Czech racer Petr Fulín and Slovakian racer Andrej Studenič will join the grid for the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) in Slovakia after securing wildcard entries for the races at the Slovakiaring.
41-year-old Fulín already has one FIA Cup to his name, after winning the FIA European Touring Car Cup in 2017. He has already entered a number of races in TCR machinery in 2018, taking part in the first two rounds of the ADAC TCR Germany series.
Fulín will enter under his own Fullin Race Academy banner in a CUPRA TCR, marking his first races in FIA World Touring Cars since he competed in the TC2 class in the WTCC at the Slovakiaring in 2014.
“On one side it was difficult because we had to find the money but, on the other side, maybe it’s the last opportunity for me to be inside WTCR together with great drivers like Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini,” said Fulín.
“They are not really old, but they could soon decide to finish their career, so I said I had to be there. Life is short, and we have to enjoy it so we decided to race.
“Our goal is to enjoy the weekend and to have a nice experience. We know the track but we have the oldest car and will have 20 kilograms more inside for the wildcard handicap.
“Also, the competition will be very strong and Vila Real showed that drivers are able to learn new tracks very quickly. That’s why we are pushing everything preparing for the weekend. Maybe this championship could be something new [for us] for next season.”
Studenič will join the grid in a Volkswagen Golf GTi car entered by the Brutal Fish Racing Team, which has recently entered a car in TCR Europe for Slovakian racer Martin Ryba.
The 41-year-old will join Mat’o Homola, WTCR’s newest race winner, as the second Slovakian driver on the grid in a third Volkswagen.
Studenič has previously raced in hillclimb and circuit racing, sampling a wide variety of machinery from a Skoda Favorit to a Ferrari 458 GT. He has previous experience in TCR machinery, having won the circuit’s 24-Hour event in a SEAT León TCR in 2016.
“Thanks to Mato Homola we got an offer from the WTCR OSCARO promoter to sign up for the WTCR Race of Slovakia,” said Studenič. “As a team we race in TCR Europe and TCR Middle East. Because of my vast racing experience, the team decided to line me up for the occasion.
“Our Brutal Fish Racing Team owns two Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR cars and I coach our two drivers. I’ve only driven this car for a few dozen kilometres, which is very little compared to the WTCR competition.
“I do have a lot of racing experience, but not with this type of touring car. I hope the two free practice sessions will be enough for us to set up the car and get a clearer view.
“Naturally we have ambitions, without them we wouldn’t be racing at all. However, I have no clue how we’ll stand up to the experienced competition.”