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The family-run racing team trying to upset the apple cart in TCR Australia Series
Family-run racing teams were once commonplace in the upper echelon of Australian touring car competitions.
They didn’t bring wads of cash from lucrative sponsorships – instead, scraping through, nickel and diming their way to each race.
Now, professional racing teams rule the roost, making privateers largely a thing of the past.
However, there are a few brave families taking on the TCR Australia Series powerhouses like Garry Rogers Motorsport and Melbourne Performance Centre.
In the TCR Australia Series, Zac Soutar is the leading privateer.
While many teams bring swathes of experienced engineers and mechanics, it’s very much a family and friends vibe for Soutar.
His dad is the team boss while his best friend from high school has taken up the role of engineer, despite not having any engineering experience prior.
Soutar’s cousin is a mechanic while his brother and other family friends help with odd jobs here and there.
Despite the small team of weekend warriors, Soutar has had success.
He won at the season-opening event at Symmons Plains and claimed podiums at Queensland Raceway and Sandown Raceway.
“It’s awesome,” Soutar told Wide World of Sports.
“It’s great to reward everyone for their hard work. I’ve got a team full of volunteers and family and mates. Everybody volunteers their time to come racing.
“To have got a few podiums for them, it makes me really happy.
“I thought I was crazy at the start when we did the privateer thing, I thought maybe we could never get there. It’s good to prove to ourselves that we can do it.
“I’m looking forward to next year to see what we can do over a full season now that I think we’ve got our feet on the ground and we’re off and running.”
Read the full story on wwos.com.au
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