Photo: TCR Australia

Bailey Sweeny heads pre-season test at Symmons Plains

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Bailey Sweeny headed the official Kumho tyre test at Symmons Plains Raceway today ahead of the 2023 TCR Australia series season opener at the same circuit this weekend.

The Hyundai i30 N TCR driver lapped the circuit in 55.877, beating Audi RS 3 LMS II driver Will Brown by just 0.023 seconds.

“The new Kumho tyres were excellent,” Buchan said.

“We haven’t really had to adjust the car too much to be honest, we basically bolted the Kumhos on and away we went.

“The life of the tyre is very good. In the past, we’ve maybe had to conserve tyres possibly a little bit more, whereas now I know other drivers have completed 60 laps and they are still good to go. It’ll make for good racing as we can push harder for the race’s duration.”

Zac Soutar made it two new generation Audis in the top three, 0.122 seconds from the top time.

Fourth was Garry Rogers Motorsport driver Ben Bargwanna, heading a train of four Peugeot 308TCRs, with Aaron Cameron in fifth, Jordan Cox in sixth and Kody Garland in seventh.

Reigning champion Tony D’Alberto put his Wall Racing-prepared Honda Civic Type R TCR in eighth position while Audi driver Michael Clemente and Iain McDougall rounded off the top ten.