18-year-old Bailey Sweeny will make his début in an expanded three-car HMO Customer Racing team in this year’s TCR Australia series, after signing to partner Nathan Morcom and Josh Buchan.
Sweeny will race the outfit’s brand new Hyundai i30 N TCR to take the team’s line-up to three cars for the first time.
Sweeny graduates from the Toyota Gazoo 86 Series, where he claimed fifth in the final round at Mount Panorama last year.
The former Erebus Academy for junior drivers member has already tested at Wakefield Park, with the team also planning a full three-car test before the season opener at Symmons Plains Raceway in less than a month.
“I am thrilled to be joining the grid of TCR Australia in 2022 and to be working with the championship winning team, HMO Customer Racing,” said Sweeny.
“It’s a dream come true. It shows all the hard work we have put in, in the past few years, is starting to pay off.
“I have loved competing in the Toyota 86 series and we will continue to race in that category as well – all of course with the support from our amazing partners and sponsors and with the help and guidance from Erebus, who have been great.
“I am truly thankful for all our support and I look forward to now forging some new partnerships too, as we take on some of the best drivers in Australia, in one of the world’s most exciting racing categories.”
Nathan Morcom is confident that Sweeny can translate his speed in a one-make series into TCR Australia.
“Bailey is a young kid, level headed and was really quite quick in his test. He is going to be a great addition to our team,” said Morcom.
“He ticked all the boxes that we wanted from him and I’m looking forward to seeing how he progresses through the year.
“He proved that he was very competitive in the Toyota 86 Series. Any one-make series is tough to stand out, but he proved fast there and I’m confident that his pace will be shown in TCR too.
“We saw on the evaluation day that he has potential, and being young, he fits the profile of driver that we are looking for.
“It’s also great to have three cars full-time for this year. We know our cars have the potential to win, so having three means we can put all focus ahead for the season.”
TCR Australia gets underway at Symmons Plains Raceway on 11 – 13 February.