Tom Coronel aiming for podium on TCR International Series debut

Tom Coronel makes his debut in the TCR International Series at Spa-Francorchamps, driving a Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic TCR. The Dutchman is comfortable and relaxed ahead of the races, as he is enjoying his time at the wheel of the Honda.

“It is my first experience in the TCR International Series, but I know most of the drivers, cars and even people from the organisation”, said Coronel to TouringCarTimes. “I feel comfortable, everything is relaxed and I’m enjoying it. I’m just trying to get into the correct shape, also concerning the race procedures, which are different from the TCR Benelux championship. It’s the same car and team as in Benelux, so I feel alright.”

The Dutchman is happy with how free practice went, as he finished sixth, but he would have liked to be able to do more laps to see how the tyres would react to the full race distance.

“I stayed in the pits for the first 20 minutes, because the track was half wet and half dry, I thought there was no point in going out and I’m quite happy about it. I didn’t do enough laps, because I think I could do a few more. I would have liked to do nine laps, which is the race distance, because then I would know how the degradation of the tyre works.”

Coronel predicts some close and enjoyable racing for the weekend. In qualifying, he will not work with his team-mate Benjamin Lessennes, as he wants to do his own session. The Dutchman believes he can fight for podiums this weekend.

“I think it will be close racing, as we are used to in TCR. The field is twice as big compared to Benelux, so there will be twice as much fights, and as everybody knows I love racing, so the more we fight the better. I decided I will not play slipstreaming games with my team-mate, each of us will do his own thing.”

“Realistically, I don’t think we can win races. Maybe I can take home a trophy, that’s on the cards, I think.”