2017 TCR International Series
The 2017 TCR International Series was the third and the last season of the TCR International Series.
Stefano Comini entered the season as defending double champion, but finished only third in the standings with 30 points behind the new champion Jean-Karl Vernay, who won the title with a race to spare in the Dubai round, and Attila Tassi. Comini and Tassi were separated by only one point.
In the teams' standings Hungarian team M1RA managed to secure the title in Dubai, beating the previous champions Craft-Bamboo Racing by 62 points.
Teams and drivers
[edit]Team and driver changes
[edit]Stefano Comini left Leopard Racing to join the newly entered Comtoyou Racing with Audi RS3 LMS TCR. Frédéric Vervisch joined the team in the second Audi from Spa onwards, while for the final two rounds of the season they've entered a third entry for TCR Benelux regular Denis Dupont who was behind the wheel of SEAT León TCR.
Leopard Racing retained Jean-Karl Vernay and at Spa they've entered a second car for Robert Huff. Huff only entered rounds which did not clashed with his commitments in the World Touring Car Championship. At Monza he was replaced by Jaap van Lagen and in Dubai by Gordon Shedden. Van Lagen entered in Oschersleben in a third car. The team also supported Maxime Potty who entered at Spa under the Michaël Mazurin Sport banner.
Craft-Bamboo Racing retained Pepe Oriola and James Nash, but Sergey Afanasyev was replaced by Hugo Valente. Valente left the team after Monza and his seat was taken by Daniel Lloyd.
WestCoast Racing switched from Civic Type R TCR (FK2) to Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR. As a result, the team ended their association with Sportspromotion – the operation responsible for WestCoast Racing's entry in the series. The team retained Gianni Morbidelli while Giacomo Altoè was entered in the second car. Altoè would leave the team after Oschersleben and he was replaced by the TCR Asia Series regular Kantadhee Kusiri at Buriram, Rafaël Galiana at Zhejiang and Benjamin Leuchter at Dubai.
The newly formed team of M1RA entered the series entering two Civic Type R TCR (FK2) cars for the veteran Roberto Colciago and Attila Tassi. Norbert Michelisz, who is also co-owner of the team, entered at Hungaroring in a third Civic and in Buriram as stand-in for Colciago, who was recovering from injuries sustained during the Oschersleben round. Giacomo Altoè entered the team in Buriram in the team's third entry and double ADAC TCR Germany champion Josh Files entered in Dubai.
TCR Benelux team DG Sport Compétition entered the series with two Opel Astra TCR cars for TCR Trophy Europe winner Pierre-Yves Corthals and Maťo Homola. Corthals was later replaced by Grégoire Demoustier who later left the team after Oschersleben. With the exception of Zhejiang, where the team entered a single car for Homola, the team's second entry was driven by Munkong Sathienthirakul in Buriram and by 2017 TCR Trophy Europe winner Aurélien Comte in Dubai.
Davit Kajaia left Liqui Moly Team Engstler to form GE Force in partnership with Romeo Ferraris who provided the team with two Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR cars. Dušan Borković joined the team in the second car. The team also entered a third car for Rustavi International Motorpark owner Shota Abkhazava in Rustavi and for Michela Cerruti in Bahrain.
Duncan Ende made his series début driving for his own team Icarus Motorsports in a SEAT León TCR.
Zengő Motorsport returned to the series after missing out the previous season. The team was supposed to enter Cee'd TCR for Ferenc Ficza, but due to delays in delivery Ficza was rotating between Zengõ Motorsport and Zele Racing driving SEAT León TCR. In Hungaroring the Cee'd TCR made its debut appearance with Ficza behind the wheel, but after Oschersleben the team withdrew from the season due to reliability issues.
Stian Paulsen and Jens Reno Møller entered the series from Spa to Oschersleben rider for their own teams - Stian Paulsen Racing and Reno Racing. The European TCR rounds counted as qualification for the 2017 TCR Trophy Europe, but neither of them entered the event.
After fielding two one-off entries for their TCR Benelux drivers Tom Coronel and Benjamin Lessennes at Spa, Boutsen Ginion Racing entered a single Honda Civic Type R TCR for Aurélien Panis from Oschersleben onwards.
Liqui Moly Team Engstler left the series to concentrate on their campaigns in TCR Asia Series and ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship. The team entered Luca Engstler in Oschesleben under the Junior Team Engstler banner.
BRC Racing Team made its début in the series for the final two rounds of the season fielding two Hyundai i30 N TCR cars for veteran riders Gabriele Tarquini and Alain Menu The team received support from Hyundai Motorsport. However, as the i30 N TCR was given temporary homologation neither the team, nor its drivers were eligible to score points.
B3 Racing folded after the end of the 2016 season due to financial difficulties. Many of the team's personnel went on to form M1RA.
Target Competition also left the series after 2016 to concentrate on their efforts in ADAC TCR Germany.
Calendar
[edit]The 2017 provisional schedule was announced on 28 November 2016, with ten events scheduled.[52]
Rnd. | Circuit | Date | Supporting | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | ![]() |
1 April | stand-alone event |
2 | 2 April | |||
2 | 1 | ![]() |
15 April | Bahrain Grand Prix |
2 | 16 April | |||
3 | 1 | ![]() |
6 May | 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps |
2 | 7 May | |||
4 | 1 | ![]() |
13 May | European Le Mans Series |
2 | 14 May | |||
5 | 1 | ![]() |
10 June | stand-alone event |
2 | 11 June | |||
6 | 1 | ![]() |
17 June | Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters |
2 | 18 June | |||
7 | 1 | ![]() |
8 July | ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship |
2 | 9 July | |||
8 | 1 | ![]() |
2 September | TCR Thailand Series |
2 | 3 September | |||
9 | 1 | ![]() |
7 October | TCR China Series TCR Asia Series |
2 | 8 October | |||
10 | 1 | ![]() |
17 November | stand-alone event |
2 | 18 November |
Calendar changes
[edit]The rounds held at Autodromo do Estoril, Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Sochi Autodrom, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Sepang International Circuit and Guia Circuit were discontinued.
The series made their debut in Georgia at the Rustavi International Motorpark which opened the season.
The provisional calendar featured a round at the Circuit de Monaco supporting the Monaco Grand Prix, but was removed as it wasn't approved by the Monegasque ASN as they had never entered negotiations to stage the race.[53] It was replaced by Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Italy as supporting series to the European Le Mans Series.
With the release of the TCR China Touring Car Championship the calendar slot for October, which was left vacant, was given to the Zhejiang International Circuit. In the previous two seasons the series visited Shanghai International Circuit.
The round in Hungaroring was originally scheduled on 1–2 July, but for logistics reasons it was pulled back two weeks earlier than planned. The change also meant that the series would support the Hungarian round of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.[54]
The season finale which was supposed to be held on Yas Marina Circuit supporting the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was moved to Dubai Autodrome with the new date being a week earlier.[55]
Results
[edit]Footnotes
[edit]- ^ a b Actual fastest lap of race recorded by Gabriele Tarquini, but he was ineligible to score the fastest lap of the race, due to his Hyundai i30 N TCR running on temporary homologation.
- ^ a b Actual victory in race scored by Gabriele Tarquini for BRC Racing Team, but as the Hyundai i30 N TCR was running on temporary homologation, he was ineligible to score points.
Fan Award
[edit]At the end of every weekend, a panel consisting of the International Series' Promoter and the promotional and media team name three candidates who stood out during the event for any particular reason.
Race | Winner | Other candidates |
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Not held | |
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Not held |
Championship standings
[edit]Drivers' championship
[edit]
|
Bold – Pole |
† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.
Teams' Championship
[edit]
|
Bold – Pole |
† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.
Model of the year
[edit]
|
Bold – Pole |
† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c fabio. "Comini in an Audi RS 3 LMS run by Comtoyou Racing". tcr-series.com. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Frédéric Vervisch joins Comtoyou Racing from Spa". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
- ^ a b Hudson, Neil (15 September 2017). "Denis Dupont to make TCR International debut at Zhejiang". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "22-car entry list announced for the 2017 TCR International Series". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ "Rob Huff signed up at Team WRT for the TCR International Series". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ Salisbury, Matt (10 May 2017). "Jaap van Lagen gets Leopard Racing seat for Monza". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Gordon Shedden to replace Rob Huff for Dubai season finale". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ a b "TCR Benelux driver Maxime Potty to join WRT for International Series debut". TouringCarTimes.com. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ a b c d Norbert, Michelisz. "A nap, amelyen versenycsapatot indítottam" (in Hungarian). Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ "Norbert Michelisz and Giacomo Altoè to race for M1RA at Buriram". TouringCarTimes. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ "Norbert Michelisz set to make TCR International Series debut along with the DTM". TouringCarTimes.com. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ "M1RA adds Josh Files for TCR finale - TouringCarTimes". TouringCarTimes. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Craft-Bamboo back with Lukoil and with three cars". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- ^ a b c "Hugo Valente joins James Nash and Pepe Oriola at Craft-Bamboo". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ "Daniel Lloyd replaces retiring Hugo Valente in TCR switch". TouringCarTimes. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ^ a b c "Luca Engstler will make TCR International Series debut at Oschersleben". TouringCarTimes. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d "WestCoast Racing confirm car and drivers for 2017 TCR season". TouringCars.Net. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "Benjamin Leuchter joins WestCoast Racing for Dubai". TouringCarTimes. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ Hudson, Neil (31 August 2017). "Kantadhee Kusiri replaces Giacomo Altoè at WestCoast Racing". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ "Rafaël Galiana joins WestCoast Racing for Zhejiang - TouringCarTimes". TouringCarTimes. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d Hudson, Neil (25 April 2017). "TCR Benelux race winner Guillaume Mondron to join the International Series at Spa". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
- ^ Hudson, Neil (30 April 2017). "Guillaume and Edouard Mondron confirmed for Spa-Francorchamps". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
- ^ "Georgian team GE-Force to run Giuliettas for Dusan Borkovic and Davit Kajaia". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Dusan Borkovic announces Alfa Romeo switch". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Georgia entry list" (PDF). tcr-series.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 September 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ^ "Shota Abkhazava to drive the third Alfa Romeo Giulietta in Georgia". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ "Dušan Borković reveals switch to Alfa Romeo for 2017 TCR season". TouringCars.Net. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Michela Cerruti joins GE-Force for Bahrain". TouringCarTimes. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ a b c "Duncan Ende first confirmed driver for 2017 TCR International Series". TouringCarTimes.com. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ a b c "Unicorse Team confirm Alfa Romeo for Hungaroring". TouringCarTimes. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ a b c "Pierre-Yves Corthals set to race Opel Astra in TCR International Series". TouringCarTimes.com. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ "Aurélien Comte confirmed for TCR International Series debut - TouringCarTimes". TouringCarTimes. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ "Grégoire Demoustier joins DG Sport Compétition at Salzburgring". TouringCarTimes.com. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ^ "A Thai driver for DG Sport at Buriram". tcr-series.com. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ fabio. "Corthals and Homola in DG Sport's Opel Astra cars". tcr-series.com. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ a b c "István Bernula will make TCR debut for LP Winner Motorsport". TouringCarTimes.com. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ a b c fabio. "Benjamin Lessennes joins the International Series at Spa". tcr-series.com. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
- ^ "Aurélien Panis confirmed in TCR International with Boutsen-Ginion Racing – TouringCarTimes". www.touringcartimes.com. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ "Tom Coronel to make TCR International Series debut at Spa". TouringCarTimes.com. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ a b c fabio. "Vesnić to race an Audi in the European Trophy". tcr-series.com. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ a b c "Seasonal debut in Austria for the Top Run Subaru". www.tcr-series.com. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ a b c fabio. "Paulsen aims at the TCR European Trophy". tcr-series.com. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- ^ a b c Abbott, Andrew (2 June 2017). "Thomas Jäger to make TCR International début at the Salzburgring". TouringCars.Net. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ^ a b c Hudson, Neil (5 June 2017). "Enrico Bettera entered in an Audi RS 3 at the Salzburgring". TouringCarTimes.com. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ a b c "Kroes at Oschersleben with Ferry Monster Autosport". tcr-series.com. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ a b c Hudson, Neil (14 June 2017). "Zengõ to run the new Kia as part of a five-car entry this weekend". TouringCarTimes.com. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Hudson, Neil (28 August 2017). "Six TCR Thailand cars added to the International Series grid this weekend". TouringCarTimes.com. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d Hudson, Neil (28 September 2017). "Chinese squad ZZZ Team enter two Audi RS 3s for Zhejiang". TouringCarTimes.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ^ a b c Hudson, Neil (10 May 2017). "Daniele Cappellari joins TCR International Series race at Monza". TouringCarTimes.com. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Hyundai i30 N TCR set for International Series debut". tcr-series.com. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
- ^ "Drivers". tcr-series.com. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ "Monaco included on 2017 TCR International Series calendar". TouringCarTimes. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ Neil Hudson (3 December 2016). "Monégasque ASN rules out TCR race at the Monaco Grand Prix". TouringCarTimes.com. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "TCR International Series to support DTM in Hungary". TCR International Series. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ "TCR changes venue from Abu Dhabi F1 season finale to Dubai". TouringCarTimes.com. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.