Reigning double TCR Australia champion Josh Buchan has confirmed he will return to the series to defend his title in 2025, once again racing a Hyundai Elantra N for HMO Customer Racing.
Buchan, 30, will head into his fifth season in the championship aiming for a hat-trick of titles. He is the first confirmed driver entry for 2025.
With eight wins to his name and a total of 32 podiums, Buchan is one of the series most successful drivers, also having four pole positions to his name.
He will begin his title defence at One Raceway at the end of June, after the season opener was postponed for a second time.
“To be in the position to wear the #1 on the car again is a great honour, particularly when we’re joined by the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour at The Bend,” said Buchan.
“Although it’s a condensed calendar, I feel it will be an exciting year for the category.
“I first tested with HMO Customer Racing at the end of 2020 in Will Brown’s title-winning i30 N TCR, but now I’ve done more racing for this team than anybody and we’ve got our own stories.
“We’ve had some pretty big wins and some big losses, so everyone is level headed at this point, which makes for a good culture either on or off the track.
“We go testing in the new car next week. I remember shaking the first i30 N Sedan [Elantra] down for the first time and it’s pretty surreal driving a new race car that hasn’t done a lot of running.
“There’s always the first kerb you smash, a scratch underneath – it’s quite odd getting a new car and being told to flog it.
“I’ve got two titles now and a third would be nice, but I’m really focused on making sure that when it comes to World Tour time we’ll be there.
“I felt like we missed a win or two when it was out here two years ago and I’m pretty determined to try to right those terrible wrongs. Not only for me, but the team as it felt we were really onto something, and I’d love to add a World Tour trophy to the cabinet for the guys at HMO in addition to my supporters at Hyundai.
“TCR has been exceptional for me. It’s allowed me to become a racing driver and to be as professional as I can be both on the track as well as away from it.
“To deal with a major car company and have its support behind me has not only been a big responsibility, but an honour, which has elevated my status to the point where people employ me to drive in other categories too.
“There was definitely a bit of elevation I got from joining TCR Australia, then winning in the first year or two, coming close to the title in the second season and winning the last two titles. It’s something that can never be taken away.
“It gives me credibility like when I do things with Rodin Cars and its amazing array of projects, in GT4, plus what’s potentially around the corner.
“It’s absolutely been a stepping stone and a pillar of my career, which I’m very thankful that it has been.”