STORY: WILL DALE
IMAGES: SUPPLIED
KELLY Racing is the second Supercars squad to reveal plans to enter the inaugural season of the TCR Australia Series.
The team will field four cars from two different manufacturers, securing a pair of Subaru WRX STi cars and two Opel Astras.
The four cars have been ordered from their respective builders in Europe – Top Run Motorsport in Italy for the Subarus, and German outfit Lubner Motorsport for the Opels – and are expected to arrive in coming weeks.
“It is very exciting to add to the TCR Series cars to our racing program for 2019 and beyond,” team co-owner Todd Kelly said.
“We’ve been keeping an eye on the developments of the category, both here in Australia and around the world, and with the resources and skill-base we have at Kelly Racing, it was a logical fit for us.
“The Opel Astra is a proven race-winning car in other championships. With the right driver line-up, there’s no reason why they will not be competitive straight away.
“It’s going to be great to have the Subarus as well. I feel they are going to suit the Australian conditions and circuits as its one of only two sedan shapes in the field, up against the hot hatches.
“The WRX is a very iconic racing vehicle too. It’s going to be very popular amongst the fans of Australian touring car racing.
“Now that we have secured the cars, we will make our announcements around drivers and partners in the near future.”
The arrival of Subaru and Opel brings the number of different manufacturers set to be represented in the inaugural TCR Australia season to eight, joining Audi, Volkswagen, Honda, Hyundai, Alfa Romeo and Renault, the latter two to be run by Kelly Racing’s Supercars rivals Garry Rogers Motorsport.
The TCR Australia Series will make its race debut at Sydney Motorsport Park on May 17-19 at the opening round of the 2019 CAMS Shannons Nationals.
