Tom Oliphant returns to the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia field this weekend aboard the Ashley Seward Motorsport Autoglym Lynk & Co 03 TCR, after missing the previous round to get married in his home country of England.
Oliphant debuted the Lynk & Co on Australian shores with a promising weekend at Phillip Island, before going on to take his first TCR Australia victory at Winton in a temporary switch to the Alfa Romeo. Tim Slade filled in for Oliphant at Queensland Raceway, back in the Lynk & Co, where the Supercars star qualified fourth in a strong demonstration of the car’s speed.
Sandown Raceway hosts the fifth round of the season and marks a return to a successful track for the ASM team. In 2022 the team claimed victory in race three, amid extremely wet conditions, with Michael Caruso behind the wheel of the Autoglym entry.
The Victorian venue is another new circuit for Oliphant to learn, who has come up to speed quickly in his first three rounds in 2023. The 3.104km circuit is one that the BTCC race winner has expressed his eagerness for.
“It’s a bit of a whirlwind time, coming back from an amazing time getting married, but I’m really pleased to be getting back in the Lynk & Co and to get cracking,” said Oliphant.
“Sandown is another new track, but it’s one that I’m really eager to learn. From the footage I’ve been watching it looks like a very interesting and exciting track. I know a lot of the drivers in the paddock enjoy racing around it as well. You’re never really sure what you’ll need when going to a new track but I’m really confident that we’ve got a very good race car.
“I learnt a lot at Phillip Island and the test day we had at Winton, the team learnt even more with Slade in Queensland and I’m keen to delve in with the crew to unpack that information. It’s also our last round before the World Tour joins us, so we’re really pushing to get the best understanding of the car as possible before those drivers join the field.
“It’s exciting times moving forward, and I’m keen to get into it,” concluded Oliphant.
Tom Oliphant hits the track at Sandown for round five of Supercheap Auto TCR Australia from September 8-10 in the Autoglym Lynk & Co 03 TCR.