Flávio Figueiredo has confirmed that his team, Equipe Onze Motorsport,s is to enter the new-for-2021 TCR South America series with an Audi RS3 LMS TCR purchased from Brink Motorsport.
Figueiredo’s outfit has enjoyed numerous victories in the Brazilian ‘Brasileiro de Marcas’ between 2015 and 2017, and will now return to the track for the new regional TCR series.
Flávio ‘Nonô’ Figueiredo, Team Principal and one-time British Touring Car racer, tested an Audi RS3 LMS TCR car three years’ ago as part of an evaluation into racing in the touring car category.
For 2021, the Brazilian’s team has opted to purchase one of the RS3 models raced by Brink Motorsport in TCR Scandinavia.
“I’ve been following the TCR championships since 2015, when they started in Europe,” explained Figueiredo. “Even more so in the last two years, when it started to have approximately 30 international competitions with excellent level of disputes and balance in almost all of them.
“I chose the Audi RS3 LMS because, in addition to being developed by Audi, one of the most respected brands in motorsport in the world, in several categories such as Le Mans Series, DTM and Formula E, this sports car also achieved, on average, the best results among the more than 12 models that are approved to compete in the TCR.
“One of our RS3 LMS is the one piloted by Tobias Brink, who finished third in this year’s Scandinavian series. In 2019, he was runner-up.
“Another point that qualifies the Audi model as one of the most competitive, and that influenced a lot my choice, are the results of the brand in the main championships in the world of TCR.”
TCR South America will get underway in 2021 with races planned in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile.
Maurício Slaviero, TCR South America promoter, added that Figueiredo’s backing was important for the new series.
“Nonô Figueiredo is an authentic racer and has lived on motor sport for many years,” said Slaviero. “He has always been involved with major sponsors and has a repertoire in the most varied categories of touring cars.
“Whether as a pilot, coach or team owner, Nonô has winning stories on his resume. His presence in the inaugural season of TCR South America, as team leader of Equipe Onze Motorsports, will be very important for the championship.
“I have no doubt that the Audi RS3 LMS TCR prepared under his supervision will be fully capable of showing performance in 2021.”