Fogg charges from the rear to crack the top 10 on Townsville debut
New Zealand veteran Angus Fogg turned his first race at Townsville into one to remember, carving through the field from the rear of the grid to finish eighth in the opening Touring Car Masters (TCM) championship race at the NTI Townsville 500 at the Reid Park Street Circuit, held from 10–12 July.
It was a hard-earned result. A mechanical failure in qualifying had left the black-and-gold Mustang starting 24th, at the back of the field, after only a limited run in practice – making the charge to eighth, on a street circuit he had never raced before, all the more impressive.
The 58-year-old – “nearly 59,” as he puts it – is one of the most recognisable Kiwis in the category, campaigning a 1970 Ford Mustang built and run by his own team. He last raced in Australia with TCM at Bathurst in 2024, where he holds three wins and the muscle car lap record at Mount Panorama.
Track time had been at a premium even before the qualifying drama. “We were only out there about four or five laps,” Fogg said of his brief practice running. “It’s going to take a bit to get the flow going, because at the moment I’m all over the place – all arms and legs.” That he then sliced his way into the top 10 in the race told its own story.
The heat took some adjusting to. “It’s sunny Townsville, where us Kiwis aren’t used to this sort of heat – let alone this time of year,” he said. “It’s a nice change, until you get in the car, and then it’s just freaking hot.”
For Fogg, the appeal of TCM is simple. “I just like these cars, the muscle cars, the TCM-style cars,” he said. “I’ve been racing a long time, but a lot of these tracks I haven’t done. I certainly hadn’t been to Townsville.” He is chasing new circuits, with a possible Phillip Island sports sedan outing on his radar and, longer term, a full-time commitment to the series. “It’s certainly something I’m thinking about,” he said.
At nearly 59, Fogg says he counts himself fortunate to still be on the grid. “I’m lucky enough at nearly 59 to still be attracting sponsors and chasing a few more dreams,” he said.
The Townsville trip was not originally on the schedule. His New Zealand season – capped by the 2025–26 NAPA Central Muscle Cars title and the TCM Trans-Tasman Cup – had wrapped up, with Bathurst the likely next target. Then a mate forced the issue. “I wasn’t planning on coming back, maybe for Bathurst,” Fogg said. “But my mate Lance Hughes decided he wanted to come, hell or high water, and he was looking for some mates.” Countryman Ross was not quite ready but is due at the next round in Sydney, and Fogg expects the Kiwi contingent to swell. “By the time it comes to Bathurst, there’ll probably be 10 of us again.”
It is the same Mustang Fogg has raced in Australia before – “I’ve only got one car, so this is it” – though this campaign brings a tyre change. “This year we’re running the Hoosier, same as the rest of the boys,” he said. “A track like this, they’ll go really well.” On the evidence of that opening-race charge from 24th to seventh, the switch looks to be paying off. Committed to the balance of the championship, Fogg is again giving the locals plenty to think about – exactly the sort of Trans-Tasman challenge TCM thrives on.
