It may not have a long history but in a short space of time, TCR has become a global motorsport category that may well make its place in the annals of motor racing. First introduced in 2014 the touring car category has a multitude of series throughout the world with the cars based on four or five door production vehicles, powered by 2.0 litre turbocharged engines.
In New Zealand, we have seen a trickle of cars come into the country with the promise of our own TCR NZ series. Unfortunately, the series has hiccupped on its way to fruition and now we will have a one-round NZ Touring Car Championship title decider at Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell, at the end of April. The result, a three-race winner-takes-all concept, may in the end be a real winner.
The beauty about these TCR cars, is that they also have a place competing in Class B (200-3500cc) in the Three and One-Hour classes in both the Golden Homes North and Carter’s Tyres South Island Endurance Series’. This culminates in the annul one-round NZ Endurance Championship. This season will see nine endurance races available from April through to November.
As Paul Radisich points out, the category is a great stepping stone with opportunities for young drivers coming through the ranks to head overseas. It immediately puts them on a level playing field. Win at home and this can get you recognised overseas.
Greg Murphy adds to this and sees that a domestic TCR championship in NZ will do a lot for our connection with Australian motorsport, also giving our drivers an opportunity to head to across the Tasman.
While the pros and cons of the category can be debated for a long time, there is some real potential that can be unfolded, particularly over the coming season. We now have a grid for some serious racing at Highlands for the Allied Petroleum TCR Championship.
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