News
Injection of youth part of GRM’s 2022 Trans Am plans
Expect a larger presence from Garry Rogers Motorsport in the National Trans Am Series next year as the team aims to inject youth into the category.
Already a participant in the series through a lease program, namely to Owen Kelly, GRM is targeting growth as following the appointment of Competition Director Marcos Ambrose.
“I think in 2022, our involvement in Trans Am will be greater than what it is this season,” said GRM Director Barry Rogers.
“Marcos is very, very enthusiastic with all the forms of motor sport we’re involved in, but particularly Trans Am.
“He really does like that Trans Am basis and there are certainly some similarities to the NASCARs he raced in the US.
“He loves the format, he likes the cars, the affordability, the simplicity so he’s certainly pushing our Trans Am program on and we’re keen, with him leading the way in that to grow what we do in the category.”
GRM will formally enter the National Trans Am Series at Sandown where James Moffat will race a Ford Mustang carrying the livery associated with father Allan’s Trans Am model, which competed in the late-1960s and early-1970s.
The operation prepares Kelly’s Mustang, while is also involved in Nathan Herne’s campaign.
But Rogers believes Trans Am provides a competitive development pathway for motor sport’s rising stars.
“It’s a great proving ground for young drivers,” he stated. “They can get in there, race against some experienced guys and measure their development against top drivers knowing they are in the same machinery.
“Trans Am certainly provides a platform that the best drivers will shine and not necessarily the best engineers.”
GRM’s history of nurturing the sport’s rising stars in well documented as Rogers is of the belief National Trans Am and the team’s array of experienced drivers provide the perfect combination for young guns to excel.
“Garry has always been the one to bring young drivers through and Marcos shares the same mentality,” Rogers explained.
“As much as we’ve got Owen (Kelly) running around and (James) Moffat experience, Marcos is keen to bring young talent through here.
“We see that as something we can do and the opportunity for young drivers to come here, particularly with the experience that we’ve got led by Garry, but then we have Moffat, Jason Bargwanna, Michael Caruso and Ambrose around the GRM garage.
“For a young guy to come through here, there’s no place you’re going to learn more.”
The next round of the National Trans Am Series will be held at Sandown International Raceway on September 17-19.