New entries boosts FIA TCR World Tour grid at Valencia
The FIA TCR World Tour entry list grows to 18 cars for this weekend’s races at Valencia as several guest drivers have been entered, including Marco Butti, Eric Gené, Viktor Andersson and Julien Briché.
GOAT Racing will run four cars for this weekend as Butti, who races in TCR Europe for the team this year, is joined by Felipe Fernández alongside regular drivers Esteban Guerrieri and Ignacio Montenegro.
“I am happy to come back to the FIA TCR World Tour with GOAT Racing. It’s my second season with the Honda, and we have improved our speed a lot this year. Valencia is a track that is lovely for us, and one I like a lot. Then after that there is Monza, my home circuit,” said Butti.
“We have to work hard to be at the top another time in the World Tour, because the level is getting higher and higher.”
JAS Compétition has entered two Hyundai Elantra N TCRs for TCR Europe regular and team owner Briché and 18-year-old FFSA TC France front-runner Raphaël Fournier.
“We are watching at next week’s event as an opportunity to gain experience with the car. Valencia is a circuit we like, so I’m happy to race there with Raphaël who is in his first year of TCR. This will help him to get a lot of experience,” said Briché.
“We are happy to be going, and Hyundai is supporting us, helping with setups. We’ll do our best, and I hope we can pull off a little surprise.”
MA:GP has entered its Lynk & Co 03 TCR for TCR Europe front-runner Viktor Andersson and the Swedish team is considering entry for the next TCR World Tour round at Monza as well.
“I’m looking forward to Valencia and to see how we stand against the TCR World Tour teams,” said Andersson to TouringCarTimes.
“It will no doubt be a challenge considering the high level of competitors. Then we will see how the weekend progresses and hopefully we will join the Monza grid as well.”
ALM Motorsport is also joining the Valencia grid, entering one Honda for TCR Europe racer Ruben Volt who finished as runner-up in TCR Italy last year.
“It’s always good to compare yourself against the best in the world, so yes, I’m very excited for it! I can’t wait to hit the track and have the opportunity to race against those drivers who have such a well-known international reputation,” said Volt.
Monlau Motorsport will make its first FIA TCR World Tour appearance at Valencia, fielding one Cupra for Eric Gené who is currently racing in both TCR Europe and TCR Spain for the team.
“It’s a great opportunity to take part in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour event in my own Country,” said Gené.
“I know it will be one of the best experiences in my racing career. CUPRA, Monlau Motorsport and my family have done a really good job to make this possible – so I’m very grateful.”
FIA TCR World Tour – Valencia entry list
4 – Julien Briché – JSB Compétition – Hyundai Elantra N TCR
10 – Viktor Andersson – MA:GP – Lynk & Co 03 TCR
11 – Marco Butti – GOAT Racing – Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
19 – Felipe Fernández – GOAT Racing – Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
27 – Ruben Volt – ALM Motorsport – Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
28 – Eric Gené – Monlau Motorsport – Cupra Leon VZ TCR
45 – Raphaël Fournier – JSB Compétition – Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
105 – Norbert Michelisz – BRC Hyundai – Hyundai Elantra N TCR
107 – Aurélien Comte – SP Compétition – CUPRA Leon VZ
111 – Thed Björk – Lynk & Co Cyan Racing – Lynk & Co 03 FL
112 – Santiago Urrutia – Lynk & Co Cyan Racing – Lynk & Co 03 FL
123 – Ignacio Montenegro – GOAT Racing – Honda Civic FL5
127 – John Filippi – SP Compétition – Cupra Leon VZ
129 – Néstor Girolami – BRC Hyundai – Hyundai Elantra N TCR
155 – Ma Qing Hua – Lynk & Co Cyan Racing – Lynk & Co 03 FL
168 – Yann Ehrlacher – Lynk & Co Cyan Racing – Lynk & Co 03 FL
186 – Esteban Guerrieri – GOAT Racing – Honda Civic FL5
196 – Mikel Azcona – BRC Hyundai – Hyundai Elantra N TCR
