Jaime Puig, Director of CUPRA Racing, says that the marque is ‘working against the clock’ in order to have its new TCR car ready for customers ahead of the new racing season.
CUPRA will introduce the all-new León Competición TCR in 2020, to replace the outgoing CUPRA model which has been a mainstay in TCR competition all around the world for the past five years.
The Spanish marque began taking pre-orders from interested customers late last year and is now working to deliver cars to its customers in time for the start of their racing programmes.
“There has been a significant amount of reservations,” said Puig. “Some of teams that had worked with us before and others new… so that means that they liked it even before it was shown in public.
“As for production, we are working against the clock. We will make deliveries in three parts, giving priority to the teams according to their racing calendar.
“And what can we anticipate about the car? I can say that it is brand new and has been completely redesigned.
“There are few pieces taken from the previous model, because we must not forget that the basis of the new CUPRA Leon Competición is the new León that has just been launched.
“We have been testing in Spain, Portugal and Italy for the past few months and the feedback has been really good.
“Despite being a brand-new car, our principles remain intact: we use the largest number of standard or modified production parts, so that the price is competitive and the reliability is maximum.
“This is key in the CUPRA’s DNA, and thus we have managed to be highly competitive, especially in 24-hour races.”
As part of the design and build process for the new car, CUPRA has also been utilising 3D printing technology in the racer.
It has also opened a brand-new factory for production of its TCR cars, including the forthcoming all-electric CUPRA e-racer for the new ETCR series.
“[The new factory] is a great step forward, very important for us. It is a 16,000 m2 facility that will become the new factory for racing cars and where we will also prepare the debut of the CUPRA e-Racer, 100% electric, in whose development we are working with a very high level driver such as Mattias Ekström.
“We will also have commercial offices, shopping, finance, a R&D department for production cars and for racing, space for presentations…
“It will soon be opened and you will be able to know it in detail. I think we have managed to make a spectacular CUPRA Racing Factory!”
Puig admits that achieving as many victories, 70, as in 2019 will be a tough ask for the new car, but he is optimistic that the new car will challenge for numerous wins around the world.
“The reservations have worked very well: the new model has had a good reception and throughout the year we will deliver it to our customers.
“We are now defining the strategy for the new season, where we will continue to race in the championships under the TCR regulations.
“CUPRA has become synonymous with reliability and victory, and there are many teams that believe in us season after season.
“Having been the brand that took the most victories in 2019 is the reward for the hard work we do with our clients.
“We know it will not be easy [to win more than 70 races in 2020], but that is the goal with the new car. Not all customers will be able to have it from day one, because the units will be gradually delivered.
“We are talking with all customers to receive the car at the time that best suits their racing plans.
“I don’t know if this year we can beat our own record of 70 wins, but I’m sure that when we have the new car on the track we will be ready to do so.
“The main target is to achieve good results with our clients at the premiere of the CUPRA Leon Competición.
“We want to be at the usual level and get victories regularly in all the championships in which we are present with our partners.
“While the good results not only depend on us, we will do everything on our part to achieve the best possible successes… and continue adding victories.”