Cupra to join TCR Australia grid at Phillip Island

Cupra will become the second new brand to join the TCR Australia grid at Phillip Island after the Carl Cox Motorsport team confirmed it has acquired a new Leon Competición TCR.

Michael Clemente will switch over to the car from the Audi he raced last season and in the opening event of the 2023 campaign, scoring a best result of fifth in Tasmania back in February.

The addition of the Cupra to the grid comes at the same time as the Ash Seward Motorsport team prepares to debut the Lynk & Co 03 TCR that it will now use for the remainder of the season after replacing its Alfa Romeo.

“During 2022, the team and I had numerous conversations about where we go from here and how do we get there,” Clemente said.

“We know that as a privateer team, we have to be very careful about how and where we spend our funds, but at the same time, set out a plan to challenge, regularly, for podium places.

“Once we all agreed on the plan, which was the easy part, we then had to work out how to make it happen.

“Without the amazing support of Carl, none of this would be possible. Back in November, given my experience of the Audi, and the MPC (Melbourne Performance Centre) team, we decided on Cupra. They had just started selling cars in Australia, but we would also be the only ones running a Cupra in the series.

“We ordered the car from CUPRA, and knowing it would not make round two, set our sights on round two – and it just made it!”

The car will appear in its racing livery for the first time when the field hits the track for the second round of the season next weekend.