TCR China stars join development programme
We are pleased to announce that two rising stars from the TCR China Series have joined our Customer Racing Junior Driver programme for the remainder of the 2023 season.
It is the first time that our programme has included drivers from the highly competitive series. The addition reaffirms our commitment to the TCR category and recognises the growing importance and high level of TCR China.
Our Customer Racing Manager Andrea Cisotti said: “TCR China has grown into a very important market for our Customer Racing department. The growth in the grid for this season has been impressive, as has the performance of the Elantra N TCR drivers in the field.”
New faces
Our two new Junior Drivers – Max Hart and Yang Xiao Wei – compete in an Elantra N TCR for the Z Speed N team in TCR China. They currently lie ninth and 13th in the standings heading into this weekend’s fourth round in Shanghai (September 8-10).
Both drivers have taken excellent results over the first three rounds of the 2023 season. Max, a previous TCR UK winner in the i30 N TCR, has adapted quickly to the Elantra N TCR and the Chinese circuits. The Irishman had a pair of retirements in the opening weekend but has since recovered well, scoring a best result of fourth at the Zhuzhou International Circuit.
The best result for Xiao Wei came in the opening weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit, where he finished fifth in Race 2. He is currently in his third season of TCR China with the Z Speed squad and his second driving the Elantra N TCR. Xiao Wei is a previous Amateur class winner in the series and was triumphant at the final race of 2022, held at the famous Macau Street Circuit.
Expert guidance and mentoring
During race weekends Max and Xiao Wei will receive technical support and guidance from our experienced Customer Racing engineers. They will also be mentored away from the track by 2018 WTCR winner Gabriele Tarquini, as well as offered additional training to provide the skills needed to forge a professional career in motorsport.
The ultimate aim of our Junior Driver programme is to help young drivers climb the ladder of the national, regional and international TCR series towards the Kumho TCR World Tour.
“Both drivers have already put in excellent performances this season with the Z Speed N team and with the additional support of the Customer Racing Junior Driver programme, I am sure we can help them build on a strong start to this year, and into the future,” added Andrea.
Our Junior Drivers will be in action this weekend (September 8-10) as the TCR China season continues at Shanghai International Circuit.
