TCR Australia Series youngster Lachlann Mineeff has defected from Volkswagen to Audi mid-season in an effort to rekindle his campaign.
The privateer, running under the Melbourne Performance Centre banner, is in the midst of his first full season in the touring car series.
The manufacturer switch comes just under a month out from the fifth round at Queensland Raceway on August 5-7.
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The RS 3 LMS that Mineeff will pilot comes with a strong racing record.
Four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Garth Tander took a win in the car at The Bend Motorsport Park while Frenchman Jean-Karl Vernay won at Queensland Raceway.
“We’re just really excited to be able to have a proper crack at TCR in a model that is very capable of winning races and that’s what we’re setting out to achieve,” said Mineeff.
“I don’t think we’ll be winning straight away, but if we can have the progression of being top 10, top five, podium, then number one, that’s the idea and continue to move forward.
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“The Audis historically in TCR Australia have done really well, they had many wins during the inaugural season including this very car in the hands of Jean Karl Vernay at Queensland Raceway.
“Vernay was able to achieve pole and win the first race, but also when you reflect on what Chaz [Mostert] was able to do last year during the series, which gives us pretty good confidence with what we might be able to do with this Audi.
“It is the very top spec it can be for this generation, so we’re obviously very excited to sink our teeth into it. There are definitely a lot of common parts and similarities shared with the Golf, so I think it will be great for the team as well as myself to be able to quickly transition between the two.”
Mineeff will test prior to the forthcoming round in a bid to get up to speed before his first competitive hit-out in the car.
“I’ve just loaded on and taken it off the truck! We’ll definitely get a test day in either way before Queensland Raceway, which will be really good,” he explained.
“Purple Sector and myself have been very committed to TCR, but acquiring the Audi is a nice refresh, so I can’t wait to prove its pace when we return at Queensland Raceway next month.”
Round 5 of the Speed Series at Queensland Raceway will be headlined by the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series.
Tony D’Alberto leads the standings on 412 but is still winless in 2022. Dylan O’Keeffe occupies second for Garry Rogers Motorsport while Josh Buchan holds third for HMO Customer Racing.
The touring car series will be supported by the Turtle Wax Trans Am Series, Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS, Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, GC Marine Australian Prototype Series, Australian Production Cars, and Radical Australia Cup.
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