Photo: TCR

Luca Engstler secures Slovakia wild card

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Luca Engstler will make his debut on the WTCR – World Touring Car Cup next weekend in Slovakia after securing a wild card drive for the third meeting of the season.

The teenager will be at the wheel of a Hyundai i30 N TCR run by Team Engstler, the same team that is running his programme in TCR Asia and which ran him in TCR Germany last year.

Engstler is also racing a Hyundai in TCR Europe this season, albeit with the M1RA team.

The 19-year-old already has TCR titles to his name in Asia, Malaysia and the Middle East and admitted he was delighted to now get a chance to compete on the world stage.

“I’m more than happy and proud to race at the Slovakia Ring in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO,” he said. “Of course I am so happy to get this opportunity and I am really thankful for the support. To join an official FIA series at 19 years old is just amazing. There is a bit of pressure and I am already kind of nervous, but I try to take the positives and learn a lot.

“My goal for sure is not to jump on the podium there, we have to be realistic so my goal is to learn a lot and finish all races and just try to see and enjoy the WTCR weekend. With the 20 kilos we have as a wildcard, it is going to be even more tough, but I try to do my best. Learning a lot is the key for me.”