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WORLD AND LIFE
TCR 2017
NEWS
HOME
DRIVERS TEAM
It’s almost time to start engines for
the third year of the TCR
International Series! The 2017
season of the global series that has
showcased the TCR concept around
the world will see a very interesting
field, including a number of
changes.
First to be named is, of course, the
reigning double TCR champion,
Stefano Comini. The Swiss driver is
switching cars (for the third time in
three years after driving SEAT and
Volkswagen) and will have the
honour to bring to its series debut
the Audi RS3 LMS. A new outfit
based in Belgium, Comtoyou Racing,
which plans to enter a second car
later in the season, will run the
car.
The reigning champion team, Lukoil
Craft-Bamboo Racing, will continue
to run three cars and remain
faithful to the SEAT León. Again,
the squad will have a top trio of
drivers, all bidding for the title:
reconfirmed 2017 runner-up James
Nash and 2016 runner-up Pepe
Oriola are joined by French star
Hugo Valente, who switches from
the WTCC. The SEAT camp will also
be represented by two cars run by
Icarus Motorsports, another new
entry, led by US driver Duncan
Ende.
Leopard Racing will remain a top
force on the grid, with its
Volkswagen Golf GTi cars. Jean-Karl
Vernay, after an impressive maiden
season in Touring Cars last year, will
lead the assault of the Luxembourg-
based squad, with a second driver to
be entered from Spa onwards.
Following an internal reorganization,
West Coast Racing has swapped its
Honda cars for Volkswagen GTi
machines. Gianni Morbidelli will
continue to lead the Swedish outfit,
having at his side a promising
rookie, 17-year-old Giacomo Altoè,
from Italy, who has tasted TCR
racing recently in the Middle East
Series.
The Honda colours will be defended
at the top by a new team from
Hungary and supported by national
hero Norbert Michelisz, M1RA (for
Michelisz Racing).
The Lukoil Craft-Bamboo Racing trio
of Oriola, Valente and Nash
Double champion Comini is ready to defend his title