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WORLD AND LIFE
TCR 2018
This is your first year driving a
TCR car, but what experience of
‘tin tops’ did you have before this
season?
“I've always been a fan of close
Touring Car racing and I was keen to
look at this route. In the UK the
starting options are either the Renault
Clio Cup or the MINI Challenge and,
after testing both, it was easy to
select the JCW MINI because it's more
of a 'built' racing car than the Clio.
Last year in the MINI was great; it
was real door-to-door racing and also
fast and I was really happy to run at
the front in my first year in cars.
Finishing the season as Vice-
Champion and winning both the
Rookie and Retailers’ Cups confirmed
that we made the right decision.”
There were a number of
championships you could have
contested, so why did you choose
TCR Europe?
"We initially considered a second year
in the MINI, but our thoughts quickly
turned to TCR when I tested with
Target Competition at Adria in their
championship-winning Honda Civic
Type-R. The test couldn't have gone
better and when the TCR Europe Series
was announced, we were attracted to
the iconic circuits and increased
profile of the events for our sponsors.
To get sponsorship for motorsport is
difficult but with the manufacturing
Three questions to…
Reece Barr
focus on TCR and the iconic format of
the TCR Europe campaign being
'almost a world series' makes it much
easier and to move from a national
championship to a continental
championship for my second year in
cars is just magic"
Looking back at 2018, what are
your thoughts about your first TCR
season?
“I've settled in well at Target. It was
easy to start negotiations with the
team as double TCR Germany
Champions and they're a great 'family
operated' team - with both, Honda or
Hyundai, they can consistently win.
The i30 N is just a fantastic racing car,
which Hyundai have put a huge effort
into to ensure that it runs at the front.
I'm really happy with my pace against
some very experienced champions and
I’m now really looking forward to
building on the lessons learned this
year as we negotiate a deal for 2019. I
know exactly what I need to focus on
over the winter and it's great to have
the development space and golden
opportunity to race on such fantastic
circuits. My next goal is to enter a
relationship with a leading
manufacturing and racing brand so
that I can further development my
skills in motorsport racing and
business.”