{"id":345242,"date":"2023-11-09T23:20:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T00:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=345242"},"modified":"2023-11-10T03:03:42","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T03:03:42","slug":"wildcard-threatening-to-derail-young-guns-title-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=345242","title":{"rendered":"Wildcard threatening to derail young gun's title run"},"content":{"rendered":"

The title fight for the TCR Australia Series<\/a> looks set to be between two teammates \u2013 leader Bailey Sweeny and Josh Buchan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sweeny holds a 29-point advantage over his HMO Customer Racing stablemate going into the season finale at Mount Panorama.<\/p>\n

Three races at the Bathurst International this weekend will decide who comes away with the crown.<\/p>\n

Stan Sport is the only place to watch every second of the 2023 SpeedSeries.<\/strong><\/em> All the action streaming ad-free, live and on demand<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

However, there's a wildcard threatening to derail Sweeny's campaign.<\/p>\n

\"Bailey<\/p>\n

The TCR Australia Series grid will be joined by the TCR World Tour and a fleet of 10 international drivers.<\/p>\n

It's effectively a race within a race with the locals and internationals vying for their own points.\u00a0<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Aussies fear Maxwell 'risk' after marathon knock<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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READ MORE:<\/strong> Dragons extend deal of star who may never play again<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Even if a TCR Australia car finishes fourth outright behind TCR World Tour cars and was the leading local, for example, then they would get first place points in TCR Australia.<\/p>\n

It means a change of mindset, knowing that not every position on the road counts. Though that presents its own set of challenges.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Bailey<\/p>\n

"You just pick your battles and don't do anything too crazy," Sweeny told Wide World of Sports.<\/p>\n

"You want to take it to the World Tour guys as much as you can, but also think about a championship as well. Try and do both, manage both the best we can.<\/p>\n

"So at the final race in Sydney, I was actually letting one of the World Tour guys around for the championship," he added.<\/p>\n

"I didn't want any dramas but I let TD (Tony D'Alberto) past on mistake. So it's pretty easy to lose positions, they can interfere with our race in the Australian championship as well.<\/p>\n

"They don't mess around. They're not worried about my championship.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"As well, they can also slow us up in the race or get me out of sync and I might lose a spot to an Australian car."<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/StanSportAU\/status\/1722053915611468005<\/a><\/p>\n

If last year's TCR Australia season finale is anything to go by, then Sweeny should be the favourite.<\/p>\n

He finished first and second across the two races while Buchan was ninth and third in his then-new Hyundai i30 N sedan.<\/p>\n

"Obviously it's a track we've done pretty well in the past and we have a 30- point buffer to my teammate \u2013 that's nice to have," said Sweeny.<\/p>\n

"Everything's to play for with all the World Tour cars and that just spices it up and there's always that weather on the forecast as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"There's a lot of unknowns, but it's a track we've done well at before.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"So I'm hoping history repeats itself and we can come away with some good results in the championship at the end of the weekend."\ufeff<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

TCR AUSTRALIA SERIES POINTS EXPLAINED\ufeff<\/strong><\/p>\n

A maximum of 103 points are up for grabs across the weekend.<\/p>\n

Points are paid to first through fifth in qualifying with the pole position winner earning 10 points.<\/p>\n

\ufeffWinning race one or race three earns 50 points while a maximum of 40 points are on offer for the race two winner.<\/p>\n

Points are paid from first to 20th in-race, but a DNF will result in no points scored.<\/p>\n

\ufeffThe driver who sets the fastest lap earns one point.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

TCR AUSTRALIA SERIES STANDINGS (TOP 10)<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 – Bailey Sweeny – 708<\/p>\n

2 – Josh Buchan – 679<\/p>\n

3 – Aaron Cameron – 659<\/p>\n

4 – Tony D'Alberto – 612<\/p>\n

5 – Jordan Cox – 598<\/p>\n

6 – Lachlan Mineeff – 571<\/p>\n

7 – Ben Bargwanna – 526<\/p>\n

8 – Tom Oliphant – 470<\/p>\n

9 – Michael Clemente – 434<\/p>\n

10 – Will Brown – 404<\/p>\n

TCR WORLD TOUR STANDINGS (TOP 10)<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 – Norbert Michelisz – 327<\/p>\n

2 – Robert Huff – 326<\/p>\n

3 -Yann Ehrlacher – 306<\/p>\n

4 – Mikel Azcona – 289<\/p>\n

5 – Frederic Vervisch – 257<\/p>\n

6 – Nestor Girolami – 240<\/p>\n

7 – Ma Qing Hua – 218<\/p>\n

8 – Thed Bjork – 217<\/p>\n

9 – Santiago Urrutia – 194<\/p>\n

10 – Will Brown – 92<\/p>\n

\"Will<\/p>\n

WHEN AND WHERE IS THE EVENT?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bathurst International takes place at Mount Panorama on November 10-12.<\/p>\n

WHAT RACING CATEGORIES ARE ON TRACK?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The TCR Australia Series headlines proceedings with support from National Trans Am Series, Porsche Sprint Challenge, V8 Touring Cars, Australian Production Cars and Invited, as well as an open-wheel cavalcade featuring a 1980s Formula 1 car.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

WHO ARE THE BIG NAMES RACING?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leading the TCR World Tour contingent are World Touring Car Cup champions Norbert Michelisz (2019), Yann Ehrlacher (2020, 2021), and Mikel Azcona (2022).<\/p>\n

Nurburgring 24 Hours winner Frederic Vervisch will race as will 2012 World Touring Car Championship winner Rob Huff.<\/p>\n

TCR Australia Series champions Tony D'Alberto and Will Brown will lead the contingent at home alongside front-runners Bailey Sweeny, Josh Buchan, and Aaron Cameron.<\/p>\n

HOW CAN I WATCH THE ACTION?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stan Sport will carry all the action live and ad-free from 11.30am AEDT on Saturday and 10am AEDT on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Free-to-air coverage will be carried on 9Gem and 9now from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday only.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/StanSportAU\/status\/1722758500181299612<\/a><\/p>\n

SATURDAY STAN SPORT SCHEDULE<\/strong><\/p>\n

12.05pm – Porsche Sprint Challenge – Race 1 – 20 minutes – 7 laps<\/p>\n

12.35pm – TCR Australia Series\/TCR World Tour – Qualifying 1 – 15 minutes<\/p>\n

12.55pm – TCR Australia Series\/TCR World Tour\u00a0 – Qualifying 2 – 10 minutes<\/p>\n

1.10pm – F1 display – 20 minutes<\/p>\n

1.35pm – V8 Touring Cars – Race 1 – 20 minutes – 6 laps<\/p>\n

2.15pm – Touring Car Masters – Race 1 – 20 minutes – 7 laps<\/p>\n

2.50pm – Porsche Sprint Challenge – Race 2 – 20 minutes – 7 laps<\/p>\n

3.25pm – National Trans Am Series – Race 1 – 30 minutes – 11 laps<\/p>\n

4.15pm – TCR Australia Series\/TCR World Tour – Race 1 – 30 minutes – 11 laps<\/p>\n

5.05pm – Australian Production Cars & Invited – Race 2 – 30 minutes\u00a0<\/p>\n

SUNDAY STAN SPORT SCHEDULE<\/strong><\/p>\n

10.05am – V8 Touring Cars – Race 2 – 20 minutes – 6 laps<\/p>\n

10.35am – Touring Car Masters – Race 2 – 20 minutes – 6 laps\u00a0<\/p>\n

11.05am – Australian Production Cars & Invited – Race 4 – 30 minutes\u00a0<\/p>\n

11.55am – National Trans Am Series – 30 minutes – 11 laps<\/p>\n

12.50pm – TCR Australia Series\/TCR World Tour – Race 2 – 30 minutes – 11 laps<\/p>\n

1.40pm – F1 display – 20 minutes<\/p>\n

2.05pm – Touring Car Masters – Race 3 – 20 minutes – 7 laps<\/p>\n

2.35pm – V8 Touring Cars – Race 3 – 25 minutes – 8 laps<\/p>\n

3.10pm – National Trans Am Series – 40 minutes – 14 laps\u00a0<\/p>\n

4.10pm – TCR Australia Series\/TCR World Tour – 30 minutes – 11 laps<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

WHO IS ON THE COMMENTARY TEAM?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matt White will lead the Stan Sport commentary line-up with Australian Rally Championship winner Molly Taylor and familiar faces Chris Stubbs, Richard Crail, Greg Rust, and Matt Naulty.<\/p>\n

TCR AUSTRALIA SERIES ENTRY LIST<\/strong><\/p>\n

#1 – Tony D'Alberto – Honda Civic FL5<\/p>\n

#9 – Will Brown – Audi RS3 LMS<\/p>\n

#14 – Lachlan Mineeff – Audi RS3 LMS<\/p>\n

#18 – Aaron Cameron – Peugeot 308<\/p>\n

#22 – Iain McDougall – RS3 LMS<\/p>\n

#30 – Josh Buchan – Hyundai Elantra N Sedan<\/p>\n

#33 – Jordan Cox – Peugeot 308<\/p>\n

#71 – Ben Bargwanna – Peugeot 308<\/p>\n

#74 – Brad Harris – Honda Civic FK7<\/p>\n

#76 – Will Harris – Honda Civic FK7<\/p>\n

#110 – Zac Soutar – Audi RS3 LMS TCR<\/p>\n

#115 – Tom Oliphant – Lynk & Co 03<\/p>\n

#130 – Bailey Sweeny – Hyundai i30N<\/p>\n

TCR WORLD TOUR ENTRY LIST<\/strong><\/p>\n

#4 – Jimmy Clairet – Peugeot 308<\/p>\n

#105 – Norbert Michelisz – Hyundai Elantra N Sedan<\/p>\n

#111- Thed Bjork – Lynk & Co 03<\/p>\n

#112 – Santiago Urrutia – Lynk & Co 03<\/p>\n

#122 – Frederic Vervisch – Audi RS3<\/p>\n

#129 – Nestor Girolami – Honda Civic FL5<\/p>\n

#155 – Ma Qing Hua – Lynk & Co 03<\/p>\n

#168- Yann Ehrlacher – Lynk & Co 03<\/p>\n

#179 – Rob Huff – Audi RS3 LMS<\/p>\n

#196 – Mikel Azcona – Hyundai i30 N Sedan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The title fight for the TCR Australia Series looks set to be between two teammates \u2013 leader Bailey Sweeny and Josh Buchan.\u00a0 Sweeny holds a […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":345244,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345242"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=345242"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":345250,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345242\/revisions\/345250"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/345244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=345242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=345242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=345242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}