TCR UK will become a standalone championship from 2022 onwards, after UK governing body Motorsport UK awarded championship status to the series, as promoter Maximum Motorsport signed a new six-year agreement with WSC.
TCR UK began in 2018, but for the past three seasons it has run as a class within the ‘Touring Car Trophy’.
For 2022, TCR UK will become the main event as it has been awarded championship status within the UK.
The announcement also coincides with global TCR rights holder WSC signing a new six-year agreement with Maximum Motorsport, which has been promoter since 2020, to promote the category in the UK until the end of 2027.
From 2022, the championship will only feature homologated TCR cars under the supervision of the WSC technical department.
“This significant change in status coupled with WSC’s six-year endorsement provides the championship with long-term stability and puts TCR UK on the map as a major national championship,” said Maximum Motorsport owner Stewart Lines.
“It gives teams, drivers and commercial partners the incentive and confidence to get involved.
“With only TCR cars running to the WSC’s balance-of-performance criteria eligible to enter, it’s going to make the championship a competitive and exciting place to be.
“And, if the number of enquiries we’ve received in the past few weeks is anything to go by, I can confidently say we’ll see good size grids next season.”
WSC President Marcello Lotti praised the effort put in by Lines to raise the status of the championship.
“Maximum Motorsport has put in a great effort in relaunching TCR UK and raising it to the level it deserves,” said Lotti. “We were extremely pleased to see the series take a big step forward in 2021.
“TCR UK is now one of the fastest-growing TCR championships and if it continues on the same trajectory in 2022, it will become one of the biggest too.
“The number of TCR cars in the UK has trebled in the past year, which is a reflection on the good work being done by the organisers and underlines the popularity of the TCR concept as an accessible and sustainable package.
“We are therefore delighted to have put in place a six-year agreement with Maximum Motorsport and we look forward to working even more closely with Stewart and his team over the coming seasons.”
2022 TCR UK – calendar
Rounds 1 & 2 – 16/18 April, Oulton Park International
Rounds 3 & 4 – 28/29 May, Donington Park Grand Prix
Rounds 5, 6 & 7 – 18/19 June, Brands Hatch Indy
Rounds 8 & 9 – 16 July, Oulton Park Island
Rounds 10 & 11 – 6 August, Castle Combe
Rounds 12 & 13 – 29 August, Donington Park National
Rounds 14 & 15 – 23 October, Snetterton 200