The 2015 TCR International Series returns to Austria this weekend for rounds 15 & 16 of the championship, which will be held at the Red Bull Ring, in place of the original venue on the calendar which was Argentina.
There have been several moves since the last event held at the Sochi Grand Prix track in Russia. Dane Michel Nykjaer has left Team Target Competition and the series due to budget issues, but he has made his intention clear that he wishes to return to the TCR International Series as soon as possible. However, for this weekend, the team has expanded to four cars as Stefano Comini and Andrea Belicchi are joined by Michaela Cerruti and Gabriele Marotta.
Ukrainian Igor Skuz returns to WestCoast Racing after stepping aside at Sochi and rejoins regular team-mates Gianni Morbidelli and Kevin Gleason. Zengo Motorsport is fielding its fourth different young driver during the 2015 season as Daniel Nagy joins this team to pilot their SEAT Leon Racer.
Having debuted in the season with the Audi TT-R and als running two SEAT Leon Racers, Liqui-Moly Engstler Motorsport have been testing their new Volkswagen Golf TCR entry in the run up to this weekends event with Team Principal and driver Franz Engstler on testing duties. It is hoped the car will be out this weekend.
On the subject of Success Ballast, the top three scoring drivers from Sochi will carry ballast at Spielberg. Lukoil Craft-Bamboo Racing‘s Jordi Gene will carry the maximum 30kgs, whilst his team-mate Pepe Oriola will carry 20kgs. The points difference in Sochi between the pair after points scored was just one point. Championship Leader Stefano Comini will carry 10kgs in his Team Target Competition SEAT Leon Racer.
The Salzburgring provided fast and close racing, with plenty of overtaking as the series visited there earlier in the year. As the Red Bull Ring offers similar fast straights and tighter corners, expect the likes of WestCoast Racing, Craft-Bamboo Racing and Team Target Competition to be at the head of the field in both of Sunday’s races.
