PMO Racing has revealed its driver line-up for its four Peugeot 308 cars in this year’s TCR South America series, with oversight of the team by legendary Argentine racer Ernesto Bessone.
The team fielded four Peugeots in last year’s TCR South America season for much of the season, expanding for the third round at Goiânia after fielding two cars earlier in the year.
After dropping back to three cars for El Pinar, Termas de Río Hondo and Buenos Aires, the team was again back to four cars for the season finale at San Juan Villicum.
Argentines Juan Pablo Bessone and Diego Gutierrez, Brazilian Guilherme Reischl and Argentine team owner Pablo Otero will race the team’s four Peugeots.
PMO Motorsport also operates up to three Lynk & Co 03 TCR cars in the series as a satellite operation.
Sporting Director Ernesto ‘Tito’ Bessone believes the team will have a stronger setup in 2023 with the appointment of former racer Oscar Fineschi as Technical Manager.
“The team will be strengthened for this year with the assembly of the technical part,” said Ernesto Bessone. “I feel very comfortable with the role that PMO Racing entrusted to me as Sporting Director to be close to the drivers and support them in their growth.”
Juan Pablo Bessone, son of Ernesto Bessone, already took part in selected races of the 2021 and 2022 seasons with PropCar Racing and Squadra Martino. He is the team’s only driver not to be contesting the Trophy Cup for ‘gentleman drivers’.
“For me it is a great joy to be able to confirm the complete season,” said Juan Pablo. “That means we can focus on the entire championship and work progressively.
“I am very happy that this is in TCR South America, a category that is in full growth and with many favourable changes for this year worldwide.
“Knowing that in the middle of the year we will be competing with the TCR World Tour is a challenge for us all and it will surely be an unforgettable experience.
“I want to thank Pablo Otero, PMO Racing, my family, Tito Bessone, Diego Gutierrez and the entire TCR South America for this opportunity.”
Gutierrez will make his début in the category this year, and he has limited previous experience in the ProCar 200 Argentina series.
“I am super happy about this new challenge in a category of this level,” said Gutierrez. “Like every year of my sports career, I have the support of my family who accompanies me in all the projects.
“My experience in motorsport started big and this is an important step forward for the professionalism of TCR South America.
“We are going to compete in the Trophy Cup and we are going to do everything to be as far forward as possible.”
Reischl will thus be the team’s most experienced driver, having made his début in the first-ever event for the category in 2021, before contesting the first three events of the 2022 season in an Audi RS3 LMS TCR with the Cobra Racing Team before switching to PMO Racing for two more events.
“For me it is a pleasure to be in TCR,” said Resichl. “The championship is growing and is becoming a reference throughout South America.
“It is a pleasure for me this year to be present in both TCR South America and TCR Brazil with PMO Racing.
“Last year I did a couple of races with the team. They are very serious and I loved the Peugeot. It will surely be a great year for us and having Ernesto Bessone as a teacher is an honour.”