News
Contenders galore as National Trans Am Series begins in Tasmania
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).
Symmons Plains Raceway Schedule
Friday, February 24 Practice 1 12:45pm
Friday, February 24 Practice 2 4:00pm
Saturday, February 25 Qualifying 1 12:50pm
Saturday, February 25 Qualifying 2 1:05pm
Saturday, February 25 Race 1 3:25pm
Sunday, February 26 Race 2 12:50pm
Sunday, February 26 Race 3 3:25pm
Round 1, AWC Race Tasmania National Trans Am entry list
| No | Class | Sponsor/Team | Driver | State | Model |
| 03 | Outright | All American Driveline | Ben Grice | VIC | Ford Mustang |
| 4 | Masters Cup | Crutcher Developments | Mark Crutcher | NSW | Ford Mustang |
| 5 | Outright | The Racing Academy | Cody Gillis | WA | Ford Mustang |
| 12 | Outright | Dream Racing Australia | Adam Garwood | TAS | Dodge Challenger |
| 19 | Outright | The Racing Academy | Tim Slade | SA | Ford Mustang |
| 23 | Masters Cup | Holinger Racing | John Holinger | VIC | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 27 | Outright | Dream Racing Australia | Tyler Everingham | NSW | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 29 | Outright | The Racing Academy | Jaylyn Robotham | VIC | Ford Mustang |
| 30 | Outright | Tom Hayman Motorsport | Tom Hayman | NSW | Ford Mustang |
| 34 | Outright | Team Valvoline GRM | James Moffat | VIC | Ford Mustang |
| 45 | Outright | AWC | Lochie Dalton | TAS | Ford Mustang |
| 73 | Outright | Owen Kelly Motorsport | Owen Kelly | TAS | Ford Mustang |
| 75 | Outright | Pioneer DJ | Elliot Barbour | VIC | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 99 | Outright | TPS Group Racing | Brett Holdsworth | VIC | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 116 | Outright | Sydney Property Care/GRM | Edan Thornburrow | NSW | Ford Mustang |
| 117 | Outright | NAPA Auto Parts | Jett Johnson | QLD | Ford Mustang |
| 200 | Outright | Dream Racing Australia | Joshua Webster | TAS | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 777 | Masters Cup | Dream Racing Australia | Craig Scutella | NSW | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 782 | Outright | Cairns Plaza Hotel | James Simpson | QLD | Dodge Challenger |