News
Kumho confirmed as new control tyre supplier for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia
The Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series will align with the world‘s top touring car classes this season, with Kumho becoming the control tyre supplier of the popular Australian racing series.
The new arrangement will see Kumho supply tyres to all competitors on a multi-year deal.
In 2021, Kumho began developing a bespoke tyre for TCR competition and completed a comprehensive evaluation test.
Announced as the control tyre for the new in 2023 TCR World Tour, Kumho already supplies TCR Europe, TCR South America, TCR Brazil, TCR Spain, TCR Eastern Europe and TCR Denmark.
In Australia, Kumho has a rich history in local motorsport by being the inaugural control tyre of the V8 Touring Car Series in addition to naming rights partner, while also adding the National Sports Sedan Series in 2020 and a great supporter of grassroots motorsport.
The global distribution of the new tyres is managed by Race Tyres International, based in Portugal. The local distributor will be European Technique Race Tyre Service.
The announcement comes as Supercheap Auto TCR Australia prepares to host as many as two rounds of the TCR World Tour, welcoming the globe’s best touring car drivers down under for the first time in more than two decades.
The Supercheap Auto Bathurst International has already been confirmed as one Australian round of the TCR World Tour, with another venue to be announced.
Kumho takes over from Michelin as the control tyre supplier of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia, a deal that had been held since the category’s inception in Australia back in 2019.
AWC Race Tasmania will open the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia season for the third time at Symmons Plains Raceway on February 24-26. CLICK HERE for tickets.
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QUOTES
Ben McMellan
Head of Category Operations, Australian Racing Group
“This was an important step for TCR Australia to make to fall in line with other major TCR categories around the world,” said McMellan.
“Switching to Kumho means our drivers will have exactly the same compound and construction of tyre that the TCR World Tour teams will be using when they race here later this year.
“It also means that if our drivers or teams want to compete internationally, they are likely to have the same level of tyre knowledge.
“I’d like to extend a huge thanks to Michelin who have been a terrific supporter of TCR in Australia. They have been supportive and understanding through the past four years and we thank them for their commitment.”
Rene Quintaneiro
CEO, Race Tyres International
“It is fantastic to welcome TCR Australia to the Kumho tyre family for 2023 and beyond,” said Quintaneiro.
“TCR has emerged as one of the powerhouse racing categories all around the world, and the work that ARG has done to make the Australia series one of the most competitive in the world is a real credit to their crew and teams.
“This new deal aligns TCR Australia with the TCR World Tour and many other TCR markets around the world, so it will make any transition for its drivers or team a lot easier.
“We have had great feedback from all TCR categories around the Kumho racing tyre and we are looking forward to getting the first batches down to Australia for the first round in February.”