Pepe Oriola will return to the TCR Europe series in 2022, returning to the Slovakian Brutal Fish Racing team as a team-mate to Martin Ryba.
Reigning TCR South America champion Oriola last raced in the series full-time in 2020, when he picked up one victory on his way to 13th overall in the drivers’ standings.
Last year, the Spaniard contested the inaugural TCR South America season, sealing the championship in Honda machinery thanks to four wins.
2022 marks Brutal Fish Racing’s fifth consecutive season in TCR Europe, whilst Ryba has become the series’ most experienced driver, with 50 race entries to his name.
The team will once again run with Honda Civic machinery and support from JAS Motorsport.
“I am very proud to join Brutal Fish family for the 2022 season that will be my seventh in TCR,” said Oriola, who acted as a driver coach for Ryba in 2021.
“Winning the TCR South America championship last year gave me a boost and the experience gained outside of the track as a coach in the team last year also gave me a perspective I didn’t have before.
“I want to say thank you to Brutal fish and JAS motorsport and I hope I can bring some great races and a strong season.”
Ryba actually made a guest appearance in TCR south America himself in 2021, when he was Oriola’s endurance partner in the Buenos Aires event.
“It is nice to start the season after such a long winter,” said Ryba, who was 19th overall in last year’s drivers’ standings. “I am very happy that we have Pepe back behind the wheel. We have became great friends since he came to Brutal Fish back in 2020.
“I am confident that we will make a strong pairing on and off the track as well.
“I hope that the starting grid will be big and that we will have a lots of great fights against the other drivers.
“TCR Europe has always been a great series with nice atmosphere in the paddock, and the grid is from year to year stronger and stronger.”