TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series

Sports car racing category in Australasia

TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series

Category| Sports car racing
Country|  Australia
Inaugural season| 2017
Drivers| 26
Teams| 24
Constructors| Howe Racing Enterprises
Engine suppliers| GM LS3
Tyre suppliers| Hoosier
Drivers' champion|  Josh Haynes
Official website| www.ta2racingaustralia.com
Current season

The TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series is an Australian motor racing category using TA2 class cars most closely associated with the American Trans-Am Series. It is the featured category at all rounds of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series, an annual motor racing series held at various tracks in eastern Australia. The category is managed by TA2 Racing Australia, and sanctioned by the Australian Auto Sport Alliance. The category ownership, along with the distribution and parts business, was sold to a group of long-standing series competitors in 2024.[1]

It is one of two Australian national-level racing series featuring TA2-class cars; the other is the Australian National Trans-Am Series. While run independently, both series feature identical cars, and the TA2 series organisers have changed technical regulations to keep cars eligible for both series.[2]

## History

[edit]

The category was established after driver and businessman Peter Robinson imported a Howe Racing Enterprises TA2-spec vehicle, with the intention of competing in a Queensland state-based sports sedan series. According to Robinson and colleague Craig Harris, they thought the relatively low purchase and operating cost, and the good performance of the vehicle made it a good basis for a one-make racing series.[3]

In 2020, racing promotor ARG licensed the rights to the Trans-Am trademarks in Australia.[4] However, an agreement between ARG and TA2 Racing Australia fell through,[5] and TA2 Racing Australia opted to continue running the category as part of the AASA-sanctioned "Australian Motor Racing Series" (in 2024, branded as the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series).

ARG subsequently set up their own series based on the same cars, the Australian National Trans-Am Series.

The 2020 and 2021 series were affected by the global Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, due to competitors being unable to travel between Australian states due to quarantine restrictions, two separate titles were awarded, a northern and southern series.

## Cars

[edit]

Main article: Trans-Am racing in Australia

The TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series is a spec series using identical spaceframe chassis[3] built by Howe Racing Enterprises and using a modified GM LS3 engine. Most components are controlled, must be purchased from the vehicle's Australian distributor, and cannot be modified.

The cars may use one of three fibreglass bodies resembling the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, or Dodge Challenger; regardless of the car body, the underlying chassis and engines are the same.

## Meeting format

[edit]

The championship has generally been held over approximately six rounds. Of these rounds, most have three or four sprint races of approximately 20–30 minutes duration.

After a free practice session on the Friday of a race meeting, starting order for the first race of most race meetings is determined by a qualifying session.[6] Starting order for subsequent races is determined by the finishing order in the immediately previous race.

In 2023 and 2024, one “enduro round” per season was held featuring a race of approximately one hour in length, with the option of a co-driver.[7]

Unlike many circuit racing series in Australia, this series features "rolling starts" where the cars form up in grid order (in two rows) behind a safety car for a formation lap before commencing racing.

## Media coverage

[edit]

The 2024 series is broadcast on SBS, through subscription TV providers Fox Sports (Australia) and Kayo Sports, and an extended livestream covering some practice and qualifying sessions as well as races on YouTube and SBS On Demand.[8]

The series is covered by specialist motor racing publications including Auto Action and SpeedCafe.

## Champions

[edit]

Season  | Champion  | Runner-up  | Third place

|
|
|

2017 | Russell Wright  | Anthony Tenekate  | Craig Harris
2018 | Ashley Javis  | Hugh McAlister  | Russell Wright
2019 | Aaron Seton  | George Miedecke  | Ashley Jarvis
2020 | John McLaughlin  | Murray Kent  | Michael Kulig
2021 | Jett Johnson (Northern Series) / Mark Crutcher (Southern series)  | Russell Wright / Zach Loscialpo  | Chris Pappas / Michael Coulter
2022 | Jett Johnson | Graham Cheney  | Nicholas Bates
2023 | Dylan Thomas  | Josh Haynes  | Jackson Rice
2024[9] | Josh Haynes  | Brad Gartner  | Mark Crutcher
2025 | Not yet decided | Not yet decided | Not yet decided

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Miles, Thomas (25 November 2024). "Driver Led Consortium Takes Over TA2". Auto Action.
2. ^ Garry, O'Brien (22 October 2024). "Mechanical changes and alignment for TA2/Trans Am in 2025". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
3. ^ a b McAlpine, heath (11 January 2017). "TA2 has hit Australia and soon, their 21st century Trans Am V8s could be everywhere…". Auto Action. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
4. ^ Williams, Bruce (9 January 2020). "ARG Lands Agreement With Trans Am". Auto Action.
5. ^ Williams, Bruce. "TA2 Muscle Cars Split With ARG". Auto Action. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
6. ^ "2023 Technical Rules & Sporting Regulations" (PDF). TA2 Racing and Muscle Cars series. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
7. ^ "Young guns win AC Delco Tag Team Enduro". TA2 Racing. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
8. ^ "Watch". Hi-Tex Oils Super Series. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
9. ^ OBrien, Garry (27 October 2024). "Twice second, Hayne finally wins the TA2 Muscle Cars title". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 28 October 2024.