Formula Ford graduates Zac Soutar and Jay Hanson head to TCR Australia

Australian Formula Ford graduates Zac Soutar and Jay Hanson will meet again in TCR Australia, having both confirmed their full-time entries in the 2020 series.

22 year-old Zac Soutar was second in the 2019 Australian Formula Ford Championship, with two wins and five round victories.

Soutar and his family run Team Soutar Motorsport and have purchased the ex-Tony D’Alberto Civic that scored pole position in the opening round of the 2019 season at Sydney Motorsport Park. He will be supported by Honda Australia importer, Wall Racing.

Soutar, who completed his first test in the Honda Civic Type R last Thursday, said “I’m really open minded and ready to learn about how to make these cars fast.”

“I’m in no rush to be at the front of the field straight away. I feel like this is a class I could be in for a long time, so my plan is to get comfortable and build towards a long future in the category. It’s not a stepping stone class an I’d love to be in TCR Australia for a few years.”

“Having said that, if there’s an opportunity to race overseas, I’d love to take on that challenge. I’m very open minded, so we’ll just see what the future brings.”

“I’m looking forward to continuing to run my own car, just like I did in Formula Ford. TCR is a category where people who want to run their own show is entirely possible. In Supercars or Carrera Cup, there isn’t those opportunities on a privateer budget.”

“The broadcast package and the event coverage is amazing too. We have been blown away by how much interest there has been in the category after just one season. We are definitely excited to be a part of that growth.”

Meanwhile, 16 year-old Jay Hanson has signed with Ashley Seward Motorsport to drive one of their three Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloces.

Hanson, who still has two years of high school to complete, will drive the Alfa that Dylan O’Keeffe used to take fifth overall in 2019, with two pole positions and four race wins.

Hanson was seventh in the 2019 Australian Formula Ford Championship, securing a race win in the final race of the season.

The Victorian drove the car at a driver evaluation day in August, and racked up 100 laps at Winton in December after officially joining the team.

Hanson will be eligible for the Michelin Rookie Cup, with the winner securing a test with an international TCR team next year.

“It’s awesome to join forces with Ashley Seward Motorsport in the Alfa Romeo,” he said.

“I can’t wait for season 2020 and some of the great racing that we’ve seen in TCR Australia.”

“There’s going to be pressure on myself to at least finish in the top 10 for the year, but hopefully we can be in a position to get some podiums by the end of the year.”

“TCR is a worldwide category, and there’s many places to go after the Australian Series. Eventually, I’d like to move overseas and race there, and the rookie prize to get a test with an international team is absolutely awesome.”

“It’s really exciting to have Jay join us for our TCR program in the Alfa Romeo,” said Ashley Seward.

“He did an exceptionally good job in Formula Ford, and we had an evaluation day and he did a great job in the car.”

“The power to weight ratio of a Formula Ford to a TCR are very similar, so I reckon from what we’ve seen with him, there’s no reason why he can’t be challenging for podium finishes.”