Mystery surrounds title contender’s surprise car swap

TCR Australia Series title hopeful Tom Oliphant has been forced into a last-minute car change, but the reason behind it has been shrouded in secrecy.

Oliphant, a BTCC race winner, moved to Australia this year to contest the touring car series with Ashley Seward Motorsport. 

He debuted at Symmons Plains Raceway in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce but swapped to a brand new Lynk & Co 03 for round two at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

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However, the team has been forced to roll the Alfa Romeo back out of the garage for round three of the season at Winton Motor Raceway.

Wide World of Sports understands the Lynk & Co sedan suffered a terminal failure during a recent test at the rural Victorian circuit.

On Thursday, team owner Seward was approached for comment but declined to speak on the matter.

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Several sources indicated to Wide World of Sports the issue was engine related.

Asked for comment, Seward said Geely Group would provide a statement in due course.

A post-test press release issued on Wednesday quoted Oliphant as saying the team had a “superb day” at Winton.

“As with any new car, we’re learning new things in every session and we were able to make great improvements throughout the day,” said Oliphant.

“I’ve become comfortable with the track, it’s extremely stop-start in nature, even compared to what I’ve driven in the UK, but it certainly shares a similar style to what I’ve spent many years driving.”

The switch to the older car is a big blow for Oliphant and his title aspirations having acquired the Lynk & Co with the intention of improving his results in the series.

The Alfa Romeo was not the quickest car at Symmons Plains, although it has good results historically at Winton.

Dylan O’Keeffe took a podium in 2019, the last time the TCR Australia Series featured at Winton.

Oliphant sits 10th in the standings on 164 points while Bailey Sweeny leads on 252 points for HMO Customer Racing.

Practice at Winton gets underway on Friday with two practice sessions before qualifying and race one on Saturday followed by two races on Sunday.

Race Winton, the fourth SpeedSeries event of this year, takes place across June 9-11.

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