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Jordi Oriola secures Target Competition seat

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Jordi Oriola will contest a full season in the TCR International Series in 2016 after being named as the first driver with defending champions Target Competition.

The 19-year-old tested the team’s new Opel Astra at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo near Valencia earlier this week and has now agreed a deal that will see him embark on his first full season in the series this year.

Oriola endured a trying to start to 2015 with three tough weekends with Campos Racing’s Astra, but then returned to the series for the Macau season finale; taking a solid fifth place in race one in a Target-run SEAT before being forced to retire whilst running in a podium position in race two.

Having received a ‘number of offers’ following that Macau performance, the younger brother of 2015 series runner-up Pepe Oriola has now elected to go with the Opel for the upcoming campaign and is chasing a top five championship finish in what is effectively his rookie season.

“This has always been my dream, racing in a worldwide championship where young drivers like me have a future in the touring car field,” he said. “I am looking forward to showing my potential in TCR. The calendar is outstanding, with three meetings be running with F1. In addition, I will be driving the Opel Astra, which I had the opportunity to test at the Circuito Ricardo Tormo in Valencia and which gave me a really positive feeling.

“I am very happy for the moment I am about to live, and I have to thank Opel and all my sponsors for giving me the chance to compete in a full TCR programme. This year is really motivating, with unknown circuits for me. No-one should doubt my will to make the most of the first races, even if my goal will be fighting for the first five positions in my first year.”

Target Competition will run a total of seven Astras across the TCR International and Germany Series this year.