 has committed to TCR Australia in 2023, with the team hoping to run a total of three Audi RS3 LMS TCR cars in the coming campaign.){kind=link}
Melbourne Performance Centre (MPC) has committed to TCR Australia in 2023, with the team hoping to run a total of three Audi RS3 LMS TCR cars in the coming campaign.
The team ran a new-specification Audi RS3 last season for youngster Jay Hanson, whilst also fielding an older-spec RS3 for 2019 champion Will Brown.
MPC has now purchased the car driven by Hanson to four victories in 2022. It also has two first-generation cars, including the one which Chaz Mostert used to secure the 2021 title before Brown finished runner-up in the same chassis last year.
The team hopes to be able to retain Brown this year in the newer-generation machine and is in discussion with potential backers about a deal.
It also has a spare car which was last raced by Michael Clemente under lease in the 2022 season finale.
Iain McDougall, who runs his own Audi from the MPC facility, has also committed to a full-season effort this year.
“We are really very confident that we are going to have a competitive line-up for the 2023 TCR Australia season,” said Troy Russell, Director at Melbourne Performance Centre.
“We still have a number of elements to lock away, and there are some time pressures, but interest has been positive.
“Locking away Will in the new-specification RS3 is a priority, and we hope to be able to make a firm announcement on that shortly.
“Jay Hanson proved the capabilities of that car, and with Will’s extra experience, we feel that will be a title contender.
“Not that the other two cars are lacking for speed, though. Will showed how good his Audi was, finishing second in the title.
“That chassis also won the 2021 series. We suspect that chassis is the most successful that we have here in Australia.”