Leading figures in the TCR International Series paddock have praised the championship’s progress after the first three rounds of the season, with many expecting a bright future for the low-cost category.
TCR was born when series promoter Marcello Lotti looked at the GT3 concept and realised how effectively this could be applied in the touring car racing scene. Lotti, who was the former General Manager of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) between 2005 and 2014, announced the new concept in July 2014.
No stranger to bringing on new touring car championships, Lotti has a long history in touring car racing. The Italian was formerly the team manager of BMW in the Italian and German Super Touring championships in the 1990s. When the promoter cancelled the series at the end of 1999, Lotti put plans in place to create the European Super Touring Cup, which later became the European Touring Car Championship and then the WTCC.
With such a proven name behind the concept, it is no surprise to see experienced teams such as Craft-Bamboo Racing, Target Competition, Engstler Motorsport and WestCoast Racing get involved.
Craft-Bamboo Racing were one of the first teams to consider a TCR entry, with the British outfit starting discussions to join as early as August 2014. Team CEO Richard Coleman explained why he thinks that the TCR is destined to work.
“TCR is very much based on the GT3 model,” said Coleman to TouringCars.Net. “That’s where the potential is – manufacturers can have some involvement and can get some value from it without it costing a huge amount of money, and it protects the team’s interests perhaps a little bit more.
“TCR has definitely got a bright future ahead. We just need a few more brands on the grid, which are coming, and just to keep the momentum in the championship. But the organisers have got to make sure we keep the mantra on the costs, because otherwise it loses its identity.”
Coleman added that with cost control being a significant factor in the regulations, the situation should only improve as more second- and third-hand cars become available.
“If the national championships pick up this and adopt these regulations then it creates a much better market. I think that’s what will also stimulate new brands and new models coming in because if they see a market to sell cars to the national championships then it will create a very strong base for the international series, much like GT3.
Experienced stars endorse TCR
Coleman’s views were echoed by long-time touring car racer Franz Engstler, who moved his team from the WTCC to TCR for 2015. Engstler has one of the longest CVs of anyone currently in the TCR paddock, having first appeared in the paddock for the German DTM back in 1989. Most recently, Engstler competed in the WTCC between 2007 and 2014, but the German also has a history of competing in Asia, one of the main early target markets for TCR.
“We need the national championships,” said Engstler. “This is the first step, to make the international championship successful, but also we need the national championships as much as possible. Marcello told me that he has a commitment from 12 countries that will start with the TCR concept in 2016, and this is really great.
“Look at touring car motorsport. On this level it’s not just for fun, it’s really competitive and professional. Most of the team is a business, it’s not like a club racing series. To have a successful business you need a second-hand market. This is perfect if you have a lot of national championships. You can engineer the car with all your staff and engineers to prepare it very well and then you can sell the car in the national championships.”
Engstler is convinced that TCR is going to work, adding that the series has been introduced at a time when the market conditions really require such a cost-effective platform to exist.
“I’m 110% sure that the TCR concept will be the best touring car championship in the future,” added Engstler. “I’m 100% sure of that. We have five manufacturers on the grid and we need touring cars that are able to fight on the race track. We can’t have it where you lose one splitter and aren’t able to drive the car.
“Marcello created the right concept for the right time. Touring car motorsport needs such cars for such a championship. Not just Marcello, but the manufacturers, the teams – everybody did a great job to make this championship so successful in such a short time. I have to say, compliments to the organisers, to the teams, that everybody is doing a great job. I like this championship – in my career I’ve driven in many championships and I think at the moment it will get better and better. It is the championship for the future.”
Experienced Italian racer Gianni Morbidelli has also experienced many different touring car championships during his career. The former Formula One driver first made the switch to tin tops with Volvo in the British Touring Car Championship in 1998, before going on to race in European touring cars in the early-to-mid 2000s, and the WTCC in 2006 and 2014.
With Morbidelli having competed in F1 in the 1990s, the Italian believes the tie-up between TCR and F1 has been good for the early promotion of the series.
“When you are with Formula One you have advantages and disadvantages,” said Morbidelli. “With Formula One of course it’s difficult for us if we have some sponsors to get tickets and make the opportunity for PR. But in the meantime being part of that world is incredible, it’s very nice, and I think two, three or four events per year together with Formula One is a perfect mix.”
Morbidelli also address some of the early criticism levelled at TCR, with some people doubting whether the series would be ready in time.
“I am sure that if you are to now ask many people what they think about TCR they would be surprised, because many people were still in doubt in February; there was a big question mark. But we are here and the field is good.”
The Italian was also critical of the current situation in the WTCC, where teams require increasingly large budgets to remain competitive. Morbidelli was one of only five drivers to break the Citroën domination in 2014.
“You have to consider that the promoters have to make the championship not too expensive, because at the moment we are not in a great situation economically. Everywhere it is difficult, so you have to think to make a championship where the teams must spend the right budget.
“You cannot pretend to make a championship like WTCC where you need plenty of millions of euros to break the Citroën domination. It makes their championship boring. I think that if they are able to manage the championship and if they grow up and improve some things, then I think it will be a very good touring car championship in Europe and abroad – this is what we’re looking for.”
Lotti reflects on early stages of TCR
The TCR championship is acknowledged by all in the paddock to be an evolutionary process, one in which the product is being continually developed whilst also being on show to the world. Series Promoter Lotti admits that he has faced a difficult task to have everything ready for the first event, recognising that some aspects may not have been fully complete.
“I think everything has gone according to plan,” said Lotti, reflecting on the first three events of the new series. “I’m never happy, because I want everything ready, but you can’t always have everything ready! We have started, and the first three events are good; we’ve had good races.
“Event-by-event we’ve improved our TV distribution a lot – each time new broadcasters call and apply to our agency to have the opportunity to broadcast the programme.
“OK, I have to be patient a little bit, ands wait to finish the development of the brand that we are working on, but I think everything is going to plan. I know that we are just starting, but if you ask me am I happy? No, never! But I know that it’s like this.”
In addition to the recently announced plans for Top Run Motorsport to enter a pair of Subaru Imprezas in Singapore, it is also rumoured that Volkswagen will introduce their new Golf model in late May. The anticipated entries bring the total number of brands represented on the grid to seven, with Proteam Racing expected to reappear with their Ford Focus cars in time for the Italian round at Monza.
The fourth meeting of the TCR International Series takes place in Portimão, Portugal on May 9-10.