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Jaap van Lagen gets Leopard Racing seat for Monza

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Dutch racer Jaap van Lagen will make his debut in the TCR International Series this weekend after being called up by Leopard Racing to replace Rob Huff.

Huff joined the team for the third round of the season at Spa but is unable to complete at Monza due to his commitments with Münnich Motorsport in the WTCC.

With Jean-Karl Vernay now leading the way in the TCR standings after the Belgian event, the WRT-run Leopard Racing outfit has elected not to simply park its second Volkswagen Golf for the Monza weekend and instead will bring in van Lagen to support the Frenchman in his championship bid.

It will be van Lagen’s first outing in TCR machinery, and marks his return to the international touring car arena since July 2015 and his final WTCC outing with LADA.

“I’m very much looking forward to my first TCR event ever at Monza” he said, “especially because I’m joining a top team and I will be driving a competitive car.

“For me it’s a good opportunity to come back to Touring Car racing after a few years with LADA Sport. I hope I will be able do a good job and score important points for the team!”

Huff will return to the car alongside Vernay in Austria next month.