Photo: CTCC Media

Kia to enter new 2-litre K3 during the final races for Alex Fontana

Kia will debut its new K3 2.0T in the Super Cup 2.0T class of the China Touring Car Championship at the end of the month, with Swiss driver Alex Fontana behind the wheel.

The team, which principally competes in the 1.6T class and heads to the last rounds in contention for the drivers’ title against Honda, will put its new 2.0 litre turbocharged challenger to the test in racing conditions in preparation for a full-time switch in 2017, with the 2-litre class now having dwarfed the 1.6 class this year.

24-year-old Fontana is a former single-seater racer from GP3, Formula Renault 3.5 and Formula E, but more recently has tried his hand at GT racing in the Blancpain Endurance Series.

“Thank to Kia Motors for this call,” said Fontana. “We got to know each other at a test a few weeks ago and immediately there was a strong relationship both with the technical staff who worked closely with me in developing the car, and with the Korean management. I am proud to have been chosen from a field of highly qualified candidates, and I am sure we will do a great job together.”

Fontana will drive the new car at the Guizhou Jun Chi International Circuit on October 30th, and the following week at the season finale at the Shanghai Tianma Circuit on November 6th.