WTCR
Kristoffersson joins Huff and Bennani at SLR

Volkswagen is extending its partnership with the Sébastien Loeb Racing team into the 2019 WTCR. A new addition to the team is two-time rallycross world champion and 2018 TCR Scandinavia champion Johan Kristoffersson.
SLR will field four Volkswagen Golf GTI cars next year, with Kristoffersson joining Rob Huff, and Mehdi Bennani; fourth driver will be named at a later date.
“I’m very much looking forward to the WTCR,” said Kristoffersson. “After four years of rallycross, 2019 will be my first full touring car season on the international stage since 2013. Most of the circuits are entirely new territory for me and therefore represent a huge challenge.”
“I am delighted to be tackling the WTCR with Sébastien Loeb Racing once again in 2019 and I hope to be a contender for the championship title,” said Huff. “It’s great that Volkswagen has decided to up its involvement to four cars.”
Bennani added: “I can look back on a good WTCR season with Sébastien Loeb Racing. The highlights were without a doubt my podium finish at home in Morocco and, of course, my win in Wuhan. It’s fantastic for me to be competing with the team yet again next year.”

Photos: Micke Fransson / DPPI

WTCR
Hyundai drivers in Portuguese test

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing’s preparations for 2019 got underway at Portimão's Autódromo Algarve, where the four drivers who will pilot the i30 N TCR cars in WTCR completed a three-day test. Newcomers Nicky Catsburg and Augusto Farfus had their first laps in a TCR-specification machine, sharing driving duties with 2018 WTCR champion Gabriele Tarquini and Norbert Michelisz.
Tarquini said: “We were able to work through some important checks to back up the R&D work that has been done in the workshops by engineers, to make sure that translates into an improvement on track. The test was also a nice opportunity to work with Nicky and Augusto, and pass on some of the knowledge to help them get up to speed as quickly as possible.”
Michelisz said: “The testing meant that we could back-up the effort of the engineers in the workshop, and provide some more detailed feedback on the changes to the set-up. Portimão was the perfect place for this; it’s a track where you work the suspension more than many circuits.”
Catsburg said: “When I first drove the Hyundai i30 N I could immediately tell it was a different type of car from what I have raced before. However, the handling characteristics were still very familiar from the front-wheel-drive cars I have competed in before. It’s clear that Gabriele did a great job with developing the car, and that Hyundai Motorsport and their customers have created a very strong package.”
Farfus said: “From my first laps I felt comfortable, and able to push the car. Before my runs on track both Gabriele and Norbi were able to give an idea of what to expect from the balance of the chassis, and their experience was really valuable. Still, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I was able to get up to speed.”

Photos: Hyundai Motorsport

TCR Ibérico
A prize money of € 60,000 on offer in 2019

TCR Europe promoter Paulo Ferreira announced his plan to continue organising the TCR Ibérico as a stand-alone series that will be held on four race meetings: two in Spain and two in Portugal.
The series will adopt the same sporting format of TCR Europe, with two 30-minute free practice session, one Qualifying split in Q1 and Q2 and two races of 23-minutes plus one lap.
“There are enough TCR cars between Spain and Portugal to put together a good field. We will award a 60,000-euro prize money: 30,000 to the overall winner and 30,000 to the winner of the DSG class. Payment of the prize money will be bound to the participation in the 2020 TCR Europe Series,” Ferreira explained, adding: “We are also evaluating the possibility of giving the last event the status of ‘TCR Nations Cup’”
The organisation of a TCR Ibérico was inspired by an agreement between the National Sporting Authorities of Spain (RFEDA) and Portugal (FPAK) that encourages the promoters to include in their series events in both countries.

2019 TCR Ibérico - calendar
23/24 March: Barcelona
5/7 July: Vila Real
7/8 September: Navarra
26/27 October: Portimão  

Photo: Nuno Organista

TCR Benelux
RACB National Team selects Gilles Magnus

Gilles Magnus is the driver selected by RACB National Team to take part in the 2019 TCR Benelux at the wheel of an Audi RS3 LMS run by Comtoyou Racing.
The final phase of the Volant TCR 2019 award took part from 25 to 27 November at the Audi Motorsport Competence Center in Neuburg. The six finalists of the competition – Magnus, Benjamin Lessennes, Maxime Potty, Mathieu Detry, Tom Rensonnet and Cédric Wauters – were evaluated by Tom Kristensen, Bas Leinders and Marc Duez.
“The level of the finalists was especially high,” said Duez. “At the beginning they got to know the track at the wheel of Audi R8 road-going cars, with Kristensen driving the leading car. Then they sat in the Comtoyou Audi RS3 LMS, showing their speed and capability in managing the tyres.”
“It was a top-level competition, as all the candidates have a bright future in motorsport,” Kristensen commented. “They had to face different grip conditions. We were surprised by Magnus’ ability to adapt himself. Despite a lack of Touring Car experience he made an excellent progression during the whole stage and ended up with the fastest lap.”

Photos: Jacques Letihon

TCR Swiss Trophy
In joint venture with TCR Germany

The 2019 TCR Swiss Trophy will be held within the frame of the ADAC TCR Germany series; the deal has been signed between the German promoter – TCR Germany GmbH – and the Auto Sport Suisse, Switzerland’s National Sporting Authorithy.
In its second year, the trophy will be reserved for the drivers who hold a racing licence issued by ASS and the Swiss drivers who hold licences issued by the NSAs of other countries.
All the seven events that form the TCR Germany calendar will be valid for the TCR Swiss Trophy.

2019 TCR Swiss Trophy – calendar
26/28 April: Oschersleben
17/19 May: Most
7/9 June: Red Bull Ring
9/11 August: Zandvoort
16/18 August: Nürburgring
13/15 September: Hockenheim
27/29 September: Sachsenring

Photo: ADAC Motorsport

TCR Asia
Eurasia Motorsport with Daniel Miranda

Sportscars experienced outfit Eurasia Motorsport announced an expanded programme for 2019, as the team will compete in the TCR Asia Series for the first time.
The 23-year-old Daniel Miranda returns to the team alongside a yet to be confirmed second driver; they will race Hyundai i30 N TCR cars.
“We have been looking at TCR for several years and with Daniel we could see a perfect opportunity to join with a young talented driver who should be competitive from the first event,” stated team principal Mark Goddard. “He is already a National Touring car champion and his year in Formula Renault with us has given him the opportunity to hone his talent to the point where we are confident the he’ll be competitive in International Touring cars.”
Miranda was the 2017 Philippine Toyota Vios Champion before joining Eurasia Motorsport for a season in the Asian Formula Renault.

Photo: Eurasia Motorsport