Tom Coronel will make his TCR debut this weekend with Bas Koeten

Dutch driver Tom Coronel will make a first appearance behind the wheel of a TCR-specification car at the opening round of the TCR Benelux series at Spa-Francorchamps, driving one of Bas Koeten Racing’s SEAT León Cup Racers with Jamie Vandenbalck.

The team will field two cars for the first round of the new championship, with Coronel and Valdenbalck driving the #11 car and Cédric Cherain and Loris Cencetti behind the wheel of the #9 entry.

Coronel will be one of two World Touring Car Championship drivers taking part in the race meeting, with Honda’s Tiago Monteiro driving for Boutsen Ginion Racing in their Honda Civic TCR along with Stéphane Lémeret.

The TCR Benelux series allows drivers to share cars across the four races, taking part in two each, unless the driver is classified as an amateur in which case they have the option to compete in all four alone.

A 60-minute qualifying race precedes the four main races, with the grid decided by a fan vote on social media.