News
Qualifying drama at AWC Race Tasmania
Both latest specification Audi RS3 LMS TCR Gen2s of Will Brown and Zac Soutar have struck driveshaft problems following qualifying as in addition HMO Customer Racing’s Josh Buchan has been moved to the back of the grid.
It didn’t stop Brown from taking pole position, but after his lap it broke an out-put shaft, while a similar problem afflicted the privateer Tufflift Racing entry of Soutar.
At this stage, both entries will be out for the remainder of the weekend, though the two teams are working on a solution to repair the problem.
In Buchan’s case, he has been moved to the back of the grid due to a turbo boost irregularity in his Hyundai Elantra (i30 Sedan N) TCR.
QUOTES
Will Brown
MPC Team LIQUI MOLY, Audi RS3 LMS TCR Gen2
“It’s disappointing and we’re not smiling anymore,” said Brown.
“The out-put shaft has broken off as we just don’t have any parts, they’ve been on order for six months trying to get the new components, so at this stage it’s putting us out for the weekend and we won’t be able to compete.
“We’re trying to see if we can weld it up or something else and get out there, but it’s pretty disappointing.
“Also prior to that, it pulled the steering and broke the front splitter.
“I won it by around in 2019, so anything is possible and I’ll be trying as hard as I can for the rest of the season. It’s a shame for our sponsors LIQUI MOLY just love it and put a lot of effort into it along with our other supporters.
“We’ll look at it for the next few hours and see what the crew can do. I’ve done enough motorsport to know you can’t be too caught up in it.”
Troy Russell
Melbourne Performance Centre
We broke the out-put shaft on the left-hand-side of the gearbox, which is something we don’t have spares of and coincidentally car #110 (Tufflift Racing’s entry) did the same literally two minutes apart,” said Russell.
“We’re just trying to see what we can do and we’re working on a plan.”