TCR Europe kicks off with 26 cars in France
The new TCR Europe Series will kick off in style this weekend at Le Castellet’s Circuit Paul Ricard with a strong 26-car field representing seven brands of manufacturers. And also with high quality in terms of drivers who have amassed altogether no fewer than eleven titles in TCR series.
The promoter Paulo Ferreira commented: “We are very pleased, because the new European series puts itself as the perfect accomplishment of the TCR philosophy. In fact, competitors are coming from eight different series and among them there is also a fair amount of TCR champions.”
The line-up is a perfect mix of experienced drivers and up-and-coming youngsters from fifteen countries. The likes of Jean-Karl Vernay (reigning International Series champion and WTCR race winner), Stefano Comini (double champion in the International Series), Josh Files (three TCR titles between Germany and Middle East), Kris Richard (2016 ETCC champion) and Dušan Borković (race winner in the International Series and the ETCC) face the challenge from Attila Tassi (International Series runner-up), Francisco Mora (twice TCR Portugal champion), Francisco Abreu (TCR Ibérico champion), Nicola Baldan (TCR Italy champion), Igor Stefanovski (twice European Hill Climb champion), Julien Briché (winner of several Peugeot and SEAT cups) and many others.
It is worth to point out the half-dozen teen-agers who have jumped to TCR coming from karting and minor formulae: Reece Barr (17), Tassi, Márk Jedlókzky, Danny Kroes, Maxime Potty (18) and Cedric Piro (19). On top of this, 15 out of the 26 drivers have not turned 30 yet.
Looking at the cars, Audi, Cupra, Honda, Hyundai, Peugeot and Volkswagen have been joined by the Subaru. In fact the Top Run-built WRX STI has finally completed the homologation process and will be racing in the capable hands of Comini.
