International TCR returns to add sparkle to emblematic event

After a long absence, an international contingent of TCR category racers is returning to Macau to take part in the historic Guia Race for touring cars.

This series had undergone many changes worldwide over the past few years, notably the shift to fully electric vehicles (ETCR) especially in Europe but, recently, the old internal combustion TCR cars have started making a resurgence.

Following on such trend, it was decided to replace the previous World Touring Car Championship (WTCR) with a TCR World Tour season, a shorter and less frequent version of the championship with races taking place in Europe, South America, and Australia before reaching Macau.

It is precisely this Kumho TCR World Tour season’s last round that will be held this weekend in the streets of Macau, with a field of cars and drivers that includes four previous winners of the Macau Guia Race, either in qualifying or main races.

Among the most highlighted names is Brit, Rob Huff, the most successful touring car racer in Macau who has been a regular presence at Guia Race even during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This time, Huff takes the wheel of the Audi Sport Team Comtoyou squad accompanied by another winner of the race, Frédéric Vervisch.

Huff needs no introductions in Macau as he is the record holder and a nine-time race winner. He is aiming to increase his tally.

The same team also includes John Filippi and Tom Coronel, with the latter coming to the Macau race after clinching the 2023 TCR Europe crown.

Filippi is, so far, the only driver to have won a TCR World Tour race outside of the nine drivers who compete regularly in the 2023 season.

Also joining the Macau race will be Ben Bargwanna and Marco Butti.

After the end of his own country’s series last weekend at Bathurst, TCR Australia race winner Bargwanna returns to the World Tour at the wheel of the Team Clairet Sport Peugeot 308. Bargwanna also raced in the rounds of Portimão and Spa earlier this year.

As for Butti, he has only raced in the Vallelunga event where he won the TCR Italian Trophy. This year he focused on TCR Italy, scoring three victories on his way to finish fourth in the rankings. The Italian youngster will race a Hyundai Elantra N entered by BRC Squadra Corse with support from the Hong Kong-based Evolve Racing.

Running in the second Evolve Racing car will be last weekend’s TCR Asia Challenge winner of Race 1 and second runner-up in Race 2, Lo Sze Ho.

Five other TCR Asia Challenge competitors will join this weekend’s race including Paul Poon (Teamwork Motorsport, Audi), Deng Bao Wei (109 Racing, Honda Civic Fk7), Yan Chuang (Fancy Teamwork, Lynk & Co 03), Osborn Li (Z.Speed, Hyundai i30 N) and Ken Tian (QMA Motorsports, Audi).

The field will also include some other big names of Macau touring car races in recent years, such as China’s Ma Qing Hua, Thed Björk, and double WTCR champion Yann Ehrlacher, who currently sits second in the TCR World Tour points.

Norbert Michelisz and Mikel Azcona will also be back and running, like Lo, Hyundai Elantra N TCR cars.

Eyes will also be on Nestor Girolami who will be at the wheel of the new-for-2023 Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR. Girolami and the new Honda had a maiden win on the world stage in his native Argentina back in August.

The Guia Race – TCR World Tour will be out on track from 12:45 p.m. for the very important qualifying session. TCR World Tour cars will return to the Guia Circuit tomorrow around the same time for Race 1 (9 laps) and again on Sunday at 10:35 a.m. for another 9-lap Race 2.