Brutal Fish Racing adds Pepe Oriola to TCR Europe line-up

Brutal Fish Racing will field its strongest-ever line-up in TCR Europe in 2020 with Pepe Oriola joining Daniel Lloyd and Martin Ryba in its three Honda Civic Type R TCR cars.
The team from Bratislava, established itself as one of the top outfits in the series in 2019 and runs an expanded programme this year, having acquired an extra Honda from JAS Motorsport.
Oriola, from Spain, brings a wealth of touring car experience to the team. Starting out in one-make saloon racing in his homeland, he joined the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2011, aged just 16. He was the runner-up in the European Touring Car Cup that season and two years later became the youngest winner in the WTCC on the streets of Marrakech.
A switch to TCR International in 2015 brought him the runner-up spot in the championship, and he continued winning in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup in its inaugural season in 2018.
Still only 25, he was a race-winner in the China Touring Car Championship in 2019 as well as claiming victory at the TCR Spa 500 endurance race and finishing third in the TCR Asia standings.

Oriola said: “I’m delighted to join Brutal Fish Racing Team for TCR Europe and to race the Honda Civic Type R. The calendar and the level of the championship is amazing and I have to thank the team for their trust in me. I’m sure with Daniel and Martin we can achieve our goal, which is to fight for the title. After the global pandemic we all have been through, to be in such a professional team and championship for 2020 is an honour. I’m sure with my team-mates’ speed and experience, combined with my own, we will have a strong package.”

Ryba, added: “As we promised, here we are with our third driver; and what a fantastic addition to our team. We are so happy to welcome Pepe to our Brutal Fish family. We know he is super-fast and competitive, has a lot of experience in TCR cars and will fit in very well after we became good friends last year. Even with the Corona virus pandemic causing the season to be shortened, I think we will have a very good campaign. With Pepe and Daniel, we are ready to fight for the both the Teams’ and Drivers’ titles.”

Picture: Brutal Fish Racing Team