Liqui Moly Team Engstler Team Principal Franz Engstler will not race in the TCR International Series in Portugal this weekend, as Nicki Thiim and Kelvin Van der Linde join his team in a four-car entry.
Engstler himself will not drive in the TCR races at the Autódromo do Algarve this weekend, with the German having scored just two race finishes so far this season. Last time out in Valencia the German was crashed into by team-mate Mikhail Grachev as the field bunched up behind the safety car.
In addition, Russian Grachev moves from one of the team’s Audi TT cars to an additional SEAT León alongside Lorenzo Veglia, with the two Audi cars being handed to series newcomers Thiim and Van der Linde.
It is also being reported that Engstler Motorsport may be able to make a switch to its planned Volkswagen Golf cars as early as the end of the month, pending additional testing from Volkswagen Motorsport which is currently working on the cars.
Elsewhere there are other changes on the 17-car grid, with local team Veloso Motorsport entering a pair of SEAT León cars for José Monroy and Francisco Mora.
Campos Racing continue with Oscar Nogués, although Jordi Oriola is replaced by Amando Parente, as Oriola is focussing on his season in the SEAT León Eurocup, which also takes place this weekend.