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IBÉRICO
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Historically, the two nations have
been neighbours that have virtually
ignored each other, albeit being
fierce rival empires in the age of
geographical discoveries and
colonization. Only in recent decades,
with the process of European
integration, have the two countries
started becoming closer friends.
As obvious as it may seem,
cooperation in motorsports between
the two countries has rarely
happened in the past, with the
exception of some attempts in GT
racing and Formula Ford.
“This is why I think this TCR common
project is very interesting and can
make history,”
emphatically states
Paulo Ferreira (Full Eventos), the
promoter of TCR Portugal who
is co-fathering the venture with his
TCR Spain counterpart, Francesc
Gutierrez (V-Line Org).
“Sharing
events, circuits, teams and drivers can
only be beneficial for the two sides
and we really want to be at the
forefront of TCR’s expansion and
implementation. The TCR Ibérico
aims at being in the top three TCR
series in Europe!
”
Francesc Gutiérrez is no less
enthusiastic about the prospects and
has in sight a glorious reference
point, the former Spanish Touring
Car Championship (CET) which
acquired international status in the
80s-90s. “
It’s interesting to see
,” says
Gutierrez, “
that we are launching the
TCR Ibérico series exactly 30 years
from the demise of the CET. It is that
spirit that we want to revive. Joining
forces with our Portuguese friends was
the most logical thing to do
.”
Gutiérrez hopes that TCR Ibérico and
TCR Spain will contribute to
revitalizing the Spanish motorsports
scene: “
We have many great tracks,
but we have been left with no
national series. The racing scene in
the last decade has been almost a
desert.
”
Launched in 2016 as a class within
the CER (the Endurance Spanish
Championship), TCR Spain is now
adopting the sprint race format,
“
which, to me, is the most
appropriate for TCR cars,
” Gutierrez
explains.
The TCR Ibérico series will run over
four events; two in Spain (Jarama
and Jerez de la Frontera) and two in
Portugal (Estoril and Vila Real), each
featuring two races of a duration
comprising between 30 and 40
minutes. A single driver per car will
be the basis, and Hankook will be
the tyre supplier. A number of those
events will also be valid for TCR
Portugal and TCR Spain which will
continue to run in parallel to TCR
Ibérico, both featuring 5 events.
Paulo
Ferreira