16 drivers from nine different series, representing eight different car brands, will take part in this weekend’s TCR Europe Trophy at the Adria International Raceway in Italy.
Amongst the leading entries are Target Competition’s double TCR Germany champion Josh Files and TCR Iberico Champion Francesco Abreu for Team Novadriver.
Files could become the most decorated TCR driver if he wins this weekend’s event, having already scooped the 2017 TCR Middle East and TCR Germany titles, to add to his 2016 TCR Germany crown.
Some drivers will head into the event having already accumulated points, thanks to the ‘pre-qualifying’ system being used. This is aimed at rewarding drivers who have participated in any TCR event during the 2017 season, with one point being awarded for each event up to a maximum of five points.
In practice this means that over half the field will already have five points on the board before even turning a wheel at the event.
Thereafter points will be awarded in the usual way, with qualifying points on offer in the 5-4-3-2-1 system and race points for the top ten drivers in the usual 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 system.
A variety of TCR cars have been entered for the event, which will follow the same sporting pattern as the TCR International Series, with a two-part qualifying session on Saturday followed by two spring races on the Sunday.
In fact, the most notable omission from the entry list is the absence of any Opel Astra TCR cars, such is the diversity of entries in this weekend’s event. Other less established models not appearing include the KIA Cee’d and the rarely seen FRD-developed Ford Focus TCR.
Both the Hyundai of Gabriele Tarquini and the Subaru of an as-yet unconfirmed driver will be ineligible for points due to competing under a temporary homologation. The Top Run Subaru has been further developed, and as such has not yet been fully homologated.
TCR europe Trophy entry list
Driver | Team | Car |
Josh Files | Target Competition | Honda Civic Type R TCR |
Giacomo Altoé | Target Competition | Honda Civic Type R TCR |
Aurélien Comte | DG Sport Compétition | Peugeot 308 Racing Cup |
Antti Buri | LMS Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR |
Ollie Parhankangas | LMS Racing | SEAT León TCR |
Lev Tolkachev | Innocenti-AMG Motorsport | SEAT León DSG TCR |
Denis Grigoriev | Innocenti-AMG Motorsport | SEAT León DSG TCR |
Luca Engstler | Liqui Moly Team Engstler | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR |
Florian Thoma | Liqui Moly Team Engstler | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR |
Luigi Ferrara | V-Action Racing Team | Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR |
Francisco Abreu | Team Novadriver | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR |
Maxime Potty | Team WRT | Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR |
José Manuel Pérez-Aicart | Monlau Competición | SEAT León DSG TCR |
Plamen Kralev | Kraf Racing | Audi RS3 LMS TCR |
Gabriele Tarquini* | BRC Racing Team | Hyundai i30 N TCR |
TBC* | Top Run Motorsport | Subaru WRX STi TCR |
* Ineligible for points; ‘transparent’ in classification.