Audi’s new WTCR race-winning RS 3 LMS TCR will enter the TCR Australia Series in 2022.
Recently opened to customer orders, Melbourne Performance Centre has secured one of the first RS 3 LMS TCRs available, built in Audi Sport’s Martorell factory in Spain.
An evolution of the model currently running 1-2 in this year’s TCR Australia Series with Chaz Mostert and Luke King, the new RS 3 LMS TCR has already taken two victories in its first full season of competition racing in TCR’s top category, WTCR.
Key areas said to have been improved in the new model include interior ergonomics, tunability and safety; the latter through Audi Sport’s own six-point fixation Protection Seat.
The model it replaces is Audi Sport’s most-produced TCR car, having built 180 units since 2016 that have won more than 300 races and 55 titles worldwide, including seven victories in TCR Australia (one for Garth Tander and Jean Karl Vernay in 2019 and five for Mostert in 2021).
Melbourne Performance Centre co-owner Troy Russell is excited by the new RS 3 LMS TCR’s impending arrival.
“A new car is always good to have,” said Russell.
“From what we have seen in the images and information provided by Audi Sport, the new RS 3 is an extremely good car. It’s probably the best TCR car that has ever been built.
“This one is really an evolution of the older model, which still remains competitive as proven by Chaz and Luke this year.
“With the way that the TCR balance of performance works, it’s not going to be allowed to race off into the distance. But what we do know is that the car is going to be very competitive straight out of the box.
“We are excited for it to land here in Australia and really looking forward to getting our hands on it.”
The driver of the new RS 3 LMS TCR remains unconfirmed, but interest is high according to Russell as a second could join the team’s fleet if the right deal falls into place.
“We have quite a few parties interested in driving the new car,” said Russell.
“We’ll definitely have one on track, and if some things work our way, we might have two as well. It will be a matter of seeing how the next month or so plays out.
“The great thing is that despite the pause that we’re all facing, interest in TCR remains very strong in the market.”
Head of Audi Sport customer racing, Chris Reinke is thrilled to have the new Audi represented on the TCR grid.
“We have seen great, great interest from all national importers of Audi Sport’s to try to get a car early on, which is also very positive for us that they are all behind it,” Reinke said.
“There’s excitement for TCR, which is happening in Australia, similarly in the US and Canada, in Japan, China, so we have reserved cars for each region.
“We can’t wait to deliver the first cars by the end of the year.
“We delivered in the first 10 months more than 100 cars when we bought the first RS 3 LMS TCR onto the market and I think the Gen II car has the genes to live up to this very success.”
