What is the TCR World Tour?
The Kumho TCR World Tour is a rare opportunity for the world’s best TCR drivers to compete together, and it will visit Australia for the first time in TCR’s history.
The nine-round tour began in late April, with Portugal’s Algarve circuit opening the season. Further European visits in Belgium, Italy, and Hungary culminated to a tour of South America in Uruguay and Argentina.
The 2023 season will conclude at the famous Macau Grand Prix in late November, but not before Australia’s double-header at Race Sydney and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International.
TCR is a global, front-wheel drive Touring Car racing category, with the same formula and regulations applied worldwide. The category made its Australian debut in 2019.
Where are they competing, when and who against?
The exciting international category will compete at both Race Sydney and Supercheap Auto Bathurst International events, the seventh and eighth round of Shannons SpeedSeries respectively.
They will share the track with Supercheap Auto TCR Australia at both events for six races across the two back-to-back weekends, completing rounds 13 through to 18 of the TCR World Tour.
They will feature at Race Sydney on 3-4 November, and it will be the first of two Kumho TCR World Tour rounds down under with the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International taking place the following week.
Who are the drivers?
The first nine international entries were confirmed back in August, and include a pair of former champions – with drivers from nine nationalities accounting for more than 100 international TCR race wins and four manufacturer supported teams.
A further two were confirmed not long after, with French brothers Teddy and Jimmy Clairet set to share the Bargwanna Motorsport Hangcha Forklifts Peugeot in the pair of rounds.
Confirmed drivers (so far)
Thed Björk (SWE) – #111 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co / Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR
Santiago Urrutia (URU) – #112 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co / Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR
Ma Qing Hua (CHN) – #155 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co / Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR
Yann Ehrlacher (FRA) – #168 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co / Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR
Rob Huff (GBR) – #179 Audi Sport Team Comtoyou / Audi RS 3 LMS TCR
Frédéric Vervisch (BEL) – #122 Audi Sport Team Comtoyou / Audi RS 3 LMS TCR
Mikel Azcona (ESP) – #196 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse / Hyundai Elantra N TCR
Norbert Michelisz (HUN) – #105 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse / Hyundai Elantra N TCR
Néstor Girolami (ARG) – #129 / Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
Teddy Clairet (FRA) – TBC / Hangcha Forklifts Peugeot
Jimmy Clairet (FRA) – TBC / Hangcha Forklifts Peugeot
ICYMI: French Brothers Teddy and Jimmy Clairet will join the @TCRAustralia field when the Kumho TCR World Tour arrives in Australia this November.
Meanwhile, Ben Bargwanna will continue his international journey with news that he will contest the final round of the TCR World… pic.twitter.com/mnxaYQKN47
— Shannons SpeedSeries (@SpeedSeriesAU) September 13, 2023
Are they going to take the rounds seriously?
Both rounds will count towards the official 2023 Kumho TCR World Tour standings, which is currently set to go right down to the wire – meaning drivers will have plenty to play for.
Hungarian Norbert Michelisz will be a driver eager to extend his series lead over Frenchman Yann Ehrlacher – with the lead sitting at a mere four points.
Spaniard Mikel Azcona currently sits in fourth off the back of a race win last time out in South America, while Argentinian hero Nestor Girolami also bagged a win to sit steady in fifth. Girolami is no stranger to Australia though, dominating to take a clean sweep of victories in his first visit to Sandown back in 2019.
Frenchman Teddy Clairet also carries Australian experience, having competed in the 2022 edition of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International.
Meanwhile the only driver in the top 10 to not pick up a race win is Frédéric Vervisch, but is renowned for his consistent finishes.
Catch up with all the action from the 2023 Kumho TCR World Tour season here.
In TCR Australia, Bailey Sweeny holds a 30-point advantage over HMO Customer Racing Hyundai teammate, Josh Buchan.
It has been a back-and-forth contest between the two in recent rounds, which has opened the door for Aaron Cameron and 2022 series winner Tony D’Alberto to enter the conversation.
Ben Bargwanna will also be looking to capitalise on his early World Tour experience, having competed at the opening rounds in Portugal and Beligum.
And just like that, our Sandown adventure comes to a close! #SpeedSeriesAU #SCAutoTCR #StanSportAU #Shannons @TCRAustralia pic.twitter.com/QiBMOU9tdu
— Shannons SpeedSeries (@SpeedSeriesAU) September 10, 2023
How can I watch?
The event will be broadcast in Australia on Stan Sport, plus free-to-air coverage of Saturday night’s racing on the Nine Network’s channels. Broadcast times and specific channels will be confirmed shortly.
Tickets for Race Sydney and Supercheap Auto Bathurst International can be purchased here.
