TCR: ASS launches European racing series
WEGBEREITER Under the leadership of Auto Sport Schweiz, the ASS TCR Hill Climb Series, consisting of six hill climbs in Central Europe, is organized. After several championships on circuits around the globe, the booming TCR class (touring cars with front-wheel drive and turbo engines up to two liters displacement) now also has a separate European classification on the hill. [...]
After several championships on circuits around the globe, the booming TCR class (touring cars with front-wheel drive and turbo engines up to two liters displacement) now also has a separate European classification on the mountain. Auto Sport Schweiz (ASS) is in charge.
The Swiss sports sovereignty organizes the "ASS TCR Hill Climb Series" together with promoter BZ Consult. The company of Brice Zufferey from Valais also takes care of the Swiss Rally Championship Junior and the Clio R3T Alps Trophy.
Fifth stop in St. Ursanne
The championship is an official international racing series sanctioned by the FIA. The calendar includes six events, with the venues deliberately chosen so that the races take place in Central Europe. In other words, in countries where an affinity with the TCR is guaranteed. In subsequent years, the "ASS TCR Hill Climb Series" can be expanded by up to eight events.
The season starts on the first weekend in May at the Eschdorf hill climb in Luxembourg. The fifth round is the Swiss European Championship round St. Ursanne-Les Rangiers.
Swiss pioneer
In Switzerland, the TCR has counted as its own division in the touring car mountain championship since 2018. Michel Zemp (Cupra) and Patrick Flammer (Opel Astra) delivered thrilling duels with record times. However, since full points would require eight participants or a place in the top 5 overall (which Flammer managed by a hair in Massongex), they never received full points.
Patrick Flammer showed up at the Swiss hillclimb races in 2018 with a new Opel Astra TCR.
Enrollments opened
Interested drivers can register now and until April 18, 2019 for the complete season or individual events. The number of participants is not limited. The aim is to see up to 20 TCR vehicles on the grid in this series in three to five years.
The following six events are scheduled in the 2019 calendar and approved by the organizers:
May 4/5: Eschdorf (L)
June 1/2: Verzegnis (I)
June 15/16: Beaujolais (F)
July 27/28: Hauenstein (D)
August 17/18: Les Rangiers (CH)
21/22 September: St. Agatha (A)
Further information as well as the link to the enrollment can be found on the newly established homepage
