Lukoil Craft-Bamboo Racing announced its driver lineup for the 2017 TCR International Series season: Hugo Valente, James Nash and Pepe Oriola form a strong mix of highly experienced and successful touring car specialists.
New to the team is Valente, vice-champion in the 2012 French SEAT León Supercópa and later a regular competitor in the World Touring Car Championship. “I’m very excited for this new challenge. For me it was important to get back to the front end of the field, as I wanted to be able to fight for podiums and victory at every event. I’ve seen the way Lukoil Craft-Bamboo Racing works, and to me it's possibly the best opportunity that I’ve been given in the past couple of years,” the Frenchman said.
Nash is back for his second season with Lukoil Craft-Bamboo Racing with the sole intention of claiming the drivers’ championship title he so narrowly missed out on by only 3.5 points last year. He commented: “2016 was a great season and despite making many errors in the season we still won the teams’ title and finished second in the drivers’. Obviously I would like to go one better this year and staying in the same environment gives me that opportunity.”
Oriola joins the team for the third consecutive season; after an incredibly successful two years, the young Spaniard is heading into the new season with his eyes firmly set on the drivers’ championship title. “It's my third year with the team and it feels like a real family. With my two teammates I hope we can win the teams’ championship and finally win the drivers title too!” said Oriola.
Team Principal Richard Coleman added: “I would like to welcome Hugo to the team. He has shown his ability in touring cars over the past four seasons and I am sure that he will be able to adjust to the SEAT León fairly quickly. I am proud to have James and Pepe back for another season as well. I think any one of our drivers is capable of winning the championship this year.”
