Argentine tin-top star Néstor Girolami will replace Viktor Davidovski for this weekend’s season-opening TCR Europe round at Circuit Paul Ricard, as the Macedonian driver is not allowed to travel to France due to government restrictions.
Girolami will make his TCR Europe début in Davidovski’s PSS Racing Team Honda Civic Type-R, although due to team members being unable to travel, the car will be run with support from JAS Motorsport this weekend.
Davidovski and several team members applied for exemptions to the travel restrictions between North Macedonia and France, in place due to COVID-19, but these were denied on Wednesday, leading to the appointment of Girolami in the brand-new Civic.
Girolami has strong TCR experience, having competed in the FIA World Touring Car Cup since 2019. He became the first driver to win back-to-back races in WTCR, whilst he also took part in TCR Australia races at Sandown last year, winning all three.
“I’m so happy to have the opportunity to race in TCR Europe this weekend, to work with PSS Racing Team, and to show the potential of the Honda Civic Type R in this hugely-competitive series,” said Girolami.
“I am proud to be part of the Honda Racing family, and when your family asks for your help, you do whatever you can.
“It’s been eight months since I last raced and is still nearly four weeks until WTCR begins, so to have the chance to use this event as a warm-up – against such a high-quality line-up of drivers and teams – will be extremely good for me.”
PSS Team Manager Aleksandar Todorovski, admitted that the team felt very lucky to be able to have Girolami, who is based near Barcelona, step in at short notice.
“I can’t believe we’ve been so lucky,” said Todorovski. “The situation looked quite impossible earlier this week, but our vision is that nothing is impossible, and we’re extremely proud of the friendships and bonds that have led to this.
“We could not have put this together without the help and support of JAS Motorsport, Honda Racing WTCR and, most of all, our friend and coach, Néstor Girolami.
“To have a world-renowned driver leading the way for a Macedonian team in Europe’s biggest TCR championship is something that makes us feel very good. We’re super-excited. Vamos Néstor!”