Hyundai N Secures TCR Australia Championship at Bathurst

In a nail-biting conclusion at Mount Panorama, Josh Buchan (Car 30) clinched the 2023 TCR Australia Championship for Hyundai, capping off a season filled with drama, challenges, and ultimately, triumph. It marks the third win for HMO Customer Racing and another feather in the cap that Franks ton Hyundai is proud to see, proving the excellence of our Hyundai i30 N performance range.

Hyundai’s Champion Performance

The final round of the TCR Australia Championship proved to be a great race as Buchan manoeuvred his Hyundai over the famous mountain in Bathurst in a tense battle. Buchan overtook teammate Bailey Sweeney who faced mechanical problems in qualifying that put him 16th on the grid. However, Sweeney capped off the season in third place, and registered the most wins of the season.

The first race saw Buchan finish 12th, but in the reverse-grid second race, he held his ground among aggressive international competitors. Sweeny, however, continued to battle turbocharger issues, resulting in a 21st-place finish without an official classification.

In a determined comeback, Sweeny charged from 17th to eighth in the final race. However, a post-race disqualification due to a technical infringement relegated him to the third spot in the championship standings.

HMO Customer Racing, proudly representing Hyundai, celebrates their third TCR Australia Teams’ Championship. This triumph underscores the team’s consistent performance in Hyundai’s TCR racing cars.

Buchan Makes History with Hyundai

Buchan expressed his excitement at winning the championship after a gruelling season of battling in Hyundai’s finest racing cars., highlighting the intense competition in the TCR Australia Championship.

“What a crazy weekend, and a tough way to wrap up the championship,” said Buchan.

“We started off with good pace in practice, made it into the Top 10 shootout for qualifying and then had a good result in the first race that really set us up for the rest of the weekend.

“I didn’t have much in the last two races and really was just holding on. I was on the radio for the whole time during the last race just asking where I was and what I needed to do to bring it home. Thankfully, it was enough… and here we are, champions for 2023!

“It’s a massive relief. I haven’t won a national championship before, and I’m lost for words at the moment. But super relieved it’s done.”

Sweeney celebrates a bitter-sweet finish

Despite Sweeny’s challenges, there was acknowledgement of the team’s overall achievements during the season, including holding race wins, pole positions, and leading the championship. Sweeney and his Hyundai i30 N TCR also claimed the most wins of the season.

“It’s been a bittersweet weekend at Bathurst, and a weekend of what could have been. We started off strong in practice on Friday and should have had a top five car, which would have been enough to clinch the title. But we were on the back foot from Race 1 with mechanical issues that we kept chasing.

“It was good to show the pace we should have had in the final race, as we were one of the fastest cars on track and it was great fun racing from 17th through to eighth.

“To come so close is hard to take and to say I’m disappointed is a bit of understatement. But congratulations to Josh and the team, and I’m proud of the results we’ve had this year on my side of the garage with race wins, pole positions and leading the championship for almost the entire year.”

Hyundai’s Motorsports Legacy to Continue

The 2023 TCR Australia Championship adds another chapter to Hyundai’s success story in motorsports, and there is more to come with 2024 just around the corner.

Did you know that you can have your own fun on the racetrack? Hyundai’s N cars include the i20 N and i30 N, two hot hatches with incredible performance and that are track-ready. We are proud to offer these models to our customers at Frankston Hyundai, and it only takes a minute to contact us to experience these models for yourself. Or, if you prefer, simply drop by to our showroom conveniently located in the Bayside suburbs at 6 – 8 Wells Road, Seaford.