Belgian Maxime Potty will move up to the TCR Europe series in 2018, racing a Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR entered by Comtoyou Racing and supported by the Belgian VW Club.
Potty took part in the TCR Benelux Series in 2017, where the 18-year-old finished third overall, including claiming a victory in the season finale to add to the one win he took in 2016.
Potty also made a guest appearance in the TCR International Series last year when he took part in the round at Spa-Francorchamps for Michaël Mazuin Sport in a Volkswagen.
Potty will take part in the full TCR Europe season, which is sharing most of its calendar with TCR Benelux in 2017.
“With the entire Comtoyou Racing team, led by Jean-Michel Baert and François Verbist, the support of the Belgian VW Club and Jean-François Hemroulle as my coach, I will be well looked after,” said Potty. “They are all highly skilled people with experience which will be extremely valuable to me.
“In addition, I will have the benefit of a completely new Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, with its 2018 developments.
“The challenge is tough, as the competition will be very sharp, but I don’t want to play a supporting role. It is a major step in my career and I am ready and more motivated than ever.”
Jean-Michel Baert, Team Principal of Comtoyou Racing, explained that one of the ambitions of his team, which is also competing in the FIA World Touring Car Cup in 2018, was to bring on younger talent in racing.
“Since we launched our team in the VW Fun Cup, to help young drivers to blossom has always been one of the things that drove us,” said Baert. “Maxime has some amazing qualities! In human terms, he is a great guy and his talent is not in doubt.
“In addition, he is a hard worker who already has a very professional approach despite his young age. He and those about him have ambition, and it is clear that the aim is be at the top of the rankings.
“With François Verbist [Team Manager] and the entire team, we will do all we can to provide the ideal context.
“He will have the opportunity to perform a great many tests from this week, with two days at the Hungaroring to get to know the new car. Since he will be testing broadly at the same time as our WTCR drivers, he will have some great points of reference.
“When we are not on track, he can also use our new simulator. More than the result itself, we want to work on how to achieve it. And, hopefully, the results will follow quite naturally …”
Comtoyou Racing have confirmed that they will enter a second Volkswagen Golf for a yet-t-be-announced second driver.