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Macrow confirms S5000 return, expansion potential
Two-time Gold Star winner Tim Macrow has confirmed his return for the second season of the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship that starts later this year.
The Victorian has also confirmed plans are well advanced to expand his own Tim Macrow Racing outfit to include a second car for the new season, set for a September start this year.
One of the S5000 ‘originals’, Macrow finished third in the 2021 championship, scored two race wins along the way and remained a title contender through to the final race of the year at Sydney Motorsport Park.
“I feel like I’ve got some unfinished business in S5000 so I’m not ready to hang up the helmet yet,” Macrow said.
“We had a really strong start to the season in Tasmania and at Phillip Island, but struggled a bit at Sandown and Sydney Motorsport Park so we know there is more to come.
“We’re a little team up against big squads like BRM and GRM but we showed that we can take it up to them and that I still go okay for an old bloke!”
Macrow said the 2021-22 calendar, which includes the inaugural S5000 triple crown, made it an easy call to commit to a return next year.
“Any calendar that includes events like the Grand Prix, Bathurst and the Gold Coast is worth doing,” he said.
“The opportunity to race at those circuits and at those events in one of these cars is impossible for someone like me to pass up.
“We got so close to racing in Melbourne last year so it will be great to complete that event. Bathurst is Bathurst and will be amazing and I think the Gold Coast has the potential to be incredible. These cars around that street circuit will be awesome to watch.
“Our sponsors see the value in it as well and they have been very supportive and are keen to come back on board so they can represent at such high-profile events.
“The category has such an exciting future and I want to be part of that, both as a driver and team owner.”
Macrow, himself a three-time F3 champion, recently expanded his TMR squad to run cars in the Australian Formula 3 series, with the team offering up an S5000 test day for the series champion at the conclusion of this season.
He says it’s all part of the plan to expand to multiple S5000 cars in a bid to give him a teammate for season 2.
“I’ve made no secret of the fact I’d like to expand TMR to two cars, it would be good for the category and for the team. I’d love to have a teammate to share data and information because you improve so much quicker, but I’d love to be able to give a young kid a shot in these cars.
“We’ve got several irons in the fire when it comes to adding a second car and while the deal isn’t done yet, we’re certainly working very hard on it.
“Our relationship with Formula 3 makes sense because they’re the kids that will be looking for the next step, and S5000 can definitely be that.”
Season 2 of the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship is scheduled to commence on September 18-19 at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne.