TCR World and life

How did you first decide to get involved with racing in TCR? “It was my mechanic and team owner at MRM Racing, Mike Ritchie, who first got me thinking about TCR. Originally, I was looking at the BTCC but Mike had the idea to go to TCR Europe and compete on a more competitive level, shall we say. We’d already got into the Renault Clios - I won the 2017 Clio Cup Junior and the 2019 Clio Cup titles in the UK, both of the Clio internationals and the World finals in 2018 - so we had some good contacts there and we were aware that there was a Renault Mégane RS TCR car. Basically, two and two came together with Renault helping in the background; they put us in contact with Milenko Vuković and that’s where we are today.” How happy were you with your first races in TCR Europe? “We did the two races in Barcelona in the Mégane development car and had two really good finishes, which put a big smile on everyone’s faces, and so now we’re looking to improve on that. To be honest, before we arrived in Barcelona, I thought we’d be right at the back of the grid. We went to Hockenheim for a day’s testing just so that I could get some time in the car and we didn’t really know where we’d be in the field after that. When we got to Barcelona, I put that completely out of my head and then just aimed for the front and lo and behold we had some pace, managed to put in some good lap times and get up the field, basically.” You’re still only eighteen, but what are your plans for the next few seasons? “We’ve been involved in developing the Mégane. We were in Prague doing some testing and it’s already looking a lot better than it did last year. I know they’ve made some changes to the suspension and the engine and it’s looking like a lot better car. We were trying to put a programme together for WTCR this year as that’s now going to be restricted to Europe, but we’re struggling a little with the budget at the moment to be honest. We had our eyes set on that, but the money’s a bit tight and so we’re looking at getting the budget together for a TCR Europe programme. I haven’t completely given up on WTCR, but I think the TCR Europe budget is looking a lot more likely. It’ll definitely be a full programme in TCR Europe next year but hopefully we can achieve some good results in Europe this year and get some sponsors on board for next year and maybe step up a level.” Three questions to… JackYoung Belfast teenager Jack Young enjoyed a stunning season in 2019, winning the Renault Clio Cup UK and being named as a Rising Star by the British Racing Drivers’ Club. The eighteen-year old then made an impressive debut in TCR Europe, recording a pair of fourth-place finishes in the two races in Barcelona i n the Vuković Motorsport Renault Mégane RS.

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