Malaysian tin top racer Mitchell Cheah min Jie will return to the FIA world Touring Car Cup for this weekend’s finale at MotorLand Aragón, standing in driving the second Engstler Motorsport Hyundai.
Cheah, 22, made his WTCR début at last season’s WTCR race of Malaysia, where he claimed a best finish of 16th. Since then, the young Malaysian has made only limited appearances in 2020, contesting the TCR Malaysia finale back in February and more recently the TCR Germany races at the Red Bull Ring, where he finished in second in race one.
Cheah had to observe a mandatory 14-day quarantine after his race in Austria, when he received the call which gives him another chance in WTCR.
“I was having to go through quarantine for two weeks when Hyundai Team Engstler called me and broke the news that I would be driving in the WTCR again,” said Cheah.
“I was so happy and so glad to get the news and I definitely have to thank the team because of the opportunities they give me, not just in TCR Germany but now in WTCR.
“I am happy to have this opportunity and I hope to learn as much as I can.”
Cheah has never previously raced at the Spanish circuit, and is thus relying on learning the circuit via simulators and video games.
“I know absolutely nothing about the track, I’ve not even been to Spain before,” added Cheah, who takes over the car previously raced by Nicky Catsburg, Nico Gruber and Josh Files.
“I have been doing some simulator work just to learn the track so hopefully it will not be too much of a hassle when I get there.
“I will have to be very focused because the schedule is very tight over two days and it’s going to be tough.
“For me to be able to drive against these guys is a real honour and a pleasure to be a part of WTCR. These guys are really world-class drivers, and they deserve to be where they are now.
“I hope that one day I will be able to reach their level or maybe better in the future.
“My plan for sure is to reach the top level in touring car racing, which is WTCR. I’ll be going to a track where everybody raced two weeks ago but hopefully I can finish in the points or be in the middle of the fight in all the races. The then I think I would be happy.”