Rounds three and four of the 2017 TCR International Series took place at the Bahrain International Circuit this weekend (15-16 April, 2017) in support of the FIA Formula One World Championship, the second outing for WestCoast Racing and their pair of Tegera Infinity supported VW Golf TCRs.

Extreme temperatures welcomed the teams to the desert venue with air temperatures touching 40 degrees at times making conditions for teams and drivers extremely challenging and through practice and into qualifying the Swedish team worked hard to find a setup to suit track and conditions, whilst still getting to grips with the new Golfs.
 
The team lacked pace in qualifying with Gianni Morbidelli just making Q2, but the unfortunate Giacomo Altoe missing out after his quickest lap was deleted in error by race control, denying him a run in Q2 through no fault of his own.
 
Morbidelli’s progress into the second session of qualifying ultimately failing to deliver much benefit as the Italian had to settle for an 11th place grid spot for both races.
 
In both of the weekend’s races the team found that the cars had race pace to run with the competition but with the both cars qualifying down the field and amongst some other usually front running cars – such as champion Stefano Comini and Pepe Oriola – both drivers racing battles gave small reward.
 
Morbidelli fared best with two hard fought top 10 finishes and Altoe taking the final points in race one, but falling foul of an unfair clash with Oriola to force him out in race two.
 
Team Manager James Nixon: “I thought we raced well, the cars had good pace in the races and both drivers were in good battles and showed strong race craft. We are having to all learn the cars at the racetracks during a race weekend… Engineers, mechanics and drivers as we have had such limited testing time pre-season with the new VW Golf, but we are making progress and getting to grips with the machinery and we will continue the upward curve in Spa at the next round.”
 
Gianni Morbidelli in his third season with WestCoast Racing in the TCR International Series echoed Nixon’s sentiments: “For sure we want to go quicker, we are lacking some speed and are all working to find it, and we will, hopefully in time to maintain a title challenge this year. The car is very solid and I know the team can do a good job. Today I had some good racing with Comini and made a lot of places in race two, so there are some things to be positive about.”
 
Giacomo Altoe was very disappointed following his clash with Pepe Oriola: “In race two, I made a good start and was able to make a clean pass on Oriola. He came back strongly and ran into me forcing me out of the race, it was very unnecessary.”
 
The TCR Series now moves back to Europe and Spa Francorchamps for races five and six on 5-6 May, when it shares the billing with the FIA World Endurance Championship at the famous Belgian Racetrack.

WestCoast Racing are all set for the second round of the TCR International Series that takes place this weekend (14-16 April, 2017) as a support to the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix. The team has an impressive record when the Grand Prix circus is in town, having won at both Singapore and Malaysia Grand Prix support races last year. Naturally WestCoast Racing are now targeting a victory at Bahrain International Circuit.

It’s been a fresh start for the team this year, with a switch to a pair of TEGERA Infinity liveried Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR cars as well as new recruit Giancomo Altoè joining Gianni Morbidelli. Last time out in Georgia, the team secured double points finishes in both races, something the team are looking to build on this weekend in Bahrain.

“The first race of the year was a bit of a learning curve for us all – the teams and drivers – to be honest,” said Team Manager James Nixon.  “We showed good pace in some of the sessions, but the wet races were completely new for us in the Golf. Whilst we can’t test between the races, the team has been busy analysing the data and that should help us move up through the field.

“Being a Grand Prix event, this is obviously a big race for us and our partners. Last year the team enjoyed a spell at the front of the field and we know we have two great drivers in Gianni and Giancomo; they’re both willing to work hard to accelerate our programme and that will give us the best chance of scoring solid points in both races.

“We’ve got 13 points on the board already and I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t add significantly to that tally this weekend.”

The first 10-lap race of the weekend takes place between the F1 third practice and qualifying at 16.30 local time on Saturday, while Sunday’s race is at 13.00, immediately before the second F2 event.

WestCoast Racing began a new era as season three of TCR International Series got underway this weekend (31 March – 2 April, 2017) at Rustavi International Motorpark, Georgia. With an all-new look, Gianni Morbidelli was joined by 16-year-old Giancomo Altoè in the new TEGERA Infinity branded Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR cars.

For the team, it proved to be a weekend of acclimatisation and development of the new package, whilst aiming to make the best of every opportunity. The final result was a double points finish in race one, and a further points for Morbidelli in race two.

“It’s a reasonable result for us as we knew we’d be somewhat on the back foot in these early races of the season,” said Team Manager James Nixon. “We didn’t have the raw pace in the car in race conditions, that is clear, but Gianni held on for points in both races while Giancomo enjoyed the chance to start from pole position and lead a race on his debut, so that’s a huge positive.

“We know we have work to do, but it’s a new package and we’re confident that we can make progress sooner rather than later.”

Qualifying saw Morbidelli and Altoè record the eighth and tenth fastest times respectively, giving the latter the pole position for race two reverse grid. Throwing another variable into the equation, wet conditions greeted the field for the first race.

The start saw Altoè make a good jump from tenth position on the grid run in eighth, while Morbidelli dropped from seventh on the grid to tenth. It proved to be a fairly static race – despite the best efforts of Altoè to pass Pepe Oriola – with both drivers holding position through to the chequered flag and gaining five points.

With the top ten qualifying results revered for race two, Altoè lined up on pole position with Morbidelli in fourth with a dry line starting to form. Altoè made a good start to retain the lead into the first turn, but a bold move from Pepe Oriola half way around the first lap saw Altoè drop to third position behind Oriola and teammate Hugo Valente.

A safety car period followed before race resumed with Altoè in third and Morbidelli in sixth. Altoè however found himself under pressure from the fourth-placed Attila Tassi and then then ran wide into the gravel trap after losing the front – and then rear end – of the Golf GTi as the race resumed on lap five. Sadly for the youngster, his battle points were effectively over as he resumed in 14th position, and finished in 11th.

Morbidelli meanwhile continued in sixth position, but it soon became clear that the Italian was struggling for grip, dropping down to ninth position at the conclusion of the race.

With points on the board, the team now begin preparations for the next round of the TCR International Series, which takes place at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, 13-16 April, 2017.

WestCoast Racing has big plans for the coming season in the TCR International Series, which gets underway this coming weekend (1-2 April, 2017) at Rustavi International Motopark, Georgia. The team has already announced a switch to Volkswagen Golf TCR machinery with Gianni Morbidelli and Giancomo Altoè behind the wheel, now we are pleased to announce that its primary sponsor this year will be Ejendals.

The team’s extended partnership with Ejendals will see the global introduction of the TEGERA Infinity brand; a new generation of safety gloves that let you conquer with comfort, into the TCR Series after a previously promoting the JALAS® brand.

The Swedish company has specialised in developing, manufacturing and marketing high-quality hand and foot protection, delivering the highest standard of protection, durability and ergonomics. As primary sponsor, Ejendals will look to market its product to a wider audience and use the team as a platform for delivering its European marketing campaign.

Team Principal Dick Jönsson Wigroth welcomes back Ejendals who step up as primary sponsor after running the JALAS branding in previous two campaigns.

“Of course, it’s great to continue with Ejendals and even better to be stepping up with TEGERA Infinity,” Wigroth said. “We’ve got a big year ahead for the team and with Ejendals, so we’re putting in a huge effort on sporting and on the commercial side to ensure that we’re successful on track and also can deliver for Ejendals and all of our other sponsors going forward.”

After finishing third in last year’s campaign, WestCoast Racing have high ambitions and expectations ahead of the season but admit that it will be a bit of a learning curve as they adapt to new equipment.

“We are racing our new car for the first time against teams that have been running their cars for a year or two already,” Team Manager James Nixon said. “I know Gianni is as hungry for wins as ever but we have accepted that it will be difficult for us in this early part of the season. We need to learn all about and understand our new car and be patient. Over the season, we need consistency, we have won more races than anyone in TCR International, but now we need a title.

“Giacomo drove with us on a shakedown and I must say how impressed I was by him, he has a very wise head on very young shoulders and I look forward to see his development throughout the year.”