Photo: TCR Media

WestCoast Racing to field three new Civics in 2016 TCR season

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WestCoast Racing have confirmed they will return with three new Step 2 Honda Civic TCRs for the 2016 TCR International Series season, but the front-running squad has also confirmed it is still chasing drivers for the cars.

The team scored six wins in 2015 with drivers Gianni Morbidelli, Kevin Gleason and Rob Huff, and was in contention for the drivers’ title for much of the season.

Morbidelli debuted the new Step 2 Civic TCR, which is also built by JAS Motorsport, late in the season, which uses the 2.0 litre K20C1 engine from the Honda Civic Type R.

The four-time Superstars Series champion confirmed to TouringCarTimes in Macau that returning with WestCoast Racing was still an option, but not certain.

“JAS Motorsport has racked up thousands of kilometres over the winter months in a valiant attempt to bridge the gap to SEAT, which began development of its TCR car more than a year in advance,” said WCR team manager James Nixon.

“The results we achieved on-track in 2015 speak volumes about the Honda Civic TCR’s inherent speed, but JAS Motorsport has been trying hard to pull back SEAT’s advantage in terms of reliability and testing has been hugely positive in that regard.”

The team has confirmed it is actively searching for “high calibre” drivers, echoing searches by other top TCR competitors for its 2016 campaign.

The Swedish-based team has also entered a partnership with Volvo factory team Polestar Cyan Racing for 2016 in the STCC, dropping its BMW SR programme and will run Robert Dahlgren and Prince Carl Philip Bernadotte’s S60s in the 2016 Scandinavian Touring Car Championship season.

“We are delighted to support Cyan Racing in its STCC programme and we look forward to the 2016 season,” said WestCoast Racing CEO, Dick Jönsson-Wigroth. “This is a cooperation that we hope to evolve for the future.”