WestCoast Racing is taking a win or bust approach into the four remaining rounds of the 2016 TCR International Series, the first of which will be held at Thailand’s state-of-the-art Chang International Circuit in Buriram (27-28 August).
The Swedish squad has emerged from a troubled start to the year as a regular visitor to the TCR International podium, with Mikhail Grachev taking his wins tally to three in the most recent instalment of the championship at Sochi Autodrom in his native Russia last month.
A combative podium result for Gianni Morbidelli ensured he remained in sixth in the Drivers’ standings with a surmountable 38-point deficit to the leader, therefore he and his WestCoast Racing team feel they have nothing to lose by pulling out all the stops and chasing victories in each of the four remaining rounds.
As in 2015, the TCR International Series holds a coveted slot on the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix support bill and the season will conclude with visits to Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit and Macau’s legendary Circuito da Guia, but not before tackling Thailand’s Chang International Circuit.
“This has been a rollercoaster of a season in terms of results and I have certainly had my fair share of misfortune,” said Morbidelli. “However, that I’m still in the hunt makes me believe that we can mount a strong challenge for the TCR International title with the support of WestCoast Racing, so I’ll be pushing hard to reach the top step in the four remaining rounds of the season, with the view of overhauling our rivals for the championship lead. There is a lot of racing to be done and anything can happen between now and the season finale”
WestCoast Racing Team Manager, James Nixon, said: “That we are not out of the fight with nothing to lose means we can only try to win all races from now until the end of the season in Macau. Everybody involved with WestCoast Racing has a clear aim to achieve that and all of the staff and drivers are ready to fight to the finish. This is ours to win, not lose!”
A pair of TCR International Series free practice sessions will be held from 11.00 and 13.00 on Saturday (27 August), with the two-part qualifying session later that same day at 15.30 local time and the races at 12.35 and 14.05 the following day (Sunday 28 August).