Néstor Girolami will contest the new TCR World Tour in 2023, racing a new Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR run by ALM Motorsport with technical support from JAS Motorsport.
Girolami has raced in Honda machinery since 2019, when he joined Münnich Motorsport to compete in the FIA World Touring Car Cup.
More recently, the Argentine has acted as JAS Motorsport’s Development Driver for work on its newest TCR car, the Civic FL5.
Girolami has amassed 11 wins in three different series in the previous generation Civic TCR, culminating in finishing as the runner-up in last year’s WTCR.
The 33-year-old will compete in the European rounds of the TCR World Tour with Estonian outfit ALM Motorsport, which has raced in TCR Italy for the past two seasons in Honda machinery.
Whilst it has not been ruled out that Girolami will continue beyond the events at Portimão, Spa-Francorchamps, Vallelunga and the Hungaroring, his participation in further events is not currently confirmed.
Girolami will also continue to act in a coaching and management role within the JAS Motorsport Driver Development Programme, which enters its third year.
“I’m extremely proud to continue my journey with Honda and confirm this programme in the TCR World Tour,” said Girolami.
“I am very grateful to JAS Motorsport for the opportunity to represent them and to develop and race the new Honda Civic Type R TCR in a brand-new programme.
“We’ve made some improvements over the old car and I’m sure we can be extremely competitive.
“With the expertise of ALM Motorsport and technical support from JAS, I think this we can achieve some very good results in the TCR World Tour.”
Mads Fischer, JAS Motorsport TCR Project Leader,
“We are delighted to sign Nestor Girolami as an official race driver for JAS Motorsport,” added Fischer. “Over the past few years he has made an enormous contribution to the success of the Honda Civic Type R TCR on-track, has been vital in the early testing phase of the all-new car that will debut this year and has helped support our customer racing teams on track.
“He has shown great skill working with young racers in the Driver Development Programme over the past couple of seasons so we are extremely pleased that he will take on an enhanced role within the DDP in 2023.
“It is also exciting to confirm that the new FL5 Civic Type R TCR will be a part of the new TCR World Tour and that ALM Motorsport will be the driving force behind the European events Néstor contests.
“ALM have been extremely loyal partners of JAS since 2018, won a major title in their first year as a Honda team and been very important in providing an environment for some of our Development Drivers to grow and thrive.
“Taking on three cars at the FIA Motorsport Games last year was a big task but they did extremely well and won a medal with Jack Young, so it was clear that they were capable of operating at an elite level.
“We will use these first four events in Europe to consider our plans for the remaining events and establish the best global showcase for the new Civic.”
ALM Motorsport first worked with JAS in 2018 when Martin Laur’s team won the TCR Iberico Teams’ Championship. It then competed in the Baltic Touring Car Championship and the Baltic Endurance Championship, before moving into TCR Italy in 2021. The team also ran Jack Young in last year’s FIA Motorsport Games, where the Northern Irishman came away with a bronze medal, as well as running the Argentine and Hong Kong entries.
“We are very pleased to compete in the TCR World Tour with JAS Motorsport, the new Honda Civic Type R TCR and Nestor Girolami,” said Team Principal Laur.
“From our first year as a customer of JAS Motorsport we have worked hard to win races and championships and to strengthen our working relationship.
“Every time we’ve stepped up to a higher level of competition, we have improved our level of performance and been able to race at the front.
“The TCR World Tour will be the highest level we’ve competed at in circuit racing and to have been chosen for this programme is not only exciting for us as a team, but for motor racing in Estonia too. We can’t wait for Portimao.”