The TCR Europe Trophy will be upgraded to a full international series for the 2018 season, vising some of the continent’s most famous circuits between May and October.
It means the TCR Europe Series will return to a multi-event calendar, having been hosted at various rounds of regional TCR series in 2016 before reducing to a one-weekend trophy for 2017.
The series will be promoted by TCR Euro Series Ltd., a new subsidiary of TCR rights holder WSC Ltd.
The announcement means that TCR Europe will become the third regional TCR series, after TCR Asia and TCR Middle East.
“We thought the time had come to launch a proper European series,” explained promoter Paulo Ferreira, who has worked in TCR Portugal as well. “It is a logical evolution for those teams that are already racing in the TCR national championships and aim for stepping up into international competition.”
The new series will follow the same sporting format as the TCR International Series, with qualifying split into Q1 and Q2 and two 25-minutes races, with the second featuring a reverse grid.
The entry fee for the season has been announced at €17,500, whilst race-by-race entries can be submitted for €4,000.
“We are very pleased to add another gem to TCR’s rich crown,” said WSC CEO Marcello Lotti. “The enthusiasm and competence of Paulo Ferreira, combined with the glamorous venues the series will visit, will surely make it one of the favourites of TCR teams.”
2018 TCR Europe Series – calendar
6th May – Le Castellet
10th June – Spa-Francorchamps
8th July – Hungaroring
19th August – TT Assen
23rd September – Monza
21st October – Barcelona