TekworkX Motorsport will take on one of the team’s biggest rounds in 2024, with five cars spread across Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge and the TGRA GR Cup in Townsville.

Sprint Challenge:
Hamish Fitzsimmons and Danny Stutterd will both look to continue the strong form they’ve shown over the opening two rounds of the season.

Fitzsimmons, in his second year in the category, took a maiden race victory at Phillip Island to open the season. The 18-year-old backed up the performance with another strong showing at The Bend Motorsport Park, characterised by a double podium result.

“I’m just excited to go racing in Townsville, I worked with the team up there last year so it’s cool to be behind the wheel this time at such a good event,” said Fitzsimmons.

“We’re feeling really comfortable with our speed, so our main focus is just on making sure we execute in qualifying and put ourselves in the best spot to start the weekend. I think the street circuit element shouldn’t make too much of a difference in the races.

“You can’t really extend the track limits, so you need to give racing room, and last year at Bathurst the racing was really good across the top which is a fair comparison. It’s a big weekend for the team so hopefully the weather stays clear, and we can put together a good round,” concluded Fitzsimmons.

In Pro-Am, Stutterd carries a 45-point lead in the standings in to the third round of the season. Across the six races in 2024, Stutterd has only finished outside the top two on one occasion. Stutterd will take more confidence in to this weekend having claimed a podium finish in Carrera Cup on the Townsville streets 12 months ago.

TGRA GR Cup:
Townsville marks the opening round of the season for the National Toyota 86 Series, with Bradi Owen and Lincoln Taylor joining the team alongside the returning Zoe Woods.

Owen is set to embark on his second full season in the category, and will be able to draw upon his experience around Townsville in 2023 where he pulled off a series of charging races to fight through the field.

“I feel that I am prepared for not only this weekend, but the year as a whole. I am much more confident heading into this year with that full season under my belt now,” said Owen.

“Despite not racing since October, I’ve spent most days at Norwell Motorplex working and I’m basically always in a race car trying to learn something. There has been so much work from a marketing perspective that has gone into this from my family and myself, so really I’m just looking forward to focusing on the driving part and doing my job inside the car,” concluded Owen.

Woods is also back for a second year in the category, but has spent the first half of 2024 competing in GT4 Australia where she has excelled with multiple top 10 finishes in the hotly contested series.

“I’m excited to be back racing the 86, this category is a great pathway of racing for anyone and great to work on skills and technique with all the good racing that happens,” said Woods.

“I am going to take everything I learnt last year with me, as the new car is very similar, and we’re going to mostly the same tracks. Townsville was our first round last year so it’s a very similar approach to start the season.

“After doing some test days, I think the new car will make for some great racing and it will be good to see the category keep growing over the course of the year,” concluded Woods.

It’s a series of debuts for 16-year-old Taylor, who is set to line up for his first race in the category and his first time on a street circuit. The Queensland-based driver has contested the first two rounds of the TGRA Scholarship Series this year, fighting deep inside the top 10 in every race.

“Very excited for the first round to finally come around, and to be at such a good event like Townsville,” said Taylor.

“It should be interesting as I’ve never been around a street circuit, but it will be good to learn a new track. For preparation I’ve been racing in the Scholarship Series to keep sharp with my race craft and familiar with an 86. I’ve also done some good test days in the GR86 with the team.

“I’m just looking to finish all the races with consistent results and learn more about the car to bring into the second round in Sydney,” concluded Taylor.

The five cars will all take to the Reid Park Street Circuit from July 5-7 as part of the NTI Townsville 500.