Following the publication of the official entry list it has been confirmed that the WRT-run Leopard Racing team will continue in the TCR International Series this season, despite off-season uncertainty.
The team will run a car for Jean-Karl Vernay throughout the year, with the Frenchman embarking upon a second season in the championship after finishing 2016 in third overall.
A second car will be entered from the third event at Spa-Francorchamps onwards for an as-yet unconfirmed second driver.
The team parted ways with double champion Stefano Comini over the off-season, with the Swiss having claimed that he was owed payments by the team for last season.
Leopard Racing will continue to run Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR cars, with new chassis for the forthcoming season after last year’s cars were sold to the Asian market.
Vernay is looking forward to the coming season, which the 29-year-old says will mark the first time he has had consistency in his career.
“I am very pleased to race in the TCR International Series once again and with the same team,” said Vernay. “This is a nice change for me, because it’s the first time in my racing career that I’m able to take part in the same championship in two consecutive seasons. It is definitely a good thing, because it will make my life easier and will help me to be competitive straight away.
“I know some of the racetracks, I know the Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR very well and I get along well with the team that proved to be very professional.
“I reckon it will be a bit difficult in the first two events, as I will have to race by myself, with no teammate. Despite this, I am very confident because we have a competitive package.”