Kody Garland has broken through for his first ever TCR Australia podium amidst a career best weekend in the category, at the season-opening AWC Race Tasmania at Symmons Plains Raceway.
The opening round of the 2023 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia season marked Garland’s first in a Peugeot 308 after his maiden season aboard the Renault Megane. The Motor Traders Association of New South Wales and Valvoline backed driver kicked off the weekend strongly with seventh in qualifying – which then became fifth on the starting grid – a personal best result.
Garland carved his way up to the podium places on the opening lap of race one, from which he never looked back as he settled into third place for the full 30 laps. Garland fought off challenges from his Garry Rogers Motorsport teammates in the closing stages of the race, as he battled tyre drop-off in his longest ever stint at the Symmons Plains Circuit.
The reverse grid race two saw Garland come home in 10th place, before he bounced back in race three in a charge up to sixth position. The results mean Garland leaves the opening round with seventh place in the championship, the highest he has ever been in the TCR Australia standings – and only six points off the top five and 35 points behind the leader.
“This round has been better than I could have asked for, in my debut with the Peugeot,” said Garland.
“To get the podium in race one was just phenomenal. We had a battle on our hands with the reverse grid race which put us back in the pack, but we earned some solid points and to come away seventh in the championship puts us in a good place to build from for the rest of the year.
“I’d never done a 30 lap stint here at Symmons Plains, so the car was starting to feel a little worse for wear by the end of it. In hindsight I could have looked after the brakes a bit better and the tyres as well, but that’s all part of the learning experience and we’ve got a big hurdle behind us now.
“Starting this year on the front foot was critical, it’s all about building momentum so to get it started with a good points haul is all we could ask for. I learnt a lot from myself as well this weekend, being in contention for the lead group in every race which is not something I’m used to in TCR. I am comfortable with it now, which is important because I plan on being in that lead group all year,” concluded Garland.
The second round of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series takes place at Phillip Island from May 12-14 as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries.
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