The 2017 season of the TCR Asian countries Series will begin with Sepang in Malaysia this week, the next consecutive season the widely accepted touring car shining has competed to the famed Malaysian Formula One enterprise.
A host of new motor vehicles and new people will join the area in Malaysia, an event that will also see the Hard anodized cookware debut of the exhilarating new Audi RS3 LMS TCR, an automobile introduced in late 2017 that will much acclaim. Additionally, it heralded a new age for both TCR and Audi, with the German supplier throwing their large support behind the particular programme, which is arranged to mirror the advantages the marque has loved in GT3 competition while using the successful R8 LMS GT3.
Whilst Audi will undoubtedly make their position felt, two young Thai drivers are anticipated to lead the charge in season 2017, details will take over the rules with reigning winners Liqui Moly Team Engstler – Kantadhee Kusiri. The German-based clothing were the star performers last year, along with multiple China Taking in Car Champion Andrew Yan dominating the world-class with five is declared the winner from ten commences.
Kusiri has enjoyed consider your experience in the TCR International Series, having impressed on his debut for Buriram last August, completing sixth and 9th against the experienced foreign field. Since then bigger gone on to secure four rounds with the TCR Thailand Series from 4 starts, remaining undefeated regarding home soil – a good ominous sign together with four races during Thailand during 2017.
Whilst Andy Yan appeared to be the star artist in 2017, his most effective threat throughout the year appeared to be always Team Thailand’s Tin Sritrai, the young Japanese showing impressive velocity across the season. However he suffered from a new wretched string of chance mechanically, failing to finish off on four events, leaving Yan free to decimate the field at leisure. Inside an identical car for you to Kusiri for 2017, Sritrai starts 12 months as one of the favourites.
Joining Kusiri while in the second of the Liqui Moly Workforce Engstler Volkswagen’s will be Ecuador’s Diego Moran, your Chinese-based driver is a ex- race winner within the Colombian Road Racing Competition in Super The year 2000, and a solid accessory the driver lineup for that reigning champions.
Liqui Moly Squad Engstler’s domination of the 2017 season included taking the two driver’s title plus the team’s championships, some sort of nod perhaps to your experienced long-time touring automobile campaigners, and whilst that experience may force their competition to be on their ‘A’ video game for 2017, there is yet another team with Euro foundations that could offer a serious challenge.
Phoenix Speed Asia was created compete in Cookware GT3 competition in 2017 together with almost instant results. Formed as a relationship between German goliath Phoenix Racing plus successful team manager Ernst Moser, and Hong Kong’s Marchy Lee, the brand new team claimed the Audi R8 LMS Cup subject on debut regarding former Malaysian F1 car owner Alex Yoong, whilst also supplying Hong Kong’s Shaun Thong the Pro-Am concept in the hotly competitive GT Asia Collection.
For season 2017, Phoenix Bike racing Asia – with assist from Audi Hong Kong – get expanded into touring car competition together with the all-new Audi RS3 LMS TCR, giving your car it’s Asian release at Sepang. Driving assignments will fall over the shoulders of another increasing young Hong Kong star during Jasper Thong, the 17-year old shall be on a steep studying curve after spending a season in open-wheelers in 2017, with a cameo appearance inside a Phoenix-run Audi R8 LMS in the Tumbler.
Thong will be joined with Sepang by SK Tong the Hong Kong driver is likely to contest the best campaign this season, utilizing another ‘star’ driver expected to take up the hold alongside Thong for the majority of the season.. Watch this particular space!
Honda too might be well represented by local team Ur Engineering, the Malaysian procedure has proven successful around various Malaysian championships, all of which will campaign WS Lai and Abdul Kaathir within a pair of JAS Motorsport prepared Chevy Civic TCRs.
Lai will compete in a brand new Social, whilst Kaathir will be driving of an updated Honda, which had been a test motor vehicle in Asia regarding JAS since 2017 – it was the car which had taken Italian driver Roberto Colciago so that you can pole position and also victory in the beginning TCR International race during Sepang last year, so quite an handy piece of devices!
Seat will again be well represented, with Douglas Khoo coming back again in a 2017 Seat L
