What a rollercoaster of a weekend at Symmons Plains! The latest round of the Touring Car Masters (TCM) series delivered everything from mechanical heartbreak to master-class in wet-weather driving.
Here is the full breakdown of how the team fared, the technical breakthroughs putting us back at the front, and what is coming up next on the calendar.
Symmons Plains Recap
Setting the Pace in Practice & Qualifying
Right from the get-go, the Multispares Torana showed it had the ultimate pace to challenge for the top step.
Practice: Ryan laid down a marker early, finishing 2nd fastest just behind local driver Adam Garwood in his Ford Capri.
Qualifying: Ryan secured 3rd on the grid, stopping the clock a mere 0.25 seconds off pole-sitter Steve Johnson. Crucially, Ryan bested his own qualifying lap time from last year, proving the car is moving in the right direction.
Overcoming the Hurdles
As is often the case in motorsport, you have to take the rough with the smooth.
During the Trophy Race, a sudden axle failure cut our run short. While these components are strictly crack-tested every single season, the team has already adjusted their internal servicing protocols regarding the lifespan of this critical item to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Race 1 brought a different kind of headache. Ryan was locked in a brilliant track battle when he was heavily collected in the rear end by Scott Cameron heading into the hairpin.
The Multispares Torana has unfortunately suffered one too many “rear-enders” recently. It had only just been properly restored after a season and a half of quick, cosmetic trackside fixes, making the hit particularly frustrating. Despite the setbacks, Ryan put on a clinic in recovery driving to fight his way back to 9th place.
Race 2: A Wet-Weather Masterclass
Starting from 9th on a damp and incredibly tricky track, Race 2 turned into the highlight of the weekend.
With the field split on tire strategy—some gambling on slicks and others opting for wets—Ryan drove a masterful race to carve through the field and take a brilliant victory.
Hansford told Auto Action after the win: “Very satisfying. It is very enjoyable to be back in front. We had really good drive and nearly got the whole field on the back straight! Just so happy for the team, Multispares and myself. It has been a constant effort and everyone has their own day jobs, so it’s a great reward.”
He added that Steve and Adam had slicks, and there was a bit of a dry line, but enough wet there for the bigger cars to not put the power down. Even with the wets on I still had to short shift and go half throttle, but felt really good under brakes. For some reason every time it rains I go well in the Torana.
Under the Hood: Solving the Performance Puzzle
Ryan also opened up about the engineering hurdles the team has finally put in the rear-vision mirror. A year and a half ago, a few engine developments sent the team down the wrong path. While the car retained its high-end horsepower, it lacked the crucial bottom-end torque required to launch effectively out of the corners.
With those driveability issues officially resolved, the focus turns to fine-tuning the braking system to ensure the Torana remains a permanent frontrunner.
Race 3: The Battle Royal
The final race of the weekend was a classic TCM thriller. The top four—Steve Johnson, Adam Garwood, Scott Cameron, and Ryan—engaged in an absolute battle royal, trading the lead multiple times.
Sitting in 4th place on the very final lap, Ryan pulled off a massive, high-stakes overtake on Scott Cameron to snatch 3rd place right at the chequered flag. It was a fitting end to a spectacular weekend of racing.
What’s Next on the Calendar?
The team has a busy couple of weeks ahead across two different categories. Make sure to mark your calendars:
- Monochrome GT4 Series (Round 3): Queensland Raceway (Up next!)
- Touring Car Masters (Next Round): Townsville, July 10–12
As always, you can catch all the action of both series live on Fox Sports and Kayo.
Thank you to our incredible team, our primary sponsor Multispares, and all of our fans for the unwavering support. Let’s keep this momentum rolling!
