Will Brown, the first-ever TCR Australia champion, will return to the series in 2021, racing an Audi RS3 LMS TCR for the Audi Sport Customer Racing team.
Brown, 23, claimed the inaugural TCR Australia title in 2019 when he raced a Hyundai i30 N TCR for the HMO Customer Racing team, picking up seven wins in the process.
After winning the title, Brown was then inducted into the Hyundai Motorsport Junior program for the 2020 season, only for the COVID-19 pandemic to mean that season never happened.
Last year, Brown joined the Australian Supercars grid and claimed a victory at Sydney Motorsport Park in his maiden season – making him the first driver to achieve a first-year win since 2013.
Furthermore, Brown ended the year eighth overall in the drivers’ standings, the best rookie ranking since Marcos Ambrose 20 years earlier.
Brown’s car, the same which Chaz Mostert took to the 2021 title, will feature title sponsorship from Liqui Moly.
“I’m pumped to be back racing in the TCR Australia Series with Liqui Moly and Audi Sport Customer Racing,” said Toowoomba-born Brown.
“After winning the series in 2019, I didn’t get the chance to defend the title in 2020 that was planned, so it is great to get back in these cars and hit the grid.
“I am excited to see what the Audi is like. It is one of the best cars in the field and being run by the team at Melbourne Performance Centre is huge.
“There’s a bit of pressure to back up what Chaz was able to achieve last year by winning the series, but I’m up for the challenge.
“Everything I do, I want to win. Racing in TCR is no different and I’ll be aiming to be near the front right from the start.
“I really enjoy competing in multiple categories of racing. For me, the more racing you do, the better you are.
“I have a few other types of racing on the horizon too, so I want to be in a race car as much as I can. I really can’t wait for the year to kick off in TCR at Symmons Plains.”
Troy Russell, Managing Director of Melbourne Performance Centre, is pleased to b able to work with Brown for the first time in 2022.
“We are delighted to welcome Will Brown to the Melbourne Performance Centre team, driving the series-winning Audi RS 3 TCR,” said Russell.
“Will proved his talent in the inaugural season driving for one of our rivals, so now it’s great to have him in our corner, filling the shoes of Chaz who did a terrific job last year.
“Having Liqui Moly join our team is also a huge coup for Melbourne Performance Centre and the TCR Australia Series. Liqui Moly is a huge international brand, so for them to join this global touring car class makes sense on many levels.
“We can’t wait to get down to Symmons Plains and start the season, and we know that with Will and Liqui Moly, we are going to be in a strong position from the outset.”