TCR Series: Stefano Comini was the best
MOTORSPORT 2017 marked the end of the TCR International Series and the FIA WTCC. The most successful driver in the three-year TCR era was Stefano Comini from Ticino. The successor series will be the FIA World Touring Car Cup, which is based on the TCR regulations. The FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), the World Touring Car Championship, and the International TCR Series will become the FIA World [...]
The FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), the World Touring Car Championship, and the International TCR Series will become the FIA World Touring Car Cup (FIA WTCR) in 2018. A global championship with an FIA predicate for front-wheel drive touring cars with turbo engines up to a maximum displacement of two liters. A new World Touring Car Championship is to be created from 2020.
Following the withdrawal of Chevrolet five years ago with Geneva-based Alain Menu as one of the works drivers, the WTCC no longer had any Swiss participation. It was only at the last two races in Japan and Qatar that Kris Richard from Bern made two WTCC appearances in a Chevrolet RML Cruze following his ETCC title win in 2016. He immortalized himself in the annals with championship points with a brilliant sixth place in the final race on 1 December in Doha.
While the wickedly expensive 1600cc turbo touring cars from the WTCC are no longer used, the FIA World Touring Car Cup is the new premier class for the production-based TCR racing models (approx. 350 hp). The unstoppably booming TCR (acronym for Touring Car Racing) was created by former WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti.
The first race winner on March 28, 2015 as part of the Malaysian GP in Sepang was Stefano Comini with a Seat Leon TCR, a model derived from the Cup Racer. The man from Ticino had won the Seat Leon Eurocup the previous year.
Eight months later, Comini was also crowned the first international TCR champion in Macau. Despite switching teams and brands to Volkswagen, he successfully defended his title the following year with the VW Golf TCR from Leopard Racing.
Last year, he switched teams again and secured the first TCR triumph for an Audi RS3 LMS at Spa at the beginning of May. With the weight-unfavorably classified new car, Comini often had his back to the wall, but still managed to secure third place in the championship with two more wins this season, just one point behind second place.
Over the three years, a total of 32 events with two races each took place on 20 different race tracks in 16 countries. 144 drivers from 31 nations took part in at least one race, 23 of them won at least once.
Stefano Comini goes down in history as the most successful rider. The rider from southern Switzerland won twelve times, four more than the Spaniard Pepe Oriola. The two-time champion also collected by far the most points.
In 2018, his current team Comtoyou Racing from Belgium will intensify its collaboration with Audi Sport and field three Audi R3s. One will continue to be entrusted to Comini. There is no question that the soon-to-be 28-year-old from Ticino is now also aiming for his first FIA title thanks to the experience he gained in 2017.
