Double podium to start Buchan’s TCR Australia title defence

Josh Buchan made a strong start to his TCR Australia championship defence at Sandown Raceway (February 9-11). In an i30 N TCR – rather than the Elantra N TCR with which he won the 2023 title – the HMO Customer Racing driver qualified on pole position and led off the line in the opening race. He lost the position at the final corner of lap one but held second place for the rest of the race.

After finishing sixth in Race 2, having started ninth on the partly reversed grid, Buchan returned to pole position for Race 3. This time he was beaten off the line but was again able to keep second place for the entire race to log a second podium finish of the weekend. Buchan’s combined results were enough to put him second in the early championship standings.

On his debut with the team, Tom Oliphant showed promise but was unable to take the results his performances deserved. Oliphant qualified 12th and climbed to ninth on the opening lap of Race 1. Unfortunately, damage to his i30 N TCR prevented any further progress as he dropped to finish 11th. It was a similar story in Race 2, when Oliphant was caught behind a two-car crash and picked up damage after running over debris.

In Race 3 Oliphant was again involved in contact when he was spun around, again causing damage to his car.

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Manager Benoit Nogier said: “In TCR Australia drivers with Hyundai Motorsport-built cars have put in strong performances. Josh Buchan made a great start to his season defending his title with a pair of podiums at the opening weekend at Sandown Raceway with the i30 N TCR.”