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Privateer Zac Soutar makes Audi switch for 2023
Leading privateer Zac Soutar will make the switch to Audi for the 2023 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series.
Soutar has raced a Honda Civic Type R TCR since debuting in the category at the start of 2021, but moving to a brand new Audi RS3 LMS TCR follows a breakout season.
The Victorian young gun won the first race for a privateer entry in Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at AWC Race Tasmania last year as he finished sixth in the series following multiple podiums at Queensland Raceway and Sandown.
Now his family-run team will transition to the latest specification Audi RS3 LMS TCR, which has proven successful since its launch in 2020. Racing its first season in WTCR where it achieved multiple victories ahead of a customer roll out at the end of 2021.
Supercheap Auto TCR Australia welcomed this latest generation last year as Jay Hanson won on the model’s debut at Symmons Plain. Hanson achieved four race wins, three pole positions and nine fastest laps emphasising the potential of Audi’s newest weapon.
To round out its achievements, the WSC Group awarded the Audi RS3 LMS TCR its coveted Model of the Year award in December.
Soutar is set to take delivery of the new Audi in early-February ahead of the opening round of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series at AWC Race Tasmania.
Further details regarding Soutar’s program will be made in due course.
It confirms Team Soutar Motorsport’s commitment to TCR as the challenge of the TCR World Tour beckons, with a selection of the best international touring car drivers arriving for two rounds including the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International.
The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series opens its season as part of the third annual AWC Race Tasmania at Symmons Plains on February 24-26.
CLICK HERE to secure your tickets.
Stan Sport will provide live, uninterrupted and on-demand coverage of all 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).
QUOTES
Zac Soutar
Team Soutar Motorsport, Audi RS3 LMS TCR
“In 2023 we’re really excited to announce we’ll be racing a brand new Audi RS3 LMS TCR,” said Soutar.
“There’s been a massive amount of hard work in the background to try and put deals together as we figured out how to make this all happen, but I’m delighted to say it has.
“It was a very tough decision, my family and the team loved the Honda as it was our first TCR entry of which we put many hours into it to make it fast, beautiful and competitive. It is sad to see it go, but I think the Audi is the next step for myself and the team.
“There was nothing wrong with the Honda and we were ready to continue on with the Type R TCR as well as our relationship with Wall Racing, but we decided it was time to search for a new car.
“We’ve really enjoyed our relationship with both Wall Racing and JAS Motorsport over the past few seasons, and we thank them for all of their help. Initially we were planning to continue on in the Honda for season 2023, but the opportunity to jump into a brand-new Audi was just too good to turn away from.
“We’ll form a relationship with Melbourne Performance Centre, but obviously Team Soutar Motorsport will continue to run the entry. The good thing with MPC is the team is Melbourne-based and we’re in Geelong, so to get parts or meet with the squad it’s really easy now.
“We’ve backed TCR since the moment we entered it. I love TCR and it’s a great category, I like the fact it’s worldwide. The coolest part about this year is the world is coming to us, so there couldn’t be a better time to be in TCR or to be upgrading like we are to have a really good crack at the title.
“For us, I think my team will really step it up this season as we have the experience and the Audi is a great all round package, so I’m hoping to challenge for the title come the end of the year.”