Ferenc Ficza will start the 2017 TCR International Series season at the wheel of a SEAT León TCR with Zele Racing, after a deal was signed for the Hungarian with the Austrian team in the first two rounds.
Ficza, who has already been announced as part of Zengő Motorsport’s TCR campaign from the third event onwards, will therefore get the opportunity to complete an entire season in 2017.
The Hungarian has previously raced in TCR International in 2015, again with the Zengő Motorsport team.
“It’s great to be back in the International Series with such an experienced team,” said Ficza. “I am sure we will have a lot of fun out there.”
Ficza will then switch to a KIA Cee’d TCR for Zengő from Spa-Francorchamps onwards, alongside a yet-to-be-named team-mate.
For Zele Racing, headed up by Austrian Michael Zele, the move to TCR presents an opportunity for his team to get involved in touring cars, after previous efforts in single seaters and GT racing.
“We had the opportunity to enter the International Series and have taken up the challenge,” said Zele. “To us everything is new, but I am sure we will learn quickly what it takes to be competitive. We are all excited to be on the grid and are looking forward to work with TCR and SEAT.”
It has yet to be confirmed whether Zele Racing will sign a full-time driver to replace Ficza after Bahrain, or whether the team will enter drivers on a race-by-race basis.