Kris Richard: Two premieres in eight days
WTCR START ON THE NORTH LINE This weekend, the TCR season begins for Kris Richard with the European Cup premiere on a Hyundai i30 N. A few days later, he will be allowed to start with an Asian team on a Honda Civic in the WTCR at the Nürburgring. This is what Kris Richard had been working towards - a start in the new FIA World Touring Car [...]
This is what Kris Richard had been working towards - a start in the new FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR), which replaces the previous World Touring Car Championship (FIA WTCC) and TCR International Series. Now the plan is becoming reality.
As part of next week's 24 Hours of Nürburgring, the 23-year-old from Berne will be allowed to compete with an as yet unnamed team in the WTCR Race of Germany on the Nordschleife. The three races, each over three laps of 25.3 km, will take place on Thursday (race 1) and Saturday (races 2 and 3).
Experience with Honda and good knowledge of the Nordschleife
Kris Richard knows the pitfalls of the Nordschleife and how to handle a TCR touring car very well. He already won a race on this circuit in 2016 with a Honda Civic TCR from Rikli Motorsport on his way to the FIA European Cup title.
Richard also refreshed his skills with a short-notice stint on an Audi R8 LMS in the qualifying race for the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Right off the bat, the Swiss was the fastest of the four drivers in Team Car Collection and helped bring the GT3 sports car to the finish in 16th place overall.
A wild card for the Swiss
The WTCR entry came about through the mediation of François Ribeiro, the head of promoter Eurosport Events. Richard receives one of two wild cards, which are normally only awarded to drivers from the country where the event is held.
The WTCR makes an exception for the Swiss. Audi factory driver René Rast received the first wild card. The current DTM champion is now taking a look at the TCR category.
Richard's team will be KCMG from Asia, who will field a new Honda Civic Type R TCR for him.
Kris Richard: "I would have liked to have competed with Target on a Hyundai, as I did in TCR Europe, but this was not possible for logistical reasons. But KCMG is a good solution and I'm looking forward to this race. Although I have to start as a guest driver with 20 kg of ballast in the car, I'm still hoping for a good result because of my knowledge of the Nordschleife, so that I can recommend myself to the WTCR teams."
Hyundai premiere in TCR Europe
After two WTCR events, Italian Gabriele Tarquini on a Hyundai i30 N TCR leads ahead of Frenchman Yann Ehrlacher on Honda Civic Type R TCR.
A good omen for Kris Richard, because he too will be starting with a Hyundai in the TCR Europe, which begins next weekend at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet. The European TCR Championship comprises seven events in seven different countries.
As already reported, Richard will be driving one of the three Hyundai cars from Target Competition. In 2017, he contested the ADAC TCR Germany with the South Tyroleans in a Honda Civic.
What are his expectations here?
Kris Richard: "Unlike others, I've never tested on the long version of Paul Ricard. But I'll be able to get used to it in the free practice sessions and then hope to be at the front in qualifying. So far, things have always gone well for me even without major testing. Nobody can assess the balance of power in the TCR Europe yet. In any case, I'm looking forward to the next two weeks with great excitement."
So do we.
