Comtoyou Racing has been confirmed as the first outfit to field the new Audi RS3 LMS TCR in 2021, running four cars in the FIA World Touring Car Cup.
Two drivers, Frédéric Vervisch and Nathanaël Berthon, will be provided by Audi Sport, whilst a further two cars will be provided to privateer drivers.
“This gives us the opportunity to test our new model on different international race tracks and under the greatest competitive pressure,” said Head of Audi Sport customer racing Chris Reinke.
“Only then will we deliver the model to customer teams around the world in the second half of the year.
“Jean-Michel Baert’s team has known our products since 2017, has won international races and titles with them and has been a team from the very beginning in the FIA WTCR.”
Comtoyou Racing first fielded Audi’s RS3 touring car in the TCR International Series in 2017, before moving to WTCR in 2018 and, more recently, TCR Europe, where it secured the drivers’ title last year with Mehdi Bennani.
For Vervisch, it represents a return to WTCR for the Belgian following a year away from the series.
“I am very honoured and grateful to represent Audi and Comtoyou Racing in the WTCR with the new RS 3 LMS,” said Vervisch. “Champion is the only goal I have for 2021!”
Reinke believes Vervisch and Berthon will be an ideal pairing to help with the further development of the car in 2021.
“He [Vervisch] is an experienced, technically skilled and reliable driver. This makes him the ideal development driver for our new car”, said Reinke.
“He will be joined by our new signing Nathanaël Berthon, who has already shown his skills in many racing categories.”
Team Principal François Verbist is pleased to continue working with Audi Sport for a fifth consecutive season.
“We are pleased and excited about this new collaboration with our loyal partner Audi Sport,” said Verbist.
“Our teams have been working together for more than five years and I am proud that they are giving us the opportunity to finalise the development of their new winning machine!”