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The TCR UK Touring Car Championship, known as the Touring Car Trophy from 2019 to 2021, is a touring car racing series based in the United Kingdom. It features production-based touring cars built to TCR specifications, and formerly also NGTC and Super 2000 specifications from 2019 to 2021. The championship is aimed as a feeder category to the BTCC and operated by Stewart Lines' Maximum Group.
 | |
| Category | Touring cars |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Inaugural season | 2018 |
| Drivers | 34 (2022) |
| Teams | 21 (2022) |
| Constructors | Audi, Cupra, Honda, Hyundai, Subaru, Vauxhall, VW |
| Tyre suppliers | Goodyear |
| Drivers' champion |  Chris Smiley |
| Official website | https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/ |
 Current season | |
History
editThe TCR UK Touring Car Championship was first established in 2018 and was organised by the BRSCC.[1] TCR UK was introduced as a feeder series for the more popular and expensive British Touring Car Championship although there was no direct link between the two series'. Interest in the new championship initially appeared high, with organisers discussing the possibility of qualifying races in order to accommodate the projected large grids.[2][3] However, in reality grid numbers were low throughout the year with only 5 drivers competing at every event and the grid peaking at 13 cars in the season opener at Silverstone.[4] Dan Lloyd took the inaugural championship in dominant fashion, winning 7 of the first 8 races and taking 4 pole positions.
The championship continued to struggle in 2019 and a few weeks before the first scheduled round at Snetterton, and with only 3 entries announced, the decision was made to combine the championship with Stewart Lines Touring Car Trophy. Lines would also takeover the running and organisation of the championship. The Touring Car Trophy was established in 2019 for older Super 2000 and NGTC machinery which was no longer eligible for the British Touring Car Championship. TCR UK would now be a class within the Touring Car Trophy with drivers in TCR cars able to fight for two championships.[5] Henry Neal, son of 3 time BTCC champion Matt Neal, won the inaugural Touring Car Trophy driving a NGTC specification Honda Civic Type R while James Turkington, younger brother of another BTCC champion, Colin Turkington, fought off Lewis Kent to win the TCR UK class.[6]
For 2020 the Volkswagen Racing Cup also joined the grid. Henry Neal and Lewis Kent dominated the season with Neal defending his title and Kent clinching his first TCR UK class title.[7]
In 2021 the championship began to recover with entries reaching double figures for the first time since 2018. By seasons end the grid was entirely made up of TCR cars with Lewis Kent taking his second title ahead of 2020 Civic Cup champion Bruce Winfield.[8]
The Touring Car Trophy was dissolved for 2022 with TCR UK once again becoming a standalone championship.[9] The series experienced its biggest season yet with 20 cars appearing at every round and the grid peaking at 25 cars for 3 events. The championship was won by Chris Smiley ahead of Isaac Smith.[10]
Champions
edit| TCR UK Touring Car Championship | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Champion (Car) | Team Champions (Car) | ||||
| 2018 | Daniel Lloyd
|
 Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
|
 WestCoast Racing
|
Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
| ||
| Touring Car Trophy | ||||||
| Year | Champion (Car) | Team Champions (Car) | TCR UK (Car) | |||
| 2019 | Henry Neal
|
 Honda Civic Type R
|
Ciceley Motorsport
|
 CUPRA León TCR
|
James Turkington
|
CUPRA León TCR
|
| 2020 | Henry Neal
|
Honda Civic Type R
|
Maximum Motorsport
|
CUPRA León TCR
|
Lewis Kent
|
 Hyundai i30 N TCR
|
| 2021 | Lewis Kent
|
Hyundai i30 N TCR
|
Essex & Kent Motorsport
|
Hyundai i30 N TCR
|
Lewis Kent
|
Hyundai i30 N TCR
|
| TCR UK Touring Car Championship | ||||||
| Year | Champion (Car) | Tom Walker Memorial Trophy (Car) | Goodyear Diamond Trophy (Car) | |||
| 2022 | Chris Smiley
|
Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8)
|
Chris Smiley
|
Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8)
|
Andy Wilmot
|
Hyundai i30 N TCR
|
| 2023 | Carl Boardley
|
CUPRA León TCR
|
Carl Boardley
|
CUPRA León TCR
|
Carl Boardley
|
CUPRA León TCR
|
References
edit- ^ "TCR UK given the go-ahead by the MSA for 2018 launch". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "TCR UK Series surprised by level of interest after 2018 launch announcement". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "TCR UK planning on no grid limit, and to run alone in 2018". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "LUCKY 13 FOR TCR UK SEASON OPENER". BRSCC. BRSCC. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "TCR UK championship combines with Touring Car Trophy". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ "TURKINGTON CROWNED PROVISIONAL 2019 CHAMPION, AS NEAL WINS". tcr-uk.co.uk. TCR UK. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "MAX HART SECURES MAIDEN WIN AS HENRY NEAL CROWNED TCT CHAMPION". tcr-uk.co.uk. TCR UK. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "LEWIS KENT TAKES GOODYEAR TOURING CAR TROPHY TITLE IN DONINGTON FINALE THRILLER". tcr-uk.co.uk. TCR UK. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "TCR UK granted championship status as WSC licence extended". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Chris Smiley lands 2022 TCR UK title as Lewis Kent wins final race". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.