Kia switch to the new K3 for the 2016 CTCC season

Reigning manufacturers’ champions Kia Racing will return to the China Touring Car Championship to defend their crown this season, again employing Hexathron Racing as its technical partners, and switching from the K3S hatchback to the K3 saloon, matching the shape of its rivals FRD Sport and Donfeng Honda with their Changan Ford Focus and Honda Civic respectively.

The team’s cars will be run with support from Hexathron, owned by touring car engineer Marco Calovolo, who is now working with Münnich Motorsport in the World Touring Car Championship and Ciceley Racing in the British Touring Car Championship this season.

“After BTCC and WTCC committments, we are very pleased to have renewed also this important partnership with Kia Racing in the China Touring Car Championship,” said Calovolo. “The new Kia K3 is already very competitive, and the first test has been really positive, which gives us hope for a 2016 at the highest level. Obviously the target is to win both drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships. CTCC has reached a top level standard for professionalism and competitiveness like more famous series, and as Hexathron Racing Systems we are proud to be part of it along a brand like Kia Motors.”

The first round of the 2016 China Touring Car Championship takes place on May 22nd at the Jiangsu Wanchi International Circuit.