Marcos Ambrose is making waves in the Trans Am series with his team’s impressive performance in a Chevrolet Camaro.
Transition to Trans Am
Already racing a Chevrolet in the TA2 Muscle Car Series, Ambrose’s team entered the Trans Am competition at Hidden Valley in June, fielding a Camaro for former Supercars driver Aaron Love. Choosing a Camaro is somewhat unconventional, as Mustangs have dominated the series in recent years, largely due to claims that their body design offers superior aerodynamics. All Trans Am/TA2 cars utilize a control chassis and GM engine, with the only variance being the body style between different manufacturers. The prevailing perception of the Ford’s superiority has led to a skewed grid, but Love demonstrated that he could compete with the Mustangs during the latest round at Sandown, achieving three podium finishes—the first of the season for a Camaro driver. Ambrose is confident that the Camaro package is competitive, provided that drivers know how to maximize its potential.
Ambrose’s Perspective
“I am very happy at Marcos Ambrose Motorsport to be running a Trans Am Camaro for Aaron Love,” Ambrose stated. “We own the oldest Camaro in the Trans Am field and secured a few podiums last weekend at Sandown. I have worked with both Camaros and Mustangs during my time in and around the TA2 and Trans Am garages, and I have no concerns about the speed or performance of the Camaro. They have different body shapes and perform slightly differently, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on how well you can work with them. I own that car, I am proud to own that car, and we’ve got a great driver behind the wheel, which enhances its appeal. The Camaro’s performance is not an issue for me or our team, and if I were to expand, I would likely run more Camaros.”
Competitive Landscape
James Golding leads Love and the rest of the pack at Sandown. Image: Supplied. Trans Am/TA2 category manager Matt MacKelden noted that despite the previously unbalanced results, more local competitors are ordering Camaros. While Mustangs remain undefeated in Trans Am this year, MacKelden pointed out that the TA2 series scoreboard shows 12 wins for Camaro and only two for Mustang. “There’s no doubt that if you just looked at the Trans Am field, the optics don’t look great,” he commented. “However, we’ve stated from the outset that there aren’t any significant advantages or disadvantages between the Camaro and Mustang body shapes. In fact, if you examine the scoreboard for the TA2 series, the Chevrolet body has been the dominant choice in 2025. Even our forward orders indicate that we have more Camaros ordered than Mustangs. Aaron and Marcos achieved a fantastic result at Sandown, which was gratifying to see.”
Future of Trans Am
Dodge Challenger bodies are also part of the Trans Am/TA2 mix in Australia but have lost popularity in recent years. Meanwhile, the Toyota Camry body introduced into US TA2 racing this season has yet to be approved for use in Australia, despite its early success.