A terrific drive and a podium finish at the season-opening Sebring round was a highlight of the year and a catalyst for what has been shaping up as a promising season for the likable Freer. One of the most consistent drivers in the field, Tom has scored top 10 finishes in in the series so far in his first two attempts and in 2024 his on track form has indicated this could be his best year yet.

However a turn of bad luck at Watkins Glen and then again throughout the Trueforce Enduro Cup has seen him languishing in the standings and falling back to the tail end of the top 20. He now finds himself fighting for automatic promotion at the end of the season.

R: Can you give us a brief recap of the season so far from your perspective? What went well and what didn’t?

TF: 2024 has been a roller coaster for me personally. Starting the year off with a lucky p2 at Sebring was nice, but since it’s been a struggle. Top tens have been possible most weeks, but personally I’ve been very mistake prone and low on confidence mainly since Jerez. The rest of 2024 is hopefully going to be a rediscovery of form and enjoyment from my racing.

R: Did you expect to be in this position at this point in the season? How does your current standing compare to your initial expectations

TF: Honestly no I didn’t. Going into the enduros I was comfortably 9th in the championship, so to be in this position is a kick in the teeth and a wake up call to be better.

R: How has your team supported you throughout the season, and what role do they play in your preparation and strategy?

TF: Synergy has been really supportive over the course of the year. They’ve been there for me for the highs and lows, always giving me and the guys the support we need. We’re lucky now that we have a really strong team environment compared to last season, with a bunch of guys who want to see the best for one another and not just themselves. Although the results aren’t always there, the potential is thanks to the environment within the driving group.

R: Why is it so important to be in the top 20 of the final results?

TF: The importance of being in the top 20 varies for everyone I think. For me personally, it’s your ticket into the next season, you don’t have the stress of having to qualifying though the tightly contested qualifying series and you can enter the next year already focusing on Sebring, without distraction.

R: Does being on the edge of the top 20 add extra pressure to perform, and how do you ensure that this pressure drives you positively rather than hindering your performance?

TF: It would be different for everyone. But for me personally no. I think it does the exact opposite. It’s a chance to throw caution to the wind and just have a crack. It’s so easy for things to go wrong in this series, and usually, it is mostly out of your control.

Thanks to Tom for his time and for talking to us and we wish him all the best for the remainder of the season. The next round takes us to Mount Panorama for the biggest race of the year, the Bathurst 1000. Tune in on Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd of September for all the action.