Tom Oliphant has walked away from his debut in Supercheap Auto TCR Australia with fifth place in the championship after two top five finishes from three races over the weekend.
The AutoGlym Alfa Romeo driven by Oliphant in TCR Australia enjoyed an extended week with pre-season testing on Thursday, prior to the event proper beginning on Friday. The test allowed Oliphant to grow acclimatised with the Symmons Plains circuit, before two practice sessions on the Friday preceded Saturday afternoon qualifying.
Oliphant made it into the second part of qualifying, reserved for the top 10 at the end of the first session, and was able to secure himself seventh place on the starting grid for his debut race. In the opening race there was contact at the hairpin on the opening lap that cost Oliphant a number of positions, before he was able to bounce back and finish in eighth position. That later became seventh after a competitor in front was given a penalty for his contact with Oliphant.
Race two was the reverse grid race with the top 10 spots inverted from race one, and Oliphant lined up in fourth place. The Alfa Romeo was the fastest car off the line and was challenging for the lead into turn one, but Oliphant was boxed in on the wrong side of the track and had to settle for fourth which he held for the rest of the race. The weekend concluded with another top five finish as Oliphant raced his way to fifth place, where he started from, with the grid set by combined points in race three.
Thanks to the strong results over the weekend Oliphant leaves Symmons Plains placed fifth in the Championship and only 29 points off the series lead.
“I really enjoyed it, I loved being back at the wheel, I’ve missed it over the last year,” said Oliphant.
“Back in a touring car at a new track and a new challenge was very exciting. I came in wanting to achieve three top five finishes, and we ended up with two, but our pace in the races was certainly very promising. By the end of the weekend there was a much better understanding of how I wanted the car set up from the team, and I was more comfortable so it’s all looking good moving forward.
“TCR Australia certainly didn’t disappoint, every new series always has it’s challenges, but the pace of some of the drivers out there was very impressive. I think with the big break before round two it gives me an opportunity to be a lot more prepared, I only signed on three weeks ago, so there wasn’t much preparation for me before this round.
“I’m travelling back to England for a bit between rounds. I’ll be able to utilise the simulator I’ve used to prepare for years over there and really get all the tracks nailed down. The break will allow me to properly get race fit as well and then hopefully we can do a couple test days and really come out firing at round two,” concluded Oliphant.
TCR Australia Points:
1. Bailey Sweeny – 137
2. Tony D’Alberto – 123
3. Aaron Cameron – 119
4. Jordan Cox – 118
5. Tom Oliphant – 108
6. Lachlan Mineeff – 104
7. Kody Garland – 102
8. Josh Buchan – 92
9. Michael Clemente – 90
10. Iain McDougall – 80