Photo: TCR Australia

Jordan Michaels to make TCR Australia debut with Wall Racing

By

Wall Racing’s vacant seat for its third Honda Civic Type R has been filled ahead of this weekend’s round at Queensland Raceway with young New Zealander Jordan Michaels getting the call up.

After Jordan Cox drove the #38 car at The Bend last time out, Michaels will join team-mates Tony D’Alberto and John Martin at the Ipswich track in TCR Australia’s first visit to the venue.

Cox will switch to one of the GRM-run Alfa Romeo Giuliettas this weekend.

Though it’s the first time Michaels will have ever raced in Australia, it’s not his first time in TCR machinery, racing in two endurance events for Mark Petch and Hyundai with Gene Rollinson back in his home country.

Speaking ahead of his TCR Australia this weekend, Michaels said he’s looking forward to the weekend despite the steep learning curve that’s ahead.

“It’s very exciting. It’s all a bit last minute, but I’m genuinely looking forward to the weekend,” said Michaels. “The amount of hype around the category has been unreal, so to have an opportunity to be on the grid is just amazing.

“I’ve done a couple of races in a Hyundai TCR in New Zealand, so I have a few miles in a TCR car, but they were different circumstances, completely different tyre, so this weekend will still be a steep learning curve.

“The opportunity to be a part of Wall Racing in this category is awesome, so I want to soak it all up, enjoy the experience and see how we go.”

Wall Racing boss David Wall said discussions with Michaels started at the launch of TCR New Zealand and that the team was looking forward to giving the young Kiwi a shot.

“At this stage, it’s just a one-off, but we are keen to see how Jordan goes in our car and the series,” he said. “He has been racing a TCR car in New Zealand and has been doing well in the endurance series over there.

“We met Jordan at the launch of TCR New Zealand. He had a long discussion with (Wall Racing team manager) David Fyfe and we all felt that he’d be a good addition for our team.

“Our team is looking forward to Queensland Raceway. I feel like that if we can get the car right, the rest will take care of itself. John Martin has a pep in his step after The Bend, Tony D’Alberto has a point to prove and it’s always nice to have some fresh blood in the team.”

Practice will begin at midday on Friday local time at Queensland Raceway with qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday with the two back-to-back sprints to close the event on Sunday.