Kiwi young gun Ayrton Hodson is proving that he’s a name to watch in the TA2 Australia Racing Series, backing up a dramatic and determined debut at Bathurst with a sharp start to this weekend’s TA2 Kings of the West Invitational at Perth’s Wanneroo Raceway.
A Big Statement on the Mountain
Hodson’s TA2 debut at Mount Panorama in April was nothing short of eye-catching. Despite having never turned a wheel around Bathurst before that weekend, the 20-year-old Super2 driver wasted no time getting up to speed.
After a limited practice showing where he placed seventh among the TA2 contenders, Hodson delivered a standout qualifying performance, shaving a staggering five seconds off his earlier lap time.
Driving the Ashley Jarvis Racing-prepared No. 32 Ford Mustang, Hodson claimed P4 in the TA2 class and 19th overall out of a colossal 41-car field shared with the Trans Am Series.
He looked poised for more in Race 1 and delivered, staying clean and improving his pace throughout to finish fifth in class and 19th overall, an outstanding result in his Bathurst debut.
Race 2 brought a harsh reminder of how unforgiving Mount Panorama can be. In a chaotic sequence triggered by oil on the circuit, Hodson was caught in a massive nine-car pile-up at the top of the mountain.
Despite the damage, he impressively returned to the track after rapid repairs, finishing 27th overall and 10th in the TA2 class. His determined drive and substantial gains through the weekend earned him the coveted “Big Braker” Award for most positions gained.
A Strong Start in the West
Fast forward to this weekend’s Kings of the West Invitational at Wanneroo Raceway, and Hodson has picked up right where he left off. In Friday’s practice session, he clocked the fourth-fastest time with a 0:59.0202 lap, just over a second behind top runner Nathan Herne.
The pace continued in qualifying, where Hodson put in a 0:59.2294 lap, securing a spot on the second row of the grid in P3, just behind Super2 rival Jarrod Hughes and seasoned Trans Am campaigner Herne. It’s a promising start against a 13-car field filled with familiar names and national-level experience.
With four races on the weekend’s program—Race 1 kicking off Friday evening at 6.40 pm NZT, followed by two Saturday showdowns and the final sprint on Sunday afternoon, Hodson is in a prime position to push for podiums and continue building momentum in his TA2 campaign.
If his Bathurst resilience and Perth pace are anything to go by, expect Hodson to be firmly in the mix this weekend in Western Australia.
Header Image: Speed Shots Photography
Watched this young man developing in his motor racing career so far.
From racing mini stocks to Six Shooters sprintcars to now with the tin top.
Remarkable talent for someone so young.
I predicted his debut into V8 Super Cars by the time he turns 25 way back to his dad Paul Hodson when he jumped into the Sprintcar