Photo: WTCC, TCR Media

Tom Coronel: “TCR/WTCC merger the best thing I’ve seen in the last ten years”

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Tom Coronel is one of the most qualified drivers in the world to comment on the rumoured merger between WTCC and TCR. The Dutchman has taken part in several races of TCR Benelux, as well as the Spa event of the TCR International Series, as well as being one of the most loved characters in the World Touring Car Championship paddock ever since he joined the series in 2005.

“I think it (the merger) is the only solution to make touring car racing survive,” said the ROAL Motorsport driver to TouringCarTimes. “Marcello Lotti did a mega job in the last three years and it was just a matter of seeing how they would match. The rumour is that it will happen, I think it’s the best thing I’ve seen in the last ten years of motor racing. I’m really happy, also for myself, because I’m in a car that can’t fight against the factory teams.”

In fact, the Dutchman believes that the TCR cars allow drivers to race more aggressively, which would prove popular for the fans.

“As a clever race driver you can do very well in TCR, so I think I have a chance to be on the podium with that rule set, and also for the fans, because it’s real racing. We can touch each other, you can open the gap a little bit, if we do it with the TC1 car the whole front falls off and you can’t get close to the car in front because of the downforce.”

Coronel trusts that TCR’s Marcello Lotti and WTCC’s François Ribeiro will find the best solution in the interest of both championships.

“I’ve driven a Honda Civic in TCR Benelux and I really loved it, I love driving those cars. For me it’s a logical thing to do. I knew in my heart this would happen, it was just a matter of time. If the two boys (Marcello Lotti and François Ribeiro) are clever, which I know they are, then they will find an agreement. If they don’t they will lose, and I know they both want to win, so what’s the problem?”

The six-time WTCC race winner thinks manufacturer teams don’t necessarily need to be forbidden, as long as they have the same materials any privateer can have.

“They can be allowed as long as they have exactly the same material as the privateers, then it would be fine. At one stage in the WTCC I had a normally aspirated engine and the factory cars had a turbo diesel, which is not right. The FIA has the tools to check that the materials are equal, and that’s what I like.”