The recent cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix has proved to be a sizable setback for the TCR Asia-Pacific series.
Promotors of series, the Australian Racing Group, had hoped to have the weekend as a test round to gauge initial competitor and spectator interest before committing full-time time series as early as next season.
But with the cancellation of the weekend, Australian Racing Group CEO Matt Braid admits there has been a loss in momentum.
“It was disappointing from an opportunity perspective,”
Braid told AutoAction.com.
“This was going to be a test round to see what the interest was and also to highlight [TCR].”
Braid did suggest that the series could initially involve Australia and New Zealand, where TCR is already a popular category, as well as one other Asian venue.
“That would be the ideal scenario, but where it would be in Asia we don’t know. That would be the subject of discussion,”
he added.
But despite the cancellation, Braid’s initial emotions about TCR Asia-Pacific are optimistic.
The 22-car TCR Asia-Pacific grid for the Grand Prix was just short of expectations but was a consequence of other external factors which meant many Australian TCR competitors did not enter.
“To have over 20 cars in the end, we were quite happy with,”
concluded Braid.
The TCR Australia Championship was scheduled to be held at Sydney Motorsport Park on March 27 – 29 but has since been postponed.
Story Source: AutoAction