Denis Dupont hopes to show he’s a “fast learner” in debut WTCR season

25-year-old Denis Dupont hopes to make use of his pace shown in the final two rounds of the 2017 TCR International Series at Zhejiang and Dubai, two circuits he’s never raced at before, in the 2018 WTCR, where again he’ll have to learn every circuit from scratch.

Dupont, three-times a race winner in last season’s competitive TCR Benelux Touring Car Championship with WRT, will make the switch from the SEAT León TCR to Comtoyou Racing’s Audi RS 3 LMS for the inaugural FIA World Touring Car Cup, with support from the Belgian ASN, the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium (RACB).

“It’s a great opportunity to drive for Comtoyou Racing in the WTCR with the support from the Belgian federation,” said Dupont.

“I learn fast, that’s one of my good points,” he added. “It doesn’t take long for me to go fast on a race track normally…I don’t know any of the tracks so it will be a great challenge. Last year it was the same in TCR International, I did not know Dubai or Zhejiang but still I was fast so I am not very worried about that.”

WTCR promoter Francois Ribeiro added: “We are very pleased to welcome Denis Dupont to the FIA World Touring Car Cup for what we hope will be the start of a successful and exciting adventure. Denis will be confronted with an extremely competitive field so there’s no doubt that WTCR will be a good place for young talents like him to showcase their skills.”

Dupont’s backer, the RACB National Team, have strong expectations of their programme with Comtoyou Racing this year.

“Denis was competing in TCR Benelux for two years and we wanted to bring him to an international programme, but it’s also a dream for us because you see the car, a Belgian car on the grid with the Belgian colours,” said RACB team manager Geoffrey Theunis.

“It’s a world cup and a lot of manufacturers will be involved. It’s a very exciting programme and we worked a lot with the team, Comtoyou, who I really have to thank as well because they put a lot of efforts to bring the car onto the grid with us. We are all working in the same way with the same values. With this kind of spirit, you can really deliver a lot.”

Dupont showed strong pace in the final two rounds of the TCR International Series last year, fighting for the podium in Dubai before retiring with a damage, which Comtoyou Racing team principal Jean-Michel Baert was quick to make light of.

“Denis is a very quick driver,” said Baert. “He’s listening a lot to the information from the engineer, from the team. He’s professional, he works every day, every time. He’s a very good guy for the team. He’s on a good way.”

On expectations, Baert quipped: “First I would like him to finish one race! No, I would like Denis to take a maximum of experience. The level will be very high. He has his place in WTCR but he has to learn a lot of things. I don’t want to make a pressure on the results but I am certain he can reach his goals.”

The team are required under WTCR regulations to field a minimum of two cars. Baert confirmed the plan is still to run three cars, but further announcements will follow in due course.