Tiago Monteiro and Josh Files officially confirmed for Macau

WTCC front-runner Tiago Monteiro and 2016 ADAC TCR Germany series champion Josh Files have been officially confirmed by WestCoast Racing and Target Competition respectively to compete in the Guia Race 2.0T at Macau in a pair of Honda Civic TCRs.

Monteiro already featured on the provisional entry list for the famous street race when it was announced last month. The Portuguese driver, who is chasing second in this year’s WTCC drivers’ championship, will make his return at the Guia Race after a year away, and narrowly missing out on victory in 2014.

“I am so excited to be back in Macau,” said Monteiro. “It has always been one of my favourite places and I have always enjoyed racing there in Formula 3 or touring cars. I have some unfinished business, as the last time I was there I was leading the race until three corners from the end, when a mechanical problem forced me to retire. For sure, I want some kind of revenge.”

Monteiro’s entry with WestCoast Racing has been accepted as part of the new-for-2016 entry requirements, as the Portuguese driver has experience in the TCR-spec Civic in an FIA sanctioned race after he raced with Boutsen Ginion Racing at the first two rounds of the TCR Benelux series.

The new rule has caught out his Honda factory team-mate Rob Huff, whose entry with Rob Huff Motorsport, which would have been run by JAS Motorsport, has been rejected.

Monteiro’s Macau entry means Kevin Gleason, who had returned with WestCoast Racing at Singapore and Malaysia, winning the second race at Sepang, has surrendered his seat at the team.

2015 TCR champions Target Competition also confirmed that TCR Germany series champion Josh Files will be taking part in the race, after the Briton’s name was added as a potential entry last week.

“We are happy to announce that our 2016 German champion driver Josh Files will be racing with our Honda Civic TCR at the Macau Grand Prix,” said the team.

Files will take part in his second Guia Race of Macau, after competing last season with Campos Racing in the previous generation Opel Astra OPC, but lacked track time with technical issues throughout both of the practice sessions.

2016 Macau Guia Race 2.0T Entry List

No – Driver – Nat – Team – Car
1 – Stefano Comini – SUI – Leopard Racing Team – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
2 – Jean-Karl Vernay – FRA – Leopard Racing Team – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
3 – Andy Yan – HKG – Engstler Motorsport – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
4 – Adam Morgan – GBR – Star Team – Mercedes-Benz C260 CTCC
6 – Tim Zimmermann – GER – Engstler Motorsport – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
7 – Davit Kajaia – GEO – Engstler Motorsport – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
8 – Mikhail Grachev – RUS – WestCoast Racing – Honda Civic TCR
9 – Attila Tassi – HUN – B3 Racing Team – SEAT León TCR
10 – Gianni Morbidelli – ITA – WestCoast Racing – Honda Civic TCR
11 – Alex Hui – HKG – Suncity Racing Team – Citroen C-Elysee CTCC
12 – Sunny Wong – HKG – Suncity Racing Team – Citroen C-Elysee CTCC
14 – Wei Chao Yin – CHN – Son Veng Racing Team – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
17 – Terence Tse – HKG – Roadstar Racing Team – SEAT León Cup Racer
20 – Lou Hon Kei – MAC – Elegant Racing Team – SEAT León Cup Racer
21 – Zhang Ya Qi – CHN – Linky Racing – Audi A3 CTCC
22 – Petr Fulín – CZE – Mulsanne Racing – Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR
23 – Andrea Belicchi – ITA – Mulsanne Racing – Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR
27 – Bill O’Brien – HKG – Teamwork Motorsport – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
28 – Kevin Tse – HKG – Teamwork Motorsport – Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
33 – Jiang Tengyi – CHN – Linky Racing – Audi A3 CTCC
35 – Rafael Galiana – FRA – Target Competition – Honda Civic TCR
38 – Ho Hon Keong – MAC – Champ Motorsport – Honda Civic TCR
48 – Antti Buri – FIN – LMS Racing – SEAT León Cup Racer
50 – Josh Files – GBR – Target Competition – Honda Civic TCR
54 – James Nash – GBR – Craft-Bamboo Racing – SEAT León TCR
62 – Dusan Borkovic – SRB – B3 Racing Team – SEAT León TCR
65 – Douglas Khoo – MAS – Viper Niza Racing – SEAT León TCR
68 – Tang Chi Lun – HKG – Tang Chi Lun – Honda Civic TCR
70 – Mat’o Homola – SVK – B3 Racing Team – SEAT León TCR
74 – Pepe Oriola – SPN – Craft-Bamboo Racing – SEAT León TCR
77 – Sergey Afanasyev – RUS – Craft-Bamboo Racing – SEAT León TCR
78 – Kenneth Ma – HKG – FRD Racing Team – Ford Focus TCR
81 – Tiago Monteiro – POR – WestCoast Racing – Honda Civic TCR
83 – Tin Sritrai – THA – Team Thailand – Honda Civic TCR
97 – Edgar Lau – HKG – Asia Racing Team – SEAT León Cup Racer
99 – William Lok – HKG – Star Team – Mercedes-Benz C260 CTCC