Pepe Oriola confirmed for W2 Racing in inaugural TCR South America season

Pepe Oriola has signed a deal for the Brazilian team W2 Racing and will drive a Honda Civic Type-R TCR in the inaugural TCR South America season.

“I am very happy to return to racing, which is my passion,” said Oriola.

The Spaniard raced for Brutal Fish Racing in the TCR Europe series last year, finishing 13th overall, and will drive the very same Honda this year.

“It has been a very complicated few months, since several offers have not come to fruition, but I have been preparing for this moment for weeks,” said Oriola.

“It is the same car with which I drove last season and I hope to add to the W2 team, which I thank, together with the TCR South America organisation for this new opportunity.”

Oriola was set for the new PURE ETCR series, but states that the deal fell through because he was too tall, 1,89 metres.

“I admit that I would have liked to face the ETCR, but staying in contention in an international championship is my goal,” said Oriola.

“Although it is not the first time that due to the height, I am left without a seat. It already happened to me when I was racing go-karts. I stopped dreaming about F1, to focus my career on touring cars, also because of my height.”

The first TCR South America race will take place on June 26-27 at Interlagos in Brazil.

“I am very excited to face the TCR South America competition. I don’t know my rivals yet, but I am excited to be able to race on circuits as legendary as Curitiba or Interlagos and I am passionate about the races in Uruguay, Argentina and Chile,” said Oroila.

“It will be a highly competitive field, but I am going to utilise my experience and give my very best.”