Uruguayan racer Juan Manuel Casella will contest a second full season of TCR South America, after re-signing with Squadra Martino for the coming year.
The 26-year-old made his TCR début at the 2022 El Pinar event, but despite a strong qualifying effort he was unable to start either race due to an engine failure.
In 2022, he took part in all bar the opening two races as part of the PMO Racing squad, racing a Pdeugeot 308 TCR. Casella was the team’s best-ranked driver, ending the year sixth overall with a best finish of second.
Last year he moved to Squadra Martino, starting the season in a Honda Civic Type-R FK7 before switching to the new FL5 model for the final three events of the season.
Although unable to score a podium in the new car, he picked up four podiums earlier in the year and ended the season seventh overall.
“I am very happy to be able to continue in TCR South America,” said Casella, who also competes in rallying. “It is a category that I have participated in for two years, although I also did one three years ago, so I am already a veteran of the category.
“I am happy because I see the growth that the category has year after year in infrastructure, in circuits, in shows and in the level of drivers.
“This year hasn’t started yet but in the next few weeks we are going to do a preseason test.
“I am already getting into the simulator and I am working to improve what we did this year, which was good but at the end of the season we fell a little.
“Surely even more important drivers will join and we will have to push hard.”