Japan, China, so we have reserved cars for each region.
“We can’t wait to deliver the first cars by the end of the year.
“We delivered in the first 10 months more than 100 cars when we bought the first RS3 LMS TCR onto the market and I think the Gen II car has the genes to live up to this very success.”
As it stands, King, as the Melbourne Performance Centre’s only Audi driver, leads the way for the team in the 2021 outright series standings and trails only Mostert on the standings. More than 100 points separate the two Audi RS3 LMS drivers with Mostert having produced a brilliant season behind the wheel.
The 2021 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series continues next month at the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships.
