Twenty-three cars on the grid in Salzburg:
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| Written by: Fanni Váradi | Photo: TCR Series |
Altogether 23 cars will compete at the Salzburgring, where some new drivers and teams join the series.
Duncan Ende and Rob Huff return, after missing Monza, as the Briton was racing at the Hungaroring in the WTCC event he rejoins TCR International Series in Salzburg for the rest of the season as Jean-Karl Vernay’s teammate at the wheel of a Leopard Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI car.
Duncan Ende is returning to the championship after a break, which was required by his team. Icarus Motorsport decided to take a pause to replace the DSG gearbox with a sequential racing unit at their SEAT Leon car.
Grégoir Demoustier joins DG Sport Compétition.
The 26-year old Frenchman has gained significant experience in different touring car categories. He was racing in the World Touring Car Championship and FIA GT. Now he joins Mato Homola at DG Sport Compétition.
Even though I have experience of two WTCC seasons, I will need to get used to the Opel Astra TCR. This is why I have not set myself a precise goal for Salzburgring. There I will focus on taking my bearings at the wheel of the car and becoming acquainted with the team. Watching the TCR races I saw that drivers fight hard for positions, but I’m not worried about this. I’m very excited to begin this new chapter in my racing career.” said Demoustier.
Local driver Thomas Jäger joins TCR in Salzburg.
Jäger will make his debut in TCR International Series behind the wheel of an Opel Astra TCR run by the Kissling Motorsport team. The Austrian driver raced so far in karting, Formula and rear-wheel drive Touring cars. „It is going to be my first experience in a front-wheel drive racing car. We tested the Astra TCR 3 weeks ago, and I felt immediately at ease driving it. Now I will be focusing in doing my best in what is also my first race ever at the Salzburgring in one of the most competitive Touring Car series in the world.”
Top Run Subaru WRX TCR will make its debut in Salzburg. The Italian engineering company has worked to update the Japanese car with the aim of improving reliability. Top Run’s driver will be Luigi Ferrara at the wheel of Subaru.
Serbian Milovan Vesnic joins TCR International Trophy in Salzburg, with the aim of taking part in the TCR European Trophy event at the end of the season, similarly to Stian Paulsen and Jens Reno Moller.
„TCR is the next step for me and my team. We are a small team, but we have a lot of experience. My fmaily has been involved in motorsports for more than forty years and we are not afraid to fight with the world’s top teams and drivers. Our main goal in 2017 is to present ourselves and our country at our best.” said ASK Vesnic’s Audi driver.
Pit Lane Competizioni enters an Audi RS3 LMS for Enrico Bettera.
The team is taking part in TCR Italy successfully, and now will make its first appearance in the International Series fielding an Audi.
Enrico Bettera changed to TCR Italyin 2016 after won the Italian Touring Car Cup three times.
