Richards returns to TCM field at Sandown

Jim Richards will be back on the Touring Car Masters grid for Round 5 at Sandown after missing the most recent round due to the Silverstone Classic.

Richards was absent from Queensland Raceway in late-July when he raced one of the famous Group C JPS BMW 635i machines at the English historics event.

He will again line up in his 1963 Falcon Sprint, which he also ran at Hidden Valley in mid-June.

Richards had also missed Round 2 at Winton as he regrouped from damage sustained in a major crash during Round 1 at Adelaide.

The 70-year-old last won a TCM race at Sandown last year, when the series ran on the Shannons Nationals program in April.

That victory is one of Richards’ nine TCM race wins at the Melbourne circuit amid four round wins and 20 race podiums from 25 starts.

He also won the Sandown 500 in 1985 and 1989.

Melinda Price is another back in the field this weekend, driving the 1974 XA Falcon GT in which she debuted at Winton in May.

Price made her first Sandown 500 start 20 years ago, driving the Castrol Cougars VS Commodore.

Terry Lawlor (1964 Ford Mustang coupe) and Wayne Mercer (1971 XY Falcon GTHO) also make their returns, the former after a rebuild due to his involvement in the same crash which Richards was caught up in at Adelaide.

John Bowe currently leads the ProMasters class and Adam Bressington ProAm.

Touring Car Masters supports the Wilson Security Sandown 500 on September 15-17.

Entry list: Round 5: Sandown International Motor Raceway

Car #	Team/Sponsor	Driver	State	Year	Make	Model
2	Shannons Insurance	Jim Richards	VIC	1963	Ford	Falcon Sprint
3	Hercules Engines / Lucky’s Hotel	Cameron Mason	NSW	1966	Ford	Mustang Fastback
4	Skye Sands	Rusty French	VIC	1970	Ford	Mustang Fastback
6	Multispares Racing	Ryan Hansford	QLD	1974	Holden	Torana SL/R 5000
7	Wisely Motorsport	Bob Wisely	QLD	1974	Holden	Torana SL/R 5000
8	Lady Luck Racing	Terry Lawlor	NSW	1964	Ford	Mustang Coupe
11	Vic Roads Custom Plates / Castrol	Melinda Price	VIC	1974	Ford	Falcon XA GT
12	Giraffe Civil Contracting	Adam Garwood	TAS	1974	Holden	Torana SL/R 5000
17	WM Waste / Illusion Gas Log Fires	Steve Johnson	QLD	1969	Ford	Mustang Fastback
18	Wilson Security / PAYCE	John Bowe	VIC	1974	Holden	Torana SL/R 5000
19	Tincone Industrial Services	Darren Beale	QLD	1972	Holden	Monaro GTS Coupe
35	Bigmate Racing	Jason Gomersall	QLD	1978	Holden	Torana A9X Hatchback
48	Melbournes Cheapest Cars	Eddie Abelnica	VIC	1974	Ford	Falcon XB Coupe
57	Graham Alexander	Graham Alexander	VIC	1968	Holden	HT Monaro GTS
72	GFR Industries	Geoff Fane	QLD	1970	Chevrolet	Camaro SS
74	Lyndways Builders	Wayne Mercer	VIC	1971	Ford	Falcon XY GTHO
77	Red Rock Winery / Werks Garage	Rohan Little	VIC	1974	Porsche	911 IROC
85	Whiteline Racing / King Springs	Mark King	QLD	1972	Holden	Monaro GTS Coupe
88	TIFS – Warehousing & Distribution	Tony Karanfilovski	NSW	1969	Ford	Mustang Trans Am
95	Whiteline Racing / Fabre Australia	Adam Bressington	NSW	1969	Chevrolet	Camaro SS