Morcom says podium is proof HMO can be a force in 2021
Nathan Morcom says that his podium finish in the final race of Round 2 of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series is proof that his Hyundai team can be a force in 2021.
After winning the inaugural series with 2019 with Will Brown at the wheel, HMO Customer Racing had a late driver change, with Josh Buchan coming into the squad to replace Brown who has turned his focus to the Supercars Championship.
Buchan and Morcom had mixed results in the opening round at Symmons Plains in Tasmania, but after a steady run at Phillip Island, culminating in a solid third place for Morcom, he says that the team is making the right moves.
“The weekend proved that we can be a force in the 2021 Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series,” said Morcom.
“Practice and qualifying showed promise and the car had great grip on the Michelin wet weather tyres. It was the first time we raced with a wet weather set-up and the HMO Customer Racing Team nailed it.
“I was up to fifth when an intermittent electrical problem slowed us and there was nothing that could be done to rectify it in the pits. Our car has always shown great race pace and that was evident in Races 2 and 3, especially from mid race.
“So it was shoulders out and lots of fun on Sunday. I should have got through sooner, but the level of competition has really stepped up in 2021.”
Buchan did not enjoy the same level of luck over the weekend, coming off the circuit on two separate occasions in the wet Race 1 on Saturday, and getting involved in other driver’s crashes on Sunday.
“It was really a weekend that got away,” said Buchan.
“We had great race pace but unfortunately the weather during Race 1 and a post race penalty set the tone for my weekend.
“I was caught up in someone else’s accident at the start of Race 2 which left me with a shredded left front tyre and a last row start for the third and final race of the weekend. I moved up to 14th pretty quickly and followed the pack with Nathan just a few spots ahead. I had loads of speed but just lacked a little on the straight.”
Buchan was the focus of TCR Australia’s first ‘Driver’s Seat’ video on Saturday where our crew followed him for the afternoon.
View that video below.