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Family driven Trans Am campaign advantageous for Tom Hayman
Tom Hayman is the perfect example of a family-backed driver taking it up to the larger teams in National Trans Am.
Following his debut last year as part of Beric Lynton’s squad, Hayman and his family have gone it along, with his Di Prinzio Concreting Ford Mustang being prepared in the garage at his home as a new workshop is being constructed in the backyard.
The first event for the new team was at AWC Race Tasmania where the general experience was great, albeit there was disappoint in Race 2 when Hayman had a collision.
Hayman believes the environment of being within a family run organisation will come as an advantage.
“It’s busy,” Hayman described the opening round.
“If you get a little damage you have to fix it yourself, but other than that it’s a lot more enjoyable because the weekend is spent with the people you love and with guys that you’ve chosen.
“The crew that work with me have been for a while, it’s very much a family-run team.”
Hayman scored a podium in just his second event at Sandown last year, but with the change team of structure the young gun realises the challenge of matching the multi-car teams.
At AWC Race Tasmania, Hayman did punch above his weight and his recovery drive in Race 3 following a misdemeanour earlier capped off an impressive performance.
“As a team running it ourselves we were a bit behind the eight ball, but as you know we worked hard and qualified in the top 10, which was what I was hoping to do,” said Hayman.
“Race 2 wasn’t a highlight as I had a shunt. It was the low point for the weekend, especially for myself. I bounced back in Race 3 came back to finish fourth as I stayed out of trouble and the heavens opened in front of us.”
Phillip Island is next and Hayman is a rookie to the circuit, albeit in real life.
“I’ll be fresh to the track,” Hayman quipped.
“I’m looking forward to it and have been on the simulator, but you can do so many laps around there, though it’s only when you race there that you get the proper experience.
“It will definitely be a fun track, but hard to learn.”
Finishing inside the 10 is Hayman’s target as further into the season experience will be on his side where improved results will be aimed for.
“It’s the goal of ours to be inside the top 10, if not fighting for top five or three and I think further into the season we’ll get there,” he explained.
“We’ve got a bit of experience at the tracks coming up, but Phillip island will be a big learning curve, so we’ll take it as it comes.”
The next round of the National Trans Am Series is at Phillip Island as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries on May 12-14.