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Reigning Trans Am Series winner Nathan Herne details 2022 plans with GRM
Reigning National Trans Am Series winner and Team Valvoline Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM) driver, Nathan Herne, has detailed his plans for the 2022 racing season in which he will be competing in both Trans Am and S5000 for Team Valvoline GRM.
After first joining GRM in 2020, Herne has not only been driving for the team in the S5000 series but has been involved in R&D, working full time in the GRM workshop. He will now race in the Turtle Wax Trans Am Series as well as selected S5000 events for Team Valvoline GRM this year.
Herne is no stranger to the Turtle Wax Trans Am Series having raced in his first season back in 2019 and experienced a tight battle with Aaron Seton in 2021 with only a single point separating the pair late in the season. With Aaron not competing in the final two rounds, Herne took out the 2021 title.
For this season he switches from a Dodge Challenger to a Ford Mustang as he aims to repeat his title success from last season.
“GRM have been great to me so far, putting me in competitive cars in both the S5000 Australian Drivers Championship and Tasmanian Sprintcar Series, and I don’t doubt that history will be repeating itself here in the Trans Am Series,” Herne said.
“It’s going to be important on my end to give proper feedback to the guys, I’ve got the best people you could wish for up and down the pitlane with Marcos Ambrose, Dan Frencham and Tom Needham on my car.
“It adds a bit of pressure onto myself because I know I’m with a top team and I am expected to be at the top of my game every time I hit the track which is why I’ve made the move to Melbourne to really focus on racing.
“I’m more prepared than ever and ready to tackle this head on.”
Herne aims to continue his winning streak in his Team Valvoline GRM Ford Mustang featuring the #1 in a fresh livery.
“I’m definitely going to be the one who’s targeted this year, considering I’m the longest standing Trans Am driver and also last year’s champion,” he admitted.
“I expect everyone to want to beat me more than anyone else so I’m keeping that in mind.
“Consistency is what wins championships, last year I was able to prove I had the race pace and race craft to get to the front, but this year I’ll be turning down the risk factor and making sure I’m in it come the final round.,” he said.
Barry Rogers, Director of Garry Roger Motorsport reflected on the team’s relationship with Herne and was excited to welcome him fully into the fold after contesting last year’s Turtle Wax Trans Am Series with Dream Racing Australia.
“We first met Nathan when he was 13-years old racing go-karts and followed him closely through his Formula Ford Championship successes in NSW and into TA2 and then Trans Am,” Rogers said.
“GRM have a history of embracing young drivers and these efforts having only been enhanced with Marcos’ similar passion.”
“We have a lot of faith in Nathan and following the success he had in 2021 with Dream Racing Australia there is no doubt he will be a target for the ever growing Trans-Am field, but with the right guidance I am sure that he will represent Team Valvoline GRM very, very well.”
The reigning champ will take on Symonns Plains Raceway in both S5000 and Trans Am as the seasons commence at the AWC Race Tasmania event starting on the 11th and running to the 13th of February.
All Team Valvoline GRM liveries for its S5000, Trans Am and TCR Australia cars will be revealed on Thursday, February 10 ahead of the AWC Race Tasmania.