Super3 leader joins TCR Australia field 

Super3 series leader Hamish Ribarits will join the TCR Australia field for Round 2 at Phillip Island.

The Victorian teenager will take over the #22 Melbourne Performance Centre Audi that was previously raced by Dutchman Rik Breukers at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Ribarits has already found success at Phillip Island this year after winning a race at the opening round of Super3, which was his maiden event in a touring car.

Last year, the 19-year-old finished runner-up in the Australian Formula Ford Championship for Sonic Motor Racing Services.

Ribarits will be one of four cars fielded by the MPC squad this weekend.

Garth Tander will drive one of the two brand-new Audi RS3s, while the driver of the other new Audi is yet to be announced.

Aaron Cameron will pilot the team’s sole Volkswagen Golf.

“It is really exciting for me – a completely new avenue of racing for me,” said Ribarits.

“I’ve never driven a front wheel driver car before, so there’s a lot of learning to do, but it will be cool to drive the car on Friday and get into the racing on Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s going to be completely different to what I’m used to.

“From what I hear from other drivers, it’s difficult to get rear temperature into the tyres, but I’ll just look to learn and improve as the weekend goes on and gain experience in a completely different style of car.

”Having Garth Tander as a team-mate is going to be very beneficial for me. The amount of years that he has been racing, I’ll be able to pick up from him and use him as a benchmark.”

An 18 car grid is expected for the second round of the new touring car series following the absence of Garth Walden Racing Australia, which fielded Michael Almond in a Hyundai i30 at Sydney.

Opening practice is due to begin on Friday at midday.

The three races will broadcast live on SBS and via the Shannons Nationals live stream, carried by Speedcafe.com, on Saturday and Sunday.

Entry list: Round 2, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit