Photo: TCR Australia

Zac Soutar makes Audi switch

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Zac Soutar will make the switch from Honda to Audi for his programme in the 2023 TCR Australia Series.

Soutar debuted in the series in 2021 with a Honda Civic Type R and became the first privateer to win in the series last year at Symmons Plains en-route to sixth in the championship standings.

For the new season, the youngster will switch into a brand-new Audi RS 3 LMS which will once again be run by his own family team, with deliver of the car expected next month to allow pre-season testing to get underway.

“We’re really excited to announce we’ll be racing a brand-new Audi RS 3 LMS TCR,” he said. “There’s been a massive amount of hard work in the background to try and put deals together as we figured out how to make this all happen, but I’m delighted to say it has.

“It was a very tough decision, my family and the team loved the Honda as it was our first TCR entry, which we put many hours into to make it fast, beautiful and competitive. It is sad to see it go, but I think the Audi is the next step for myself and the team.

“We’ve really enjoyed our relationship with both Wall Racing and JAS Motorsport over the past few seasons, and we thank them for all of their help. Initially, we were planning to continue on in the Honda for season 2023, but the opportunity to jump into a brand-new Audi was just too good to turn away from.”

Soutar will work alongside Melbourne Performance Centre, which is set to run three Audis in the series itself in 2023.

“We’ll form a relationship with Melbourne Performance Centre, but obviously Team Soutar Motorsport will continue to run the entry,” he continued. “The good thing with MPC is the team is Melbourne-based and we’re in Geelong, so to get parts or meet with the squad is really easy now.

“We’ve backed TCR since the moment we entered it. I love TCR and it’s a great category. I like the fact it’s worldwide. The coolest part about this year is the world is coming to us, so there couldn’t be a better time to be in TCR or to be upgrading like we are to have a really good crack at the title.

“For us, I think my team will really step it up this season as we have the experience and the Audi is a great all-round package, so I’m hoping to challenge for the title come the end of the year.”