Hyundai and Honda share the TCR Australia spoils at The Bend

Hyundai star Will Brown and Honda ace John Martin have shared the spoils during Races 2 and 3 of the carsales TCR Australia Series at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia today.

Brown extended his series lead with a commanding performance in a crash-marred Race 2, before Martin raced to a classy win in Race 3 – the first victory for Honda in the new under 2 litre touring car series.

Brown launched his Hyundai i30 N into the race lead at the start of Race 2 and was never threatened, as his race rivals managed to turn the race into a crash-fest.

Chris Pither punted himself out of second place when he failed to re-trim his braking balance on a re-start and his Renault Megane turned sharply into a concrete wall at Turn 1.

Jimmy Vernon lost control of his Alfa Romeo and torpedoed into the side of Alex Rullo’s Holden Astra. Vernon’s Alfa was too badly damaged to contest Race 3.

Veteran Audi star Garth Tander, who won yesterday’s first race, drove well for second while James Moffat finished a happy third in his Renault.

In Race 3, Martin became the third different winner from three starts, and scored the first success for Honda, as the TCR Australia Series.

Martin started from fourth and moved forward in the opening laps in his Civic Type R before pouncing on early leader Tander at the halfway point, eventually taking a solid win ahead of Tander and Moffat.

TCR debutant Jordan Cox finished an outstanding fourth, while series leader Brown consolidated his strong title position with a fifth place finish. 

Brown has a sizeable lead in the title race, with Alfa Romeo racer Dylan O’Keefe in second and Tony D’Alberto third overall.

The next round of the carsales TCR Australia Series will be held at Queensland Raceway on August 3-5.