Slovenian team Lema Racing to run two SEATs in ETCC

Lema Racing has announced their plan to run a pair of SEAT León Cup Racers in this year’s European Touring Car Cup’s TCN2 class, signing Macedonian driver Igor Stefanovski and Portuguese driver Fábio Mota for their first year in the series.

The team have experience from competing in the Renault Clio Eurocup, but will now turn to the SEAT León, joining the ETCC in its expanded Single-Make Trophy class, which is now open to other cars built to the same template as SEATs highly successful 100k EUR racer, dubbed as the FIA’s TCN2 class for 2016.

“Although we are now a long time in touring car racing, being able to compete in ETCC was our goal,” said team principal Mirko Marinsek. “Unfortunately now that the Clio Eurocup is no longer interesting, we had to switch but also to progress to a better championship. ETCC is very attractive, offering us good exposure which will help Fábio and Igor to secure better sponsorship deals for the future.”

The team have also signed up experienced Miroslav Rastovic as team manager, who has experience in the ETCC, having run cars for Marin Colak, Dusan Borkovic, and most recently LEIN Racing.

The drivers are also looking forward to the challenge of competing in the ETCC for the first time.

“This is a totally new experience for me,” said Stefanovski. “A very different car, a new style of driving, completely new way of communicating with the team.

“Collecting points is one goal, but the main thing would be to just drive as much as possible to collect data for me and the team so we try to progress as fast as we can, but nonetheless I am still targeting a podium finish during the season, I do not plan to be just a tourist.”

Stefanovic’s 28-year-old team-mate Fábio Mota is also delighted to make the step up to the ETCC.

“After two good seasons in the Clio Cup Espãna, where I won races and signed pole-positions, I needed a new challenge to evolve as a driver,” said Mota. “The European Touring Car Cup will be very strong this year, with new regulations and a very attractive calendar, which includes Vila Real. Furthermore, it will have a fantastic TV package, with the Eurosport TV channel broadcasting the races, and that’s very important to promote my commercial partners.

“Everything will be new for me and I know that the ETCC will have a strong field, so I will have a steep learning curve. Though, I have confidence in Lema Racing, a team that I know well, and I believe that I’ll have a competitive car at my disposal, so I’ll have the necessary support to adapt me fast to a new reality. I’ll give my best in all races and I’m looking forward to Paul Ricard, where the season will start.”