Former Supercars racer Steven Johnson secured his fifth Touring Car Masters (TCM) championship title following a masterclass performance during the season finale at the iconic Mount Panorama circuit. Driving the #33 Ford Mustang owned by the Russell Hancock-owned family team, Johnson claimed two victories out of three races to seal the title in commanding fashion.
This success puts Johnson just one championship away from equalling long-time family friend John Bowe. More importantly, this marks his second championship aboard the small, family-run operation that represents a true throwback to Johnson's own family heritage in motorsport.
"I’m just so ecstatic for our little team here," Johnson told Speedcafe. He further explained, "The Hancock family, most people up and down TCM are family teams and I love that camaraderie and I love the banter that you get between everybody." Johnson praised the hard work put in by Russell Hancock, his close friends, son, and wife, noting how they now feel like his own family.
The conclusion of Race 3 brought a brief moment of confusion for Johnson as he crossed the finish line. He initially feared radio issues when his celebratory messages were met with silence from the pit wall. "And I didn’t hear anything back on the radio, so I go ‘is my radio working?’ Then Russell finally comes back and he’s in tears. It’s a pretty special sort of thing to do and to bring some joy to them," Johnson recounted.
The 2026 season has been a journey of learning and consistency for Johnson and the Hancock team after a roller-coaster previous year. They successfully ironed out weaknesses at tracks like Tailem Bend and Sydney Motorsport Park, where fierce battles against competitors such as George Miedecke highlighted their technical progress.
Elsewhere in the field, Cameron Tilley brought his fan-favourite Valiant Pacer home in third position ahead of Marcus Zukanovic and Ryan Hansford, who rounded out the top five. Meanwhile, Scott Cameron was left to rue missed opportunities, finishing a quiet ninth after entering the weekend as a genuine title contender.
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