Kantadhee Kusiri replaces Giacomo Altoè at WestCoast Racing

TCR Asia points leader Kantadhee Kusiri will take the place of Giacomo Altoè at the WestCoast Racing team this weekend at Buriram, Thailand – driving the team’s second Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR alongside motorsport veteran Gianni Morbidelli this weekend.

The Swedish team head to Thailand on a high after a perfect weekend two months’ ago in Germany, when Morbidelli took pole position and both race victories, scoring more points in one weekend than he had all season.

In spite of this, after a tricky start to the year, 16-year-old rookie Giacomo Altoe has confirmed his departure mid-season to the rival M1RA team, which run the Honda Civic TCR.

The team have now confirmed his replacement will be 24-year-old Kantadhee Kusiri, who currently leads the TCR Asia standings where he also races a Golf GTI TCR for Engstler Motorsport, who also made his TCR International Series one year ago at Buriram for Billionaire Boys Racing, qualifying in the top ten and finishing sixth in the first race, marking a competitive debut.

“It’s a pleasure to have Kantadhee with us for this round of the championship,” said team manager James Nixon. “His record in TCR Asia is impressive and he will be a great partner for Gianni this weekend.

“We are aiming high after the fantastic results in Germany. The Golf GTI TCR is working very well at the moment and we need to make the most of every opportunity to score well with both cars.”