The organisers of the TCR UK Series have postponed the series’ official media day, which was set to take place at Silverstone next week, whilst also confirming details of prizes which will be allocated in 2018.
At a meeting of TCR UK teams with WSC CEO Marcello Lotti in Luton, it was confirmed that the planned media launch at Silverstone would not take place due to the date clashing with Press Day at the Geneva Motor Show.
With representatives from a number of brands therefore unable to attend the UK launch, the decision was taken to postpone the event.
Further details of prizes were also unveiled at the meeting, with the winning driver and winning team receiving free entries into the 2019 TCR UK series, whilst a separate trophy will be awarded to drivers of Volkswagen Group cars fitted with DSG transmission. The winner of the trophy will receive a free upgrade to sequential transmission – a prize worth approximately €20,000.
At the meeting Lotti also confirmed details of new developments within TCR, and declared his belief that the new series will be a success.
“TCR UK will be a success in exactly the same way as we are seeing in series such as TCR Germany,” said Lotti. “The UK, Italy and Germany are the three countries with the strongest Touring Car DNA and so I am confident that TCR UK will become the latest TCR success story.
“I enjoyed meeting the teams and discussing with them how they would like to proceed with certain aspects of the championship; the debate over testing was a great example of how we can work together with the teams to reduce their budgets.”
Also confirmed was a reduction in testing due to concerns raised by some of the teams about costs, whilst start money was also confirmed as being available to teams as a further incentive.
Between four and six cars from other European TCR series are expected to make the journey to the UK to bolster grid numbers for the season opener.
The event at Silverstone next week (Tuesday 6 March) will still go ahead as a test day for teams, with no formal media activities taking place.