There is hope that WestCoast Racing will fare a little better as the TCR International Series travels into Portugal for Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2015 season at Autódromo Internacional Algarve (9-10 May).
The fourth instalment of the 2015 TCR International Series will be hosted by Autódromo Internacional Algarve – a super-modern facility that combines a world-class race circuit, Karting track, off-road park and a hotel and apartment complex, situated near the Portuguese coastal town of Portimão.
Commonly known as the Portimão Circuit, it’s a popular venue among drivers for its technical 4.69km configuration, and it’s hoped that WestCoast Racing’s drivers will have a chance to enjoy the track and be in a position to compete at the sharp end of the field in both qualifying and race trim.
Series organisers tampered with the Balance of Performance (BoP) prior to the championship’s European debut in Valencia one week ago (1-3 May) and the weight penalty imposed on the Swedish WestCoast Racing team left its trio of Honda Civic TCRs with a significant performance deficit, particularly to its SEAT rivals.
Former Formula 1 racer, turned ‘tin-top’ stalwart Gianni Morbidelli showed his class and experience to conclude a trying weekend with a top three result, while his younger American teammate Kevin Gleason nursed his troubled car home in fourth place.
However, penalties handed out to several of WestCoast’s competitors for over-zealous driving contributed to the results and it is hoped that the BoP will be redressed in time for the Portuguese leg of the TCR International Series to give its drivers, Morbidelli, Gleason and Ukrainian Igor Skuz, a fair shot at the winners’ rostrum.
WestCoast Racing Team Principal, Greger Petersson, said: “Everybody involved with WestCoast Racing is hopeful prior to the next round of the TCR International Series at Autódromo Internacional Algarve and we’re quite certain that we will perform better than in Valencia last weekend. As always, the team is working flat-out to perfect our cars’ performance and reliability, so we’re looking forward to a positive weekend in Portimão.”
For more information on WestCoast Racing, please visit the officialwww.westcoastracing.se website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page and follow@WestCoast Racing on Twitter.