{"id":301670,"date":"2026-02-25T15:46:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T15:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/301670\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T15:46:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T15:46:17","slug":"tcr-engine-and-speedcar-united-in-unlikely-secret-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/301670\/","title":{"rendered":"TCR engine and Speedcar united in unlikely secret project"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"TCR
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe TCR-powered HMO Customer Racing Speedcar.<\/p>\n

The unlikely union is the work of the TCR team boss Barry Morcom and speedway racer Don Mackay, who hatched a plan to combine their respective interests.<\/p>\n

The end product is a Speedcar powered by a Hyundai i30 N TCR engine.<\/p>\n

The idea was to see if a Speedcar could be powered with something at a fraction of the cost of the popular billet block engines while remaining competitive.<\/p>\n

Some of the most popular engine options can cost upwards of $100,000 with servicing costs around $25,000 annually. It\u2019s hoped the TCR-based option will have significantly lower maintenance costs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea arose from a conversation between HMO Customer Racing team owner Barry Borcom and long-time Speedcar racer Don Mackay, who have known each other for a long time, while discussing the current state of Speedcar competition and the high barrier for entry,\u201d HMO Customer Racing team manager Aaron Grech told Speedcafe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been more than two years in the making and has involved hundreds of man-hours by our team at HMO Customer Racing and a number of third-party specialists in design, fabrication, and installation to adapt the same engine we have run in the championship-winning Hyundai i30 N TCR hatch and i30 Sedan N TCR for the past six years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"HMO<\/p>\n

HMO Customer Racing\u2019s TCR-powered Speedcar in action.<\/p>\n

In its TCR specification, the Hyundai i30 N engine is a 2.0-litre, turbocharged inline-four making 360 hp, making it a suitable candidate for Speedcar racing.<\/p>\n

The engine has had some Speedcar-specific parts manufactured to make it fit for purpose.<\/p>\n

At the moment, the TCR-powered Speedcar is in its proof of concept stage.<\/p>\n

The team is awaiting homologation and Speedcars Australia Inc to vote on whether it can race.<\/p>\n

Approval and demand for the engines will ultimately determine its cost.<\/p>\n

\u201cEssentially, what we are attempting to do is create a more affordable entry point into the category that is competitive but does not make the existing engine technology obsolete,\u201d said Grech.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to encourage new teams and drivers \u2013 and potentially new fans \u2013 to the Speedcar class.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe TCR engine is a production-based motor that is more affordable to purchase and significantly cheaper to maintain with longer service intervals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe car has been through a rigorous test program on the dyno and has already competed at numerous events with positive results.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe next step is to have the regulations updated across the country that will allow it to compete.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have presented all the relevant documents to the Australian Speedcar Association and are waiting on a voting process for approval.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are racers at heart and excited to expand our horizons into the action-packed world of speedway racing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speedcars are more commonly known outside of Australia as Midgets.<\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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