Garth Walden Racing (GWR) has confirmed its spot in next year’s inaugural TCR Australia season after securing a Hyundai i30 N TCR car alongside Platinum Motorsport.

Led by Garth Walden, the team is yet to confirm a driver but will compete in all seven rounds of the series, as well as potentially fielding a second car, pending driver interest. 

GWR’s Hyundai will be the fourth to arrive in Australia through HMO Customer Racing (HMO), who have locked in three of their own ahead of next year, with one already in Australia. 

With Walden testing HMO’s Hyundai at the TCR Australia launch day in Sydney last month, the former Supercars Championship driver was highly impressed with the car’s speed and usability.  

“We’ve ordered the car, we have specified what we want and we will be ready to go for 2019,” Walden said 

“The aim is to have the car heading to us via sea freight this year, which would mean we’d have the car by February.

“We’re committed to all seven rounds. Who will drive it is yet to be confirmed, so we might lease it to one driver for the whole season or have multiple drivers in it over the course of the year.

“We have only confirmed one car at this point, but the aim will to definitely run multiple cars. Now that word is getting out that we are getting into TCR Australia, the interest has been really strong. We’d hope to start the season with two cars, but we’re certainly starting with one. 

“After the media day last month, it was clear to us that this was a category that our team needed to be involved in. The input and interest from everyone has been really high. There were lots of drivers and teams there, and after driving the car, I think it’s going to be a really great category. 

“I got the chance to drive the Hyundai, and it was a great experience. The grip level is high, brake level high, they look cool too. You only have to look at the success of the championships around the world to know that this is going to be really well suited to Australian motor sport.”

HMO Director Barry Morcom was also pleased to begin the ball rolling with providing TCR cars to customers.

“We’re pleased to have sold our first customer car to GWR Australia,” Morcom said.

“We’ve got our three cars set for next year, and for our team, it’s now about getting more customer cars involved and servicing them through parts and components.

“I’ve been friends with Garth for many years, and he will run a really solid outfit. He has been successful at many other championships all over Australia, so I have no doubt that Garth and his team will find success in TCR.” 

TCR Australia will kick off their seven-round season with the Shannons Nationals at Sydney Motorsport Park on 17-19 May.