A strong field of 18 cars for TCR Spain’s opening at Jarama

After a couple of pre-season events in February, the TCR Spain championship confirms to be in very good health with an entry list of 18 cars for its opening event at Madrid’s Jarama circuit.

In his defence of the title he won last year, Enric Bordás has switched from the Monlau Motorsport CUPRA Leon Competición to an Audi RS 3 LMS run by Auto Club RC2 Vallés. His is part of a trio of cars that RC has entered with Sergio Casalins – fourth in last year’s championship – and Victor Fernández joining Bordás.

Its champion gone, Monlau has reacted by entering three new CUPRA Leon VZ cars for Erik Zabala, the winner of last year’s Cup class, Eric Gené, who claimed his maiden win in February at Valencia, and Italian veteran Sandro Pelatti.

The third force in the championship is the ALM Motorsport Honda contingent that includes the 2023 TCR South America champion Ignacio Montenegro, who also won TCR Spain’s pre-season series, last year’s runner-up Álvaro García and Estonian driver Sven Karuse, the vice-champion in the 2023 Baltic Touring Car Championship. Montenegro and García will be at the wheel of Civic FL5 cars, with Karuse in the previous FK7 model.

Other serious contenders are Andorran lady driver Amalia Vinyes and Italian youngster Filippo Barberi, both in Audi cars for Baporo Motorsport and Aikoa Racing respectively, but especially TCR UK race winner and third in the 2023 championship Jenson Brickley in a CUPRA Leon VZ run by his own team.

Timetable (CEST)

Saturday – Qualifying: 15:00

Sunday – Race 1: 10:35

Sunday – Race 2: 16:40

Entry list

3 - Álvaro García (ALM Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FL5)

7 - Sandro Pelatti (Monlau Motorsport, CUPRA Leon VZ)

8 - Erik Zabala (Monlau Motorsport, CUPRA Leon VZ)

10 - Sergio Casalins (Auto Club RC2 Vallés, Audi RS 3 LMS)

11 - Enric Bordás (Auto Club RC2 Vallés, Audi RS 3 LMS)

13 - Amalia Vinyes Dabád (Baporo Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS)

15 - Sandra Gómez (Motor Club Sabadell, Peugeot 308 Racing Cup)

19 - Eric Gené (Monlau Motorsport, CUPRA Leon VZ)

22 - Ana Carrasco (Motor Club Sabadell, Peugeot 308 Racing Cup)

23 - Ignacio Montenegro (ALM Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FL5)

24 - Miguel Villacieros (Escuderia Baix Empordá, CUPRA TCR)

38 - Filippo Barberi (Aikoa Racing , Audi RS 3 LMS)

41 - Víctor Fernández (Auto Club RC2 Vallés, Audi RS 3 LMS)

70 - Santiago Castilla (Escuderia Baix Empordá, CUPRA TCR DSG)

77 - Busian Fontan (RX Pro Racing, Hyundai i30 N)

79 - Sven Karuse (ALM Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FK7)

95 - Marco Aguilera (Auto Club RC2 Vallés, Audi RS 3 LMS)

246 - Jenson Brickley (Jenson Brickley Racing, CUPRA Leon VZ)

Picture: TCR Spain