Engstler Motorsport will once again compete in the ADAC TCR Germany series in 2021, fielding four Hyundai i30 N TCR cars for Luca Engstler, Nico Gruber, Martin Andersen and Roland Hertner.
The German team has secured the past two drivers’ titles, with Max Hesse lifting the title in 2019 and Antti Buri claiming top honours in 2020.
The team is now aiming for a third successive title, with former series runner-up Luca Engstler returning to dovetail a campaign alongside his WTCR commitments.
Gruber, who also made a WTCR appearance as a stand-in for Nicky Catsburg last year, will also return for a second successive season, as the 19-year-old aims to build on his eighth overall in last year’s drivers’ standings.
Andersen, 26, competed in TCR Denmark last year, where he raced a Hyundai i30 N to two outright victories and five podium finishes in the 13-race season.
Hertner, 61, is the team’s oldest driver, although the veteran German has prior experience in TCR, having competed in the 2019 TCR Asia season as well as S2000 experience in the 2013 European Touring Car Cup.
“Our declared goal is to secure the hat trick,” said Sports and Marketing Director Kurt Treml. “With our driver pairing, we are well positioned.”
For 20-year-old Engstler he is excited to return to the series in which he competed full-time in 2017 and 2018, claiming three victories in the latter season after switching to Hyundai machinery from a Volkswagen Golf.
“The ADAC TCR Germany is one of the best platforms for driving touring car races,” said Engstler.
“I would like to drive as much as possible this year, so it is great that I can compete there in addition to my commitment in the WTCR.
“After the 2018 championship, which I just missed out on, I once again want to fight for the title in ADAC TCR Germany.
“It won’t be an easy task because the series is very competitive. You have to work hard, but you also need the necessary racing luck.
“Of course, I would also like to support my teammates with my experience – on and off the track – and advance the whole team.”
Gruber is hoping to build on his 2020 season, where he won once in the season opener – also his only visit to the podium in the short season.
“My main focus is once again on the junior classification,” said Gruber, who was third in the junior ranking last year.
“I want to fight for the title there again. If things go well, podium places should also jump out in the overall standings.
“Of course, I would also like to support the Hyundai Team Engstler in the fight for the team championship.
“Unfortunately, we had a lot of bad luck last year, otherwise even more would have been possible. For me switching from formula racing, a lot was new at the beginning. I learned a lot when setting up the vehicle or when it came to duels.”
TCR Germany gets underway at Oschersleben on 15 – 16 May.