Reigning TCR International Series champion Stefano Comini will defend his title at the wheel of a WRT-run Leopard Racing Volkswagen Golf in 2016.
WRT, who have established themselves as one of the most competitive teams in GT racing, will run the cars for Leopard Racing as part of a technical collaboration.
Joint CEO and Team Principal Vincent Vosse admits that the expansion ensures it will be a challenging and hectic season for the Belgian outfit in 2016.
“No doubt, it is going to be the busiest year for WRT so far,” said Vosse. “We have many exciting challenges ahead of us and we embrace them with our usual winning spirit.
“Each program will now have a dedicated staff and a leader. We are thrilled to join TCR racing, a new concept in which we believe very strongly!”
Team Principal Claudio Berro says the outfit have opted to move into TCR off the back of a strong 2015 season for the new championship.
“The TCR International Series enjoyed a lot of media attention in its first year, so after a positive season in the GT3 championship we chose TCR as our reference series for 2016,” he explained. “We are delighted to be able to field two great drivers and we will continue our technical partnership with WRT, which began in GT3.
“It’s a new challenge that I’m sure will turn out to be a successful one.”
Comini will thus move from racing a SEAT to a Volkswagen for the coming season, departing Target Competition who had run him to the inaugural title.
“I have to thank Leopard Racing for giving me this wonderful opportunity and trusting my skill and experience with touring cars,” said Comini. “As always I am here to win, with grit and passion. I am convinced that with WRT technical support we will be competitive from the very first race.”
Comini’s team-mate will be young Frenchman Jean-Karl Vernay, who has previously raced in single-seaters, including taking titles in the 2005 French Formula Campus and the 2010 Indy Lights. 2016 will be his first foray into touring car racing.
“I’m very happy to continue with Leopard Racing and WRT and also to rejoin Volkswagen, with which I achieved a podium in the 2009 Macau F3 World Cup,” said Vernay. “Front-wheel drive cars are a new and difficult challenge for me, but I’m confident and I definitely will be aiming to fight for the title.”