Ecuadorian racer Diego Moran will continue in the TCR Asia Series with Liqui Moly Team Engstler in 2018, being partnered by two new team-mates in the German team.
Moran joined TCR Asia in 2017 and ended the year third overall in the standings in what was not only his first season racing in Asia but also his first in TCR machinery.
He was victorious in his first meeting in Malaysia, but ultimately failed to repeat that win as the season progressed, although he was on the podium a total of seven times in all, whilst team-mate Katadhee Kusiri went on to lift the overall drivers’ title.
“Last year was my first year racing in Asia, and my first year driving a TCR car,” said Moran. “It was a steep learning curve, but I was surprised at how quickly I came to terms with the car.
“Liqui Moly Team Engstler made life so much easier for me too, because they had their 2016 championship experience to draw on from Andy Yan’s series win, but we also had to battle a few new circuits where they didn’t have the data to compare, so that was a challenge as well, although a challenge they were more than up to.
“Ultimately though, with ‘BOOM’ [Kusiri] alongside in the #2 car, we achieved our goal of winning the two titles, and for me – learning for the coming season.
“I have only one goal for 2018 and that is to win the title. I will have a new car out from the German series this year, so I am looking forward to that, and together with the experience I had last year on circuits like Bangsaen, I think I come into this year’s championship as a more complete driver.
“I really enjoy driving the cars, they’re a very good car to drive quickly, and with that season of experience beneath me of getting the most from the setup of the car, I am really looking forward to the year ahead!”
The 2018 TCR Asia Series season gets underway at Sepang in Malaysia on the 30 March – 1 April.