The TCR International Series resumes this weekend after the summer break, when rounds 17 and 18 take place at Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit as support races of the Formula 1 Grand Prix. The event marks the first time the championship has run on a street circuit and at night. Just as was the case for the first two race meetings of the TCR International Series’ maiden season, within the Grands Prix of Malaysia and China, the timetable has been adjusted to fit into the F1 schedule. Track activity will begin on Friday, September 18 th, with back-to-back Free Practice sessions of 25 minutes each. The 30-minute Qualifying session will take place Saturday afternoon, September 19 th, followed by Race 1 at 22.25, immediately after the F1 Qualifying. The second race will open Sunday’s programme at 16.30. The circuit is laid out in the Marina Bay harbour zone and passes through some of the most famous of Singapore’s locations, such as Republic Boulevard, Stamford Road, the Padang with the City Hall, Anderson Bridge, the Esplanade, the Float Stadium and the Singapore Flyer. It has hosted the F1 Grand Prix since its inauguration in 2008.
TCR in Singapore – the event at a glance
Lap distance: 5.06 km
Race distance: 10 laps (50.65 km) or 25 minutes
Start: standing
Grids: determined by Qualifying results (Q1+Q2) with top-10 reversed for Race 2
Timetable:
Friday, 15:00/15:25 – Free Practice 1
Friday, 15:50/16:15 – Free Practice 2
Saturday, 15:45/16:15 – Qualifying (Q1 + Q2)
Saturday, 22:25 – Race 1
Sunday, 16:30 – Race 2
all times: local (GMT+8)
A record field of 24 cars to race at Singapore
The TCR International Series features a record field of 24 cars at Singapore. Besides the addition of the Top Run Subaru and the competitors of TCR Asia, there has been some shuffling in the teams’ line-ups. René Münnich returns to WestCoast Racing after taking part in the first two events of the year in Malaysia and China; Tomas Engström rejoins the Liqui Moly Team Engstler for which he drove in Sochi, but this time he’s at the wheel of the new Volkswagen Golf TCR; young Dutchman Loris Hezemans, the son of former touring car legend Toine Hezemans, makes his TCR debut with Target Competition; Hong Kong architect Frank Yu returns to the Craft-Bamboo Racing SEAT he drove in Sepang; Fernando Monje comes back as well, in the Campos Racing Opel Astra OPC he drove to an outstanding third place at Monza. The Spanish team has still to announce the name of its second driver.
The Top Run-built Subaru WRX is ready for its debut
Following a successful test at Franciacorta, in Northern Italy, last week, the Subaru WRX built by Top Run Motorsport makes its first appearance at Singapore. The Italian team has accomplished an outstanding exploit, designing, building and developing the first racing car in less than five months.
“Our team personnel have done wonders to meet the tight schedule, and this despite the summer break which delayed deliveries from a number of suppliers,” said team principal Antonio Agnello.
Top Run has appointed Luca Rangoni to drive at Singapore after he shared testing duties with Roberto Russo and Gian Maria Gabbiani.
“We finally chose Luca because we have already worked together successfully in the past, when he helped us to develop the Mercedes in the Supercars series. And furthermore, his vast and varied experience with different kinds of cars in top-level international competitions makes us confident that he can help the team to meet with the expectations we have for our TCT debut,” team manager Renato Russo explained.
In a successful racing career spanning twenty-five years, Rangoni has proved to be competitive in both single-seaters (he was crowned Italian F3 champion in 1995) and tin-top cars (he claimed three titles in the Renault Clio Eurocup and competed in several seasons of both the FIA World and European Touring Car championships).
“I had a good feeling during the test. Though it was a brand new car, my first impression was very encouraging. The engine is great, has the power and the torque, but we have to work on braking and traction to optimize the balance. Racing at Singapore will put all of us at the same level, because no one knows the track. Although I’m no longer an apprentice, I am extremely excited. I feel honoured and lucky for this opportunity to develop a new car in a new championship and at a Formula 1 event!” said Rangoni.
TCR Asia joins the International Series at Singapore
The TCR Asia Series successfully kicked off its maiden season ten days ago at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia. Now the championship faces three further events – Singapore, Buriram and Macau – in which its competitors will race together with those of the TCR International Series.
The Malaysian opener was dominated by the Asia Racing Team that won all three races with Macau’s Rodolfo Àvila (Race 1) and Philippe Descombes from France (Races 2 and 3). However, the Chinese team has not yet announced the names of the drivers for Singapore. The TCR Asia entry list also includes two JAS-built Honda Civic cars run by Prince Racing with Michael Choi and Kenneth Lau at the wheel, one Ford Focus built and run by FRD Ford HK Racing Team and driven by the experienced Kenneth Ma, and a trio of SEAT León cars entered by the Roadstar Racing Team for Filipe de Souza, Samson Chan and George Chou.
Pepe Oriola to carry 30 kilos of success ballast
Pepe Oriola who jumped to the top of the standings after the latest race meeting at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring carries the maximum success ballast of 30 kilos at Singapore. The young Spaniard and his Craft-Bamboo Lukoil SEAT León scored 33 points in Austria finishing third and second in the two races.
Target Competition’s Stefano Comini, who is currently second in Drivers’ Championship only two points behind Oriola, pocketed 29 points at the Red Bull Ring where he inherited victory in the first race after Gianni Morbidelli was handed a penalty. Comini’s SEAT is laden by 20 kilos of success ballast in Singapore.
Oriola’s teammate Jordi Gené was the third best scorer in Austria (27 points) and races at Singapore with 10 kilos of extra weight.
Both races to be streamed live from Singapore
Fans will be able to watch live on the Internet both the TCR International Series races from Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Live streaming will be available on the series’ official website www.tcr-series.com .
Streaming of Race 1 will begin at 22.20 local time (16.20 in Central Europe) on Saturday, while Race 2 will be shown from 16.25 local time (10.25 CET) on Sunday.