WTCR: Premiere for Vukovic Motorsport 🎥

Zolder is the first of only six WTCR events in the exceptional year 2020. All races - two to three per weekend - will be broadcast by Eurosport.

271 days after Hungary's Norbert Michelisz took the 2019 WTCR crown, this year's World Touring Car Cup kicks off at the Omloop van Terlamen in Zolder, Belgium. It's no wonder that those drivers who haven't already kept themselves in practice in national championships are seeing the start of the season right.

First Swiss team to represent Renault Sport TCR interests
It will definitely be special for a Swiss: Milenko Vuković from St. Margrethen. Following the participation of drivers such as Stefano Comini, Alain Menu and Kris Richard (the last so far in 2018 on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in a Honda Civic), the man from the Rhine Valley is now representing the Swiss colors with his Renault team in the FIA World Cup for TCR touring cars.

The man from the Rhine Valley has been intensively involved with racing technology for more than 20 years. As a successful driver, Vuković is also very familiar with it.

Over the past three years, the ambitious team owner and small-block designer has concentrated on developing the Renault Mégane RS for TCR series - with the French manufacturer's blessing, of course. However, the Mégane RS TCR is only conditionally approved by organizer WSC until the technical requirements for obtaining the WTCR car passport are met.

Thanks to the focus on Europe
After several exclamation marks in TCR Europe and TCR Australia, Vuković Motorsport now feels ready to compete in the highest touring car league under TCR regulations starting this weekend in Belgium. This was made possible by the subsequent opening for additional teams in the racing season, which is limited to six events in Europe.

Milenko Vuković: "Since the beginning of the project, WTCR participation has been our window goal. Because all the races now take place in Europe, it makes sense to seize this opportunity as early as 2020."

He is aware that the stakes are high here. That's why he doesn't set himself unrealistic goals.

Milenko Vuković: "We want to deliver consistently good results. We know the high level of the WTCR, but the whole team has worked hard to keep us competitive. We're really excited to bring the Renault brand to the FIA World Touring Car Cup."

Youngest driver in the field
The regular driver is Northern Irishman Jack Young. At 18, he is the youngest driver in the field and the third youngest driver in the history of the WTCR and its predecessor series WTCC. Young won the British Renault Clio Cup in 2019 and competed for Vuković in the Barcelona race in TCR Europe in September.

After two fourth-place finishes, the then 17-year-old recommended himself for further tasks at the Rheintaler. These already included further development work on the Renault Mégane RS TCR with a view to 2020.

The second driver in Belgium is Australian Dylan O'Keeffe. The 22-year-old otherwise races in TCR Australia, which is still on break until October. As O'Keeffe is receiving a wild card for his first participation in a car race in Europe, he would not be eligible for points if he made it into the top 5 of qualifying (very unlikely) or top 15 in one of the two races (very possible).

Also premiere of Goodyear and the new Cupra Leon
New for 2020 is Goodyear as official tire partner. Two Cupra Racing factory-supported teams debut with the all-new Cupra Leon Competición. In Italy, Salvatore Tavano already leads the championship contested with the Spanish TCR model, as does Robert Dahlgren in Sweden.

The list of drivers enrolled and eligible to score points in the 2020 WTCR trunk season includes 20 drivers from eleven nations competing on seven different makes. Eight drivers are younger than 25, four are rookies.

List of registered WTCR teams

• 1 Norbert Michelisz (H), BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Squadra Corse, Hyundai i30 N TCR
• 7 Jack Young (GB), Vuković Motorsport, Renault Mégane RS TCR**
• 8 Luca Engstler (D), Engstler Hyundai N Liqui Moly Racing Team, Hyundai i30 N TCR
• 9 Attila Tassi (H), ALL-INKL.DE Münnich Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R TCR
• 11 Thed Björk (S), Cyan Performance, Lynk & Co 03 TCR
• 12 Santiago Urrutia (USA), Cyan Performance, Lynk & Co 03 TCR
• 16 Gilles Magnus (B), Comtoyou Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS
• 17 Nathanaël Berthon (F), Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport, Audi RS 3 LMS
• 18 Tiago Monteiro (P), ALL-INKL.DE Münnich Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R TCR
• 29 Néstor Girolami (RA), ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R TCR
• 30 Gabriele Tarquini (I), BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Squadra Corse, Hyundai i30 N TCR
• 31 Tom Coronel (NL), Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport, Audi RS 3 LMS
• 55 Bence Boldizs (H), Zengő Motorsport, CUPRA Leon Competición
• 68 Yann Ehrlacher (F), Cyan Racing, Lynk & Co 03 TCR
• 69 Jean-Karl Vernay (F), Team Mulsanne, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR by Romeo Ferraris
• 86 Esteban Guerrieri (RA), ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R TCR
• 88 Nicky Catsburg (NL) Engstler Hyundai N Liqui Moly Racing Team, Hyundai i30 N TCR
• 96 Mikel Azcona (E), Zengő Motorsport, CUPRA Leon Competición
• 99 Gábor Kismarty-Lechner (H), Zengő Motorsport, CUPRA Leon Competición
• 100 Thed Björk (S), Cyan Racing, Lynk & Co 03 TCR

They will be joined in Zolder by Dylan O'Keeffe on a second Renault Mégane RS TCR from Vukovic Motorsport with start number #33.

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