Ashley Seward Motorsport plans to run a two-car Alfa Romeo team in the 2021 TCR Australia series, with youngster Jay Hanson being joined by an as-yet unconfirmed second driver.
ASM featured in the inaugural TCR Australia series in 2019, running one car for Dylan O’Keeffe for the full season whilst adding a second for James Allen in the season finale at The Bend.
The team was a regular contender for race victories, with O’Keeffe being in title contention for most of the year and picking up four victories, second only to eventual champion Will Brown.
Team Principal Ash Seward is planning to step up the team’s campaign next year, with 16-year-old Hanson racing one of the team’s Giuliettas, whilst Seward is talks with up to four other drivers for the second seat.
“We’re going hard at it, and we are committed to entering two cars this year,” said Seward.
“We’re taking the second car to Tassie [Symmons Plains, Tasmania] for the first round, but we are still working out who is going to drive it.
“The TCR business model is to have two cars minimum. We have four drivers on the shortlist, but there’s a few other teams out there with spare cars too.
“So there’s some competition for those drivers, but we are confident that we will be able to get someone in our car.”
Seward points to the performances of O’Keeffe in 2019, as well as those of the Alfa Romeo in the FIA World Touring Car Cup, at the hands of Jean-Karl Vernay, as a sign that the car is still able to perform at the sharp end of the TCR grid.
“The Alfa, in the hands of Dylan, proved last year that it’s ultra competitive,” added Seward.
“You only have to look at World TCR to see that it has been a very competitive package compared to some of the big manufacturers.
“Jay has been coming along very nicely during our build up to this year. If we get an experienced, fast team-mate for him, I feel that we are sitting in a really good spot.”
ASM has been carrying out pre-season testing with Hanson already. The opening round of next year’s TCR Australia is set to take place at Symmons Plains Raceway on January 24-26.