Inaugural TCR Australia Series winner Will Brown will look to defend his title in 2020 after a highly enjoyable year in the series.
Driving the HMO Customer Racing prepared Hyundai i30N, Brown had a magnificent season, securing the title a round early thanks to his seven race wins and multiple podium finishes.
Remarkably, the 2019 series winner wasn’t even scheduled to be part of the series until he received a late call from Barry Morcom to race in the Hyundai, leaving Brown unsure of what to expect in the series.
“It was awesome to be part of the first season of the new series, especially winning it,” Brown said.
“I didn’t even plan on doing the series until I got the call from Barry just before and even then, it was still pretty unknown at that moment because I didn’t know what to expect.
“I didn’t know if the Hyundai was a good car, how the team would work or even if I would drive the car right. But that was all put away pretty quickly after winning two of the first three races in the first round.
“I was only expecting to reach the top five, but to go out for the rest of the season and win these races and the series as a whole was really exciting and something great to be a part of.”
A popular figure around the pitlane, the 2016 Australian Formula 4 Champion is always smiling and his attitude and positive outlook on motorsport is highly regarded.
It’s this reason that the series struck a chord with the 21-year-old.
Going into TCR with no previous history to work with and no way to prepare, Brown thoroughly enjoyed being able to get back to the basics of racing and just race.
“It was an awesome category for the lack of pressure. It was the most fun series I have been involved with in a while for that reason,” Brown explained.
“We had some tough racing against a great pedigree of racers. It was a pretty casual lead up with no drama, so we would all have a good time when were there but the moment we were on track, it was serious.
“I am a casual guy and my preparation is dependent on what racing it is. I was rocking up to tracks and looking for footage and data for the car but there was none.
“There wasn’t much preparation in regard to track or car analysing. It was just turn up and do what we could do, which was very much like when I was younger and karting back in the day. Just simple racing.
“That was an aspect that was really enjoyable.”
With the 2020 racing season drawing near, Brown already has already locked in a full-time drive in the Dunlop Super2 Series and a co-driver role in the Pirtek Enduro Cup alongside David Reynolds.
As for the TCR Australia Series, Brown remains hopeful of defending his title.
“We are definitely looking at doing the TCR series again” Brown added.
“Especially with HMO Racing. It’s something we’re working on now. Hopefully we will have some exciting news soon.”
The 2020 TCR Australia Series begins at the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships at Sydney Motorsport Park on 27-29 March.