Young Italian Marco Butti will drive a Honda Civic Type-R FL5 for GOAT Racing in this year’s FIA TCR World Tour, having been confirmed as the new team’s first driver.
Butti, 18, only made his TCR début back in 2021 in TCR Italy at the age of 16, before going on to sample TCR Europe, TCR Germany and TCR Italy the following season.
Last year, he signed for Target Competition to race a Hyundai and was a championship contender in TCR Italy, ultimately ending the year fourth overall with three wins.
He contested two TCR World Tour events in 2023, at Vallelunga and Macau, scoring a best finish of seventh in the former.
GOAT Racing is a new team owned by Rubén Fernández Gil and managed by experienced touring car racer Pepe Oriola.
Butti sampled the new JAS Motorsport-built Honda this week at MotorLand Aragón.
“I am very excited to join GOAT Racing and to compete in the TCR World Tour full-time,” said Butti. “The test in the Honda went very well and I think we can achieve some good results, despite the extremely high level of competition in the World Tour.
“I would like to thank my father, the Fernández family and Pepe Oriola for this opportunity plus Mads Fischer and JAS Motorsport for believing in my abilities.
“I can’t wait for the first race of this new challenge.”
Team Manager Oriola said the team had been impressed with Butti’s performances in his short touring car career to-date.
“We’re very happy to have Marco on board for this new project,” said Oriola. “We were very impressed with the maturity and speed he showed during his first test and believe we can really grow together and show the world what we’re capable of.
“Marco is young, but he already has a good amount of experience in TCR. With the potential he’s shown so far plus the tools we can give him, we are confident he is ready to deliver on the world stage.”
Mads Fischer, JAS Motorsport TCR Project Leader, praised the mindset of Butti when competing at the world level.
“We have seen many young drivers use the Honda Civic Type R TCR as their springboard to success over the past few years,” said Fishcer. “With the ambition shown by GOAT Racing in the TCR World Tour, we are sure Marco can be the latest racer to do this.
“He’s raced impressively last year in TCR Italy, was not over-awed when he stepped up to world level and has the right mindset to have a successful year and career.”