TMR Prepares for the Australian Manufacturers Championship

TMR prepares for Championship battle.
With the final round of the Australian Manufacturer’s Championship to be held at Sandown in Victoria over November 24/25, the championship-leading TMR Mitsubishi Evo X of Stuart Kostera and Inky Tulloch has a battle on its hands. If the pairing fares well at Sandown, the team will take the Manufacturer’s Championship crown for the fourth time in succession- a wonderful achievement for Team Mitsubishi Ralliart. As an added incentive, Kostera can also complete a hat-trick of driver’s championships this weekend.
This season has been hard-fought over the opening four rounds, with youngster Dylan Thomas in his Evo IX RS emerging as a tough competitor. He is the key championship combatant heading in to the Shannons Nationals at Sandown. “Thomas is very quick and is well within striking distance,” explained TMR boss Alan Heaphy as the car was prepared in the TMR workshop.  “The level of competition this year has forced us to ramp up our testing in preparation. As well as Dylan’s car, there are several Evo Xs out there- four built by us- that are really pushing the envelope and are forcing us to further develop the car.”
Currently Kostera sits on 344 points, Tulloch 342, with Thomas on 288 and Jim Pollinca’s Evo X on 240 points in hot pursuit. Mitsubishi leads the constructors with 840 points, 93 ahead of BMW/MINI.
Sandown’s finale sees the Manufacturer’s Championship cars practice on Friday ahead of a 30minute qualifying session on Saturday. The 40 lap Race 1 commences at 4.20pm Saturday, with an additional 40 lap decider on Sunday from 4.05pm.