W2 Pro GP has confirmed the re-signing of Raphael Reis and the addition of Galid Osman to its 2023 TCR South America campaign, with both Brazilians racing CUPRA Leon Competición cars.
Reis, 39, has been part of the series since its inception in 2021, initially in a Honda Civic before last season switching to CUPRA machinery with the team.
After scoring two wins and seven podiums in 2022, Reis was a title contender for much of the season, eventually finishing third overall.
“Being the first Brazilian driver who joined TCR South America I’m happy to begin a new season in the series and with W2 Pro GP,” said Reis.
“Together we have already achieved some great results, including race wins and the participation in the 2022 FIA Motor Sport Games; our goal for 2023 is to fight for the title once again.”
Osman will make his début in the series this year, having spent 11 years racing in the Brazilian Stock Car series making more than 200 starts.
“I’m excited over this new chapter in my racing career,” said 37-year-old Osman. “I have decided to leave the Stock Cars to join TCR because this is a fast-growing category in Latin America and the largest touring car community in the world.
“It will be challenging to know other types of cars and other tracks from different countries. I hope to have a good season, in a strong team like W2 Pro GP, which has Raphinha [Reis] a very experienced driver in TCR South America.”
Serafin Taboas Jr, Team Manager, believes the team will be title contenders again in 2023, having lifted the overall drivers’ title in 2021 when Pepe Oriola raced one of its Hondas.
“We are extremely motivated and looking forward to the start of the season,” added Serafin Jr. “We won the championship in the first year and last year we finished second in the Teams’ and third in the Drivers’ with Raphael.
“It was our first year with the CUPRA and now we are even more prepared. We know the potential of our drivers: Reis has shown in the last two years what he can do in TCR and we are fully confident that Galid will make a quick adaptation to TCR, since he already has experience with front-wheel drive.
“The 2023 season will surely be the strongest in the championship’s history. We are ready for the challenge.”