Twenty-year-old New Zealand Super 2 driver Ayrton Hodson has announced his intention to join the TA2 Muscle Car Series grid at the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour this weekend, April 18th—20th, as he continues to prepare for his first Dunlop Super 2 race at Bathurst later in the year.
The SVG protégé joined the TA2 field in Taupō over the weekend at Round 3 of the Supercars Championship and said that driving at home in front of a Supercars crowd was a dream come true. Despite some mechanical issues, he was happy to take a race win and third overall for the weekend.
“The car was a rocket this weekend, and I had a lot of fun driving against some experienced TA2 competitors; I can’t thank Roberts Racing enough for the opportunity because now I feel ready to take on the mountain this weekend,” he said.
“Taupō is one thing, Bathurst is another, but my goal is simply to go there and learn, be as competitive as possible and enjoy the experience because when we come back later in the year the intensity will go up another level.”
Hodson will drive a Mustang prepared by Ashely Jarvis racing and previously campaigned by TA2 Category Manager Matt MacKelden.
“Having a talent like young Ayrton join our team for Bathurst is very exciting, and we can’t wait to get to the mountain to see what he can do,” said Jarvis.
“We know the car is good, and watching him over the weekend in Taupō, he clearly has the talent, so hopefully, we can provide him with a great experience this weekend.”
Hodson joins current Super 2 front runners Jarrod Hughes and Ben Gomersall as drivers using the TA2 Muscle Car Series to keep themselves sharp as they climb the ladder towards a career in Supercars, something Hodson said was central to his thinking when he decided to seek an opportunity.
“These cars are wild to drive, they’re under tyred for their power, and they move around a lot, which helps to build car control and the skill of looking after a tyre, so they’re the perfect training ground, and now I just can’t wait to get to Bathurst as it’s a dream for any driver to drive a V8 around there,” said Hodson.
Round 2 of the 2025 TA2 Muscle Car Series, which kicks off April 18-20 at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, is a shared round with the National Trans AM series.
Saturday and Sunday races can be watched live and are free to air on SBS on Demand, simulcast on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.
Header Image: Aysh Media
