TCR Australia series leader Josh Buchan is wishing for some typically wild Melbourne weather this weekend to help his chances at Sandown.
Buchan is just one point ahead of HMO Customer Racing teammate Bailey Sweeny entering the third-last round of the season.
Competitors were drenched with rain during last year’s September visit to Sandown and more of the same would be beneficial to his #30 Hyundai, Buchan believes.
“I’m hoping for a repeat of last year, with lots of rain and lots of chaos,” he said.
“It’s what we want, as – like Queensland Raceway – it’s not the kind of track that will play to our strengths in normal conditions.
“Having said that, the two sections of corners in between the drag strips are some of my favourite stretches of bitumen in Australia.
“I don’t know how realistic it will be to hold on to the championship lead – even after qualifying – this weekend, but I’ll do my best.
“There are still two big events to come after this with the TCR World Tour at Sydney Motorsport Park and the Bathurst International, and while it’s nice to lead it doesn’t mean much at this point.
“I’ve got my eyes forward on the rest of the year and making sure I’m there at the end, and not just right now.”
The nearest non-Hyundai threat in the standings is third-placed Aaron Cameron, at 32 points back.
There will be 14 cars on the grid at Sandown, with Clay Richards joining the Garry Rogers Motorsport Peugeot fold and Iain McDougall back aboard his Audi.
Missing is QR race winner Brad Harris, although he and twin brother Will are due to line up at SMP and Bathurst in November.
Tom Oliphant meanwhile returns to the seat of the Ashley Seward Motorsport Lynk & Co, having missed last month’s Queensland Raceway round due to a clash with his own wedding. Tim Slade filled in for the Englishman at QR.
“It’s a bit of a whirlwind time, coming back from an amazing time getting married, but I’m really pleased to be getting back in the Lynk & Co and to get cracking,” said Oliphant.
“Sandown is another new track, but it’s one that I’m really eager to learn. From the footage I’ve been watching it looks like a very interesting and exciting track.
“I know a lot of the drivers in the paddock enjoy racing around it as well.
“You’re never really sure what you’ll need when going to a new track but I’m really confident that we’ve got a very good race car.”
ENTRY LIST: Round 5, 2023 TCR Australia
| Number | Sponsor/Team | Driver | Car |
| 1 | Honda Wall Racing | Tony D’Alberto | Honda Civic FK7 TCR |
| 4 | Hangcha Forklifts | Clay Richards | Peugeot 308 TCR |
| 9 | MPC Team Liqui Moly | Will Brown | Audi RS3 LMS TCR |
| 14 | Purple Sector | Lachlan Mineeff | Audi RS3 LMS SEQ |
| 15 | Carl Cox Motorsport | Michael Clemente | Cupra Leon Competicion TCR |
| 18 | Team Valvoline GRM | Aaron Cameron | Peugeot 308 TCR |
| 22 | Challenge Motorsport | Iain McDougall | Audi RS3 LMS SEQ |
| 30 | HMO Customer Racing | Josh Buchan | Hyundai i30N Sedan |
| 33 | Schaeffler GRM | Jordan Cox | Peugeot 308 TCR |
| 41 | Valvoline Racing GRM | Kody Garland | Peugeot 308 TCR |
| 71 | Burson Auto Parts Racing | Ben Bargwanna | Peugeot 308 TCR |
| 110 | Team Soutar Motorsport | Zac Soutar | Audi RS3 LMS TCR |
| 115 | Autoglym / Ashley Seward Motorsport | Tom Oliphant | Lynk & Co 03 TCR |
| 130 | HMO Customer Racing | Bailey Sweeny | Hyundai i30N TCR |
