Ryal Harris set to pull double-duty for Peters Motorsport in 2019…
STORY: WILL DALE
IMAGES: SUPPLIED
REIGNING SuperUtes champion Ryal Harris will pull double-duty in 2019, joining the Touring Car Masters ranks.
The multiple V8 Utes champion will race full campaigns for Peters Motorsport in both categories, taking the reins of a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro with backing from EFS 4×4 accessories.
The Camaro is the car owned by Ian Woodward, who claimed third place in the ProSport class aboard the car last year, but has completed a deal to have the car prepared and raced by Peters Motorsport.
RETURN: Double TCM champ back on the grid for 2019 season
“Woody had a deal already but that didn’t happen, but straight away this came up and it’s going to be awesome,” team owner Brett Peters said.
“Ryal drove the car at Queensland Raceway the other day and was immediately bang on the pace. He’s going to be very fast.
“EFS came to the party following their successful year sponsoring Ryal and winning the SuperUtes last year. To have the relationship with Ian and Fataz engines as well is great for the team.”
Harris’ addition comes as part of the squad’s expanded three-car attack on the 2019 series.
Ryan Hansford remains with the team but moves into a brand-new Holden Torana A9X. His previous car has been sold, but will join the TCM ranks later in the season.
The team also plans to run a third Torana, built up over last year, for the whole season.
Fellow V8 Utes alumni Jeremy Gray will race the car at the opening round at Adelaide before moving into his own car, a Ford Capri Perana, once its build is completed.
“It’s hugely exciting and a massive step for the team,” Peters said.
“It’s turned into something of a reunion of the ‘V8 Ute Boys’ with Ryal and Jeremy joining the team. They’re great guys and really good drivers so it’s an exciting line-up.
“We have interest in the second Torana following Adelaide and it’s our plan to run that car for the remainder of the year.”
“Ryan will be in the new car which has come together really well. It’s a beautiful car and takes everything we learned from the existing car and moves it forward. Everything is brand new.
“The Multispares car showed what it was capable of last year and getting that first win was a good moment – we hope to build on that this year.”
The opening round of the 2019 Paynter Dixon Touring Car Masters series will take place at the Superloop Adelaide 500 starting February 28.
