Young Austrian Florian Janits will join Liqui Moly Team Engstler for this weekend’s TCR International Series races at the Salzburgring, joining Davit Kajaia at the wheel of one of the team’s Volkswagen Golf GTi racers.
Janits, who is just 18 years old, has never before raced a front-wheel drive touring car. The teenager has only previously raced in karting and single seaters, having experience in Formula Renault and Formula 4.
He takes the seat which was vacated by Mikhail Grachev ahead of the previous meeting in Imola, with the Russian replaced by Jordi Gené at the time.
“I’m very much looking forward to this opportunity,” said Janits. “I have only raced formula cars in previous years, where I learned a lot. So being back on the track in the TCR International Series makes me very excited.
“I have never raced a front-wheel driven touring car before, but this does not worry me at all! And the good news is that I know the track well, having raced with the Lechner Racing School in 2014 and 2015.
“My expectations are to get used to the car as fast as possible, become familiar with the team and make the best out of my possibilities!”