Global Honda debut headlines Snetterton entry
The global debut of the Honda Civic Type R FLR headlines a 24-car entry for the opening meeting of the new TCR UK season this weekend at Snetterton.
Defending champion Chris Smiley will become the first driver to race the car after a successful shakedown test at Donington Park earlier this week, with his Restart Racing-run FL5 being one of a number of new cars that will be appearing in the series for the first time.
Alongside the Northern Irishman, team-mate Scott Sumpton drives the only other Honda on the grid as he moves over to an FK7 Type R, having run in an Essex & Kent Motorsport Hyundai last year.
The former champions revert to a single-car programme this season with Bradley Kent at the wheel of the Veloster N TCR that his title-winning brother Lewis raced last year, whilst there is also a single car programme for newcomers Pro Alloys Racing – fielding an i30 N for Alistair Camp.
Area Motorsport runs the remaining four Hyundais in the field, with Bruce Winfield, Adam Shepherd and Alex Ley all in i30s, and Josh Files giving the Elantra its debut in the series. The planned entry for Jamie Tonks in a similar car will now not take place, with his car having been placed up for sale.
Four examples of the Gen2 Audi RS 3 LMS will debut in Norfolk, with Paul Sheard Racing and Rob Boston Racing fielding two cars apiece. Garry Townsend and Oliver Cottam will race for the former, with the latter making its series debut with Jac Constable and Joe Marshall.
MPHR continues with the older version of the Audi for Brad Hutchison and Steve Gales, with Darron Lewis also sticking with the car after an outing towards the end of 2022.
Both old and new version of the Cupra TCR feature on the entry for the opening round – with Rick Kerry the only driver using the older version of the car as he debuts in the machine used by Tonks last year.
Matthew Wilson is the only driver with prior experience of the Leon Competición as he heads into year two in the series with JWB Motorsport, where he is now joined by George Jaxson, whilst Zest Racecar Engineering returns to the series with two cars for Carl Boardley and Dan Kirby.
Jenson Brickley’s privateer car and Chameleon Motorsport’s Lewis Brown round out the Cupra contingent – with the latter now running alone after Neil Trotter elected not to race.
The grid is then rounded out by Darelle Wilson’s Vauxhall Astra, with DW Racing running a single car despite suggesting it could add a second machine if an interested driver could be found.
Qualifying for the opening rounds is scheduled for 14:15 on Saturday, before the two races on Sunday at 13:20 and 17:20.
TCR UK – Snetterton Entry List:
Chris Smiley – Restart Racing – Honda Civic Type R
Bradley Kent – Essex & Kent Motorsport – Hyundai Veloster N TCR
Josh Files – Area Motorsport – Hyundai Elantra N TCR
Jac Constable – Rob Boston Racing – Audi RS 3 LMS Gen2
Dan Kirby – Zest Racecar Engineering – Cupra Leon Competición
Callum Newsham – JH Racing – Hyundai i30 N TCR
Brad Hutchison – MPHR – Audi RS 3 LMS
Scott Sumpton – Restart Racing – Honda Civic Type R
George Jaxon – JWB Motorsport – Cupra Leon Competición
Matthew Wilson – JWB Motorsport – Cupra Leon Competición
Steve Gales – MPHR – Audi RS 3 LMS
Bruce Winfield – Area Motorsport – Hyundai i30 N TCR
Lewis Brown – Chameleon Motorsport – Cupra Leon Competición
Carl Boardley – Zest Racecar Engineering – Cupra Leon Competición
Alistair Camp – Pro Alloys Racing – Hyundai i30 N TCR
Darelle Wilson – DW Racing – Vauxhall Astra TCR
Rick Kerry – AFM Racing – Cupra TCR
Alex Ley – Area Motorsport with Daniel James – Hyundai i30 N TCR
Oliver Cottam – Paul Sheard Racing – Audi RS 3 LMS Gen2
Joe Marshall – Rob Boston Racing – Audi RS 3 LMS Gen2
Adam Shepherd – Area Motorsport – Hyundai i30 N TCR
Garry Townsend – Paul Sheard Racing – Audi RS 3 LMS Gen2
Jenson Brickley – Jenson Brickley Racing – Cupra Leon Competición
Darron Lewis – Darron Lewis Racing – Audi RS 3 LMS
