IT has been on the cards for twelve months and rumored for much longer, but it now looks as if the introduction of TCR to Australia in 2019 is all but a done deal.

Headed by former Supercars Australia and Volvo Cars executive Matt Braid, a new category management business called Australian Racing Group (ARG) has been established to promote TCR in Australia with plans to introduce the category to local shores next year.

It is understood that ARG and CAMS have forged an agreement that will see the new entity assume the promotional and commercial rights of the category, pending a final sign-off at both ends.

Interestingly, ARG has also secured the rights to operate and develop the Super5000 category – a modern reincarnation of the classic wings-and-slicks class that was a headliner in Australia and around the world in the 1960s and 70s.

While – given the complexities involved – the introduction of Super5000 likely remains a longer-term proposition, ARG released comments to local media on Thursday confirming well-advanced plans to have TCR up and running in Australia next year.

“I can confirm that the Australian Racing Group is in final negotiations with CAMS on the rights to a TCR Series in Australia,” said Matt Braid.

“While we are aligned on the key aspects of an agreement and continues to progress well, the process is not complete until it has been formally approved by both CAMS and ARG.

“TCR has proven itself to be an extremely popular, exciting and successful category in many countries around the world. Even in these early stages, we have fielded a lot of interest from potential competitors, manufacturers and event promoters interested in being part of a TCR series in Australia.

“We’re aiming to come to a final agreement with CAMS and TCR Series in the very near future.”

Comment from ARG did not disclose the ownership behind the new company, though their links to the well-promoted Super5000 class offer clues.

“ARG is committed to developing and promoting the highest-quality racing categories at major motorsport events in the region that will provide both significant support to existing platforms and a career pathway for drivers,” Braid said.

CAMS signed a five-year agreement with the global promoters of TCR in January this year and has since been working behind the scenes to find a suitable promoter.

“We are excited for TCR to be coming to Australia – it’s a category which has proven to be very popular overseas and will be a great asset for Australian motor sport,” said CAMS CEO, Eugene Arroca.

“We are now in final discussions with the Australian Racing Group and will continue to work with Matt and the ARG team to finalise the agreement, which will be subject to final approval from the CAMS Board.”

As the category thrives overseas, the introduction of TCR to the Australian marketplace comes at an interesting time.

Locally, the Kumho V8 Touring Cars, Dunlop Super2 Series and the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship are already well established as local Touring Car properties, while Australian GT and a growing national Production Car series also offer viable options.

Finding its position within the local market will likely be the biggest challenge for TCRs Australian promoter.

The category is essentially a Touring Car version of the wildly successful GT3 formula; Production-based vehicles competing under a Balance of Performance structure to allow for even competition between different marques with strict controls on cost and performance.

While there are multiple domestic Touring Car categories, a unique selling point for TCR is a significant international presence, thanks to a raft of domestic series’ around the world and the headlining FIA World Touring Car Cup.

Born out of the FIA’s World Touring Car Championship – which in recent years featured slim fields and was mostly dominated by a single manufacturer – TCR regulations were put in place this year as the major international series for cars of their type, removing the factory team equation and instantly growing fields in both size and depth.

That series, which has attracted a full grid and several significant names, notably thrust itself into the social media limelight last weekend thanks to a massive crash during their opening race at Vila Real, in Portugal.

Perhaps more relevant to the Australian market was the recent introduction of TCR in the United Kingdom.

Management behind the new British series were from the outset careful to position themselves as a complimentary or feeder class to the hugely successful British Touring Car Championship, avoiding date clashes and direct comparison with the domestic alternative. The UK series has attracted between 12-14 cars across their first few rounds this year.

TCR cars have also forged a place in long-distance racing and appear in several major races around the world, including the Dubai and Nurburgring 24 Hours plus the Creventic-run 24H Series of endurance events.

ARG confirmed that discussions are underway with several promoters, including Supercars and the Shannons Nationals, in an effort to build a calendar next year.

Australian fans and media had an early taste-test of TCR in May last year when Audi’s domestic Customer Sports arm, Melbourne Performance Centre, imported and ran an Audi RS3 LMS TCR car at Phillip Island.

The Race Torque reported that story – and offered some commentary on the subject – at the time, here.

While we wait for an official announcement, calendar and entry news likely to come in the next few months, jump on our social channels (Facebook / Twitter) and tell us what you think about TCR coming to Australia? A unique and worthy addition to the local scene, or another series too far?

WORDS: Richard Craill
IMAGE: FIA World Touring Car Cup