Reigning and defending TCR International Series champion Stefano Comini will return for the 2017 championship, after a quickly-pushed deal will see the Swiss racer race in the new Audi RS3 LMS.
Comini, who admitted that he had parted ways with Leopard Racing a few weeks ago, will be running under the ComToYou Racing banner.
He stated that he had received “several offers” to return to the TCR International Series this year, including the Belgian outfit he signed with, who currently compete in various international FunCup territories.
“Jean-Michel Baert, the boss of the outfit, has also hired François Verbist, whom I know well since we worked together in 2016,” said the Lugano-based driver, who takes part with a third different VW Group-affiliated race car in as many seasons.
“I hold him in great esteem and this convinced me this was the best option. This project has been launched at the last-minute and we’ll go to Georgia with very little preparation. There, our goal will be to score as many points as possible. I must say that trying to conquer a third crown in a row, with a third different car brand, is a very exciting challenge!”
Verbist, who worked at Team WRT, was surprised about how rapidly the deal was put together, but is looking ahead to a title push with Comini.
“Between the first phone call with Audi Sport Customer Racing and the delivery of the car, only 48 hours had passed. We are happy to have their support, as they wish to showcase the competitiveness of the Audi RS 3 LMS in the global series,” he explained, continuing the great working relationship that he has with the Swiss ace.
“Everything has happened very late and, clearly, we’ll need a couple of races to be at the top, but I am sure that we have the best people in the team and that we will make it. On top, with Stefano, we have one of the very top drivers.”
“Sometimes, in life, there are chances you cannot let go. Especially, when all the pieces of the puzzle seem to come together nicely,” said team prinicipal Beart, whose outfit is based just 20 kilometres of the Belgian capital.
“This project has seen the light in less than one week! Audi Sport Customer Racing wished to see an Audi RS 3 LMS in the TCR International Series. As I am a long-time customer with them, they lured me a bit…
“At the same time, François was available to organize the team, from a technical and logistical point of view. In addition, Stefano was without a drive a few weeks from the start of the season, so the idea of having the #1 on our car was very appealing. In five days, we have set up everything and fetched the car from Audi Sport Customer Racing at Neuberg. It is now on its way to Georgia.”
The first round of the 2017 TCR International Series gets underway at the Rustavi International Motopark in Georgia on the 1st and 2nd of April.