ISSUEISSUE 01 01 / 2020/ 2019 IMSA Michelin Challenge: triumphant victory for Audi at Daytona TCR Australia: TCR Malaysia: 24H Series: the reasons of a success the season began at Sepang the deluge floods Dubai WELCOME THE TCR SNAPSHOT Editor in chief Fabio Ravaioli ([email protected]) Editors Alfredo Filippone ([email protected]) Mark James ([email protected]) Contributors Alexandros Annivas, Clovis Chooi, Daphne Gengler, Daniel Kalisz, LAT Images, Aaron Meriwether, Jamie O’Leary, Arthur Christopher Rosales, Grant Rowley, Nate Siebens, Sam Stratten, Ying Ching Heng Rollin’ over Where: JS-PE GmbH, Rötz, Germany What: TCR technicians check the centre of gravity of the Honda Civic Type R for BoP assessment Designed by What’s next Marco Minghetti in the world of TCR 21 February UAE Procar Championship Dubai Autodrome Published by WSC 28/29 February TCR Malaysia Sepang International Circuit World Sporting Consulting Ltd 7 March UAE Procar Championship Dubai Autodrome 22 Eastcheap, 2nd Floor, London EC3M 1EU, 7/8 March TC America Circuit of the Americas, Austin United Kingdom 12/15 March TCR Asia Pacific Cup Melbourne GP Circuit, Albert Park 14/15 March TC America Bayfront Street Circuit, St. Petersburg 18/19 March IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Sebring International Raceway Reproduction in whole 21 March VLN Nürburgring Nordschleife or part is prohibited without the publisher’s permission 21/22 March Super Taikyu Suzuka Grand Prix Circuit 2 SPOTLIGHT The Honda Civic Type R was named 2019 TCR Model of the Year The Honda Civic Type R was the winner of the classification for the 2019 TCR Model of the Year, succeeding the SEAT León and the Audi RS 3 LMS that were named winners in 2017 and 2018 respectively. This honorary accolade is awarded every year by WSC Group Ltd. on the basis of a classification that takes into account the results achieved by all the TCR-certified model cars in all the TCR-sanctioned races held during the season. In 2019, a total of 313 races awarded professionalism of our customer TCR teams points for the Model of the Year across the world and also a vindication of classification and the final result was both the quality of the Honda Civic Type R only decided during the last WTCR event production model and of the technical and at Sepang, in a face-to-face between the sales support we offer to those competing Honda Civic Type R and the Audi RS 3 with the car. There is an incredibly hard- LMS. Eventually the Honda prevailed by working group of people at our 169 points, a slim margin considering headquarters in Arluno, Italy, headed by that the total score of both models was our TCR Project Leader Mads Fischer, and around 9500 points. comprising mechanics, engineers, logistic, Hiroshi Shimizu, General Manager to-none. It also shows what a strong base sales and support staff, and this shines a Motorsport Division, Honda Motor Co, Ltd. car the Civic Type R production vehicle is light on the fantastic job they have all said: “It is fantastic to receive this award with exceptional handling and a strong done on the Civic Type R TCR project.” from WSC on behalf of the success of the engine. Let’s hope for more in 2020.” JAS Motorsport has built 133 Civic TCR Honda Civic Type R. The TCR formula is Alessandro Mariani, CEO, JAS Motorsport, cars so far. based on customer racing and we have commented: “It is a huge honour to see WSC President Marcello Lotti added: “We always insisted that teams participating the Honda Civic Type R named as the TCR are especially pleased to see the Honda with the Civic Type R do so in the true Model of the Year. We are extremely proud Civic Type R being named the 2019 TCR spirit of the category. The effort put in by to be an official technical partner of Model of the Year. Honda and its technical our customers all over the world has been Honda – a relationship that has been partner JAS Motorsport have embraced the exceptional and we would like to express unbroken since 1999 and included the TCR concept from its very beginning. A our sincere thanks to them for their trust design, build and running of many strenuous commitment that has been in Honda. Our congratulations go to all of different competition vehicles – and to rewarded by the brilliant results achieved them as well as to JAS Motorsport; the have achieved this for them. This award is by their customer teams in all the TCR support they have given has been second- both a testament to the determination and competitions around the world. Winning the TCR Model of the Year is the ultimate recognition of their professionalism and loyalty to the TCR concept.” 2019 TCR MODEL OF THE YEAR Top-six positions 1. Honda Civic Type R, 9652.00 pts 2. Audi RS 3 LMS, 9483.00 3. Hyundai i30 N, 8720.75 4. Volkswagen Golf GTI, 8529.75 5. CUPRA, 7784.00 6. Alfa Romeo Giulietta, 4247.00 3 AUSTRALIA The story behind a success WITH A BRILLIANT MAIDEN SEASON, TCR HAS LEFT ITS MARK DOWN UNDER In terms of national TCR championships, TCR series, with ten brands represented local category. But while many fans and the highlight of 2019 was undoubtedly on the grid, including Renault, Subaru, media tried to make comparisons TCR Australia. From a blank sheet of Holden and Alfa Romeo. between the two Touring Car classes, paper, the series delivered seven It was always going to be a challenge TCR Australia organisers simply got on thrilling race weekends and no end of for TCR to succeed in Australia, which with business, ending the season with a dramas. In addition, TCR Australia saw already had the Supercars Championship 23-strong field that featured ten easily the most diverse entry list of any operating as motorsport’s number one different car brands. 4 5 AUSTRALIA The class was brought down under by in the field, but we saw the teams that are racing their products, the Australian Racing Group – a new, emergence of some new talents. showing that the old saying ‘race on ambitious promoter keen to bring Drivers like Dylan O’Keeffe and Aaron Sunday, sell on Monday’ might still be together a strong, cost-effective Cameron hadn’t been heard of before, true. collection of racing categories. ARG and all of a sudden they were in the So what should we expect in 2020? invested in marketing initiatives, sport’s spotlight. That was one of the Motorsport.com’s Andrew van Leeuwen robust commercial acumen and a great most pleasing aspects.” says that the beauty of the class is desire to see affordable Touring Car The most significant ‘new’ element in that it is hard to predict. racing return to Australian shores. 2020 will be the free-to-air television "At the start of every season, we all According to ARG’s CEO Matt Braid, broadcast. Last year, SBS Australia like to have a guess as to who may the calculated risks that the company broadcast every race live and free, and win or be a contender in any racing took to bring TCR Australia to life in 2020, TCR Australia will move to series. I’ve been following the list of have been rewarded. the screens of the Seven Network, new drivers and teams closely, and it "There was such a great buzz as we Australia’s number one television is basically impossible to know who is launched into the first round, and we broadcaster. Along with that includes going to be the champion come the have been riding a terrific wave of a new production house – Supercars end of the year. The field is too wide momentum ever since,” said Braid. Media – that will ensure the fans at open. For sure, it would be easy to say “The racing last year was absolutely home get unquestionably the best that last year’s champion Will Brown fantastic. We saw so many close content to consume. will win, and I’d say he is probably battles, fought between a raft of The rise of the class has also seen car the favourite, but now that these different cars and teams. This action brands up the commercial ante too. leading teams have a year’s experience was what we felt easily won over the Renault Australia and Honda Australia under their belt, I don’t think he is fans. We had a few established drivers have both financially invested in the going to have it his own way.” 6 The 2020 TCR Australia series will include seven rounds, with two special extra events bookending the year. In March, the season kicks off with the TCR Asia Pacific Cup at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix, set to feature local stars up against a raft of international drivers, including two entries from New Zealand. In November, the TCR field will descend on Australia’s most famous racetrack – Mount Panorama – for the inaugural TCR Bathurst 500, where the world’s best TCR drivers will have the chance to take on the mountain. Nine events, a growing, diverse grid and a calendar that is the envy of almost any racing championship in the world makes the 2020 TCR Australia Series one of the most eagerly-anticipated Touring Car seasons in living memory. 7 INTERVIEW Will Brown: the quick learner TCR AUSTRALIA’S FIRST CHAMPION IS ALL SET FOR TITLE DEFENCE IN 2020 The inaugural TCR Australia Drivers’ title Series first appeared in 2015.