WestCoast Racing celebrate TCR UK teams’ title success

Swedish squad WestCoast Racing have been confirmed as the winners of the inaugural TCR UK Touring Car Championship’s teams trophy after their three podium results last weekend at Oulton Park, with two events still remaining.

WestCoast Racing are 371 points ahead of their closest rival Pyro Motorsport, with 320 points left available from the final two race weekends at Croft and Donington Park. Though technically the title is provisional, as drivers can be deducted points should they be given a licence points-based penalty at any race weekend.

The top two cars score points towards the teams’ title, and Pyro Motorsport technically have only one car entered in the teams’ classification for Ollie Taylor, making it even more difficult for the team to gain ground on the STCC regulars, as their other car is entered under the Verizon Connect Racing banner for Finlay Crocker and more recently Ash Sutton.

“It’s a fantastic job by the team to do two championships with the same cars. That is not easy,” said team manager James Nixon. “Being teams’ champion is a just reward for that, and something we are proud of. Our cars have won with great reliability and fantastic customer support from Volkswagen, which has made it possible for us to do two championships in one season.”

The team’s Volkswagen Golf GTI TCRs have run with full compensation weight for the majority of the season, thanks to Dan Lloyd’s quick qualifying and race pace. The additional ballast has also been carried by the team’s new drivers Andreas and Jessica Backman, with the team the only full time programme in the championship competing with the Volkswagen against the much fancied Honda Civic TCR and Hyundai i30 N TCRs.

“Andreas and Jessica have done an absolutely amazing job. Some of the other drivers not carrying ballast should be a bit embarrassed by that. Not only is this Andreas’ and Jessica’s first year in racing and having to learn new tracks, they’ve had to do all that while carrying maximum ballast in their cars. The way they have handled that is a big factor to why we are on top of the teams’ championship.”