After a long winter break, the green flag finally falls on the 2024 TCR UK Touring Car Championship season this weekend (13-14 April) at Brands Hatch.
The legendary former British Grand Prix venue in Kent coincidentally hosted the final rounds of last year’s championship back in October, when Carl Boardley completed a dream first year in the category by clinching the title.
Boardley and his CBM with Hart GT-run CUPRA Leon Competición are back for more this year. The team are eager to hold onto that title for another year in a season where there will be even more hard-fought action. This year, triple-headers become the norm as the championship expands from 15 to 20 races – with every minute of action livestreamed for free.
Joining Boardley in the CUPRA camp this year are regular championship frontrunners Area Motorsport. Rob Baker’s squad will field a two-car line-up of Leons headed by championship challenger Adam Shepherd. In the second car, Luke Sargeant enters his sophomore season looking to build on last year’s experience and become a regular podium contender.
A fourth second-generation CUPRA is piloted by series stalwart Brad Hutchison (Bond-It with MPH Racing). The Yorkshireman flew in a one-off appearance in the car last year and is ready to challenge for a maiden win.
Also driving VAG machinery is Joe Marshall, whose Audi RS3 LMS Gen2 is tended by Rob Boston Racing. Marshall wasn’t quite able to crack the top step of the podium last year but that surely won’t be long coming, with the Cheshire driver confident of putting together a title bid.
Perhaps the most exciting entry this weekend is that of TCR Europe regular Viktor Andersson. The Swede is joining Pro Alloys Racing to help the squad and the team’s regular driver Ryan Bensley bed in their Lynk & Co 03 machinery. The Chinese brand has an enviable international pedigree and is making its UK debut this weekend.
The venerable Hyundai i30 N, the most successful car in TCR UK history, is represented by two drivers running from JH Racing’s garage. Callum Newsham is overdue some better luck as the regular frontrunner seeks his first win in the championship, while Darron Lewis is looking forward to focusing on his driving as he makes the step up from self-run Gen1 machinery.
A welcome addition to the field is Will Powell’s new Sport77 outfit. Experienced racer Powell will pilot a Honda Civic Type R FK7 – the 2022 championship-winning model – while a second is also due in the hands of Alex Jones.
The squad will also be represented in the new-for-2024 Gen1 Cup, which gives drivers of older machinery their own silverware to compete for. British Endurance champion Brad Thurston will pilot an Audi RS3 LMS, with Cedric Bloch set to pilot a sister car run in conjunction with Simon Green Motorsport.
CUPRA is well represented in the Gen1 field. Rick Kerry (EDF Motorsport) and Mark Smith (Richmond Fire Motorsport) will both aim to build on their experience of the car from last year. Simon Mauger is a newcomer to the championship in his Mauger Motorsport example.
Adding further variety to the Gen1 section are Jeff Alden (Matrix Motorsport/DW Racing Opel Astra) and Will Beech, whose Capture Motorsport squad returns with their Volkswagen Golf GTI but with Beech at the wheel for the first time in TCR UK.
As well as the chase for overall honours and Gen1 Cup laurels, also up for grabs is the Goodyear Diamond Award for drivers aged 40 and over. Carl Boardley’s overall success makes him ineligible to defend the title, but CUPRA will still be represented by Rick Kerry and Mark Smith. Darron Lewis looks a very strong contender for the award, with Jeff Alden and Alex Jones also set to be in the mix.
The triple-header format adopted by TCR UK this year means that as well as Sunday’s two races, there will be a Saturday afternoon contest to look forward to as well. On-track action begins with Qualifying at 0955hrs on Saturday morning before lights out on the first race of the season at 1500hrs that afternoon.
Race 2 at 1400hrs on Sunday features a top-10 reversal of the Race 1 results to form the grid and is preceded by the ever-popular public gridwalk. It’s a chance to get up close to the stars and their cars so make sure you’re there to soak up the atmosphere. A busy opening weekend concludes with Race 3, scheduled to get underway at 1650hrs.
If you can’t make it in person, all the action will be livestreamed on the TCR UK YouTube channel across Saturday and Sunday.
You can still purchase tickets for the opening event of the 2024 season, at Brands Hatch, from their website: https://www.brandshatch.co.uk/2024/april/tcr-uk-touring-car-championship
To find out more about the TCR UK Touring Car Championship visit https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/ for more information and how to get involved.
To find out more about the events on the 2024 TCR UK Touring Car Championship Calendar, visit https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/2024-calendar/ for more information.
Useful information and livestream links:
BRANDS HATCH QUALIFYING LIVESTREAM
BRANDS HATCH SATURDAY LIVESTREAM
BRANDS HATCH SUNDAY LIVESTREAM
