Alain Menu and Mikhail Grachev will join WestCoast Racing for this weekend’s TCR International Series races at Imola, with regular drivers Aku Pellinen and Kevin Gleason stepping down due to budgetary reasons.
Legendary touring car star Menu will make his third TCR appearance, having raced Top Run Motorsport’s Subaru STi car in Thailand last year. The Swiss star also made a fleeting appearance with the team in Macau before engine problems curtailed his event.
Grachev moves from Liqui Moly Team Engstler for the event, after the Russian was temporarily replaced in one of the team’s Volkswagen Golf GTi cars for Jordi Gené, who is set to help with the development of the car.
Both Pellinen and Gleason will be absent from this weekend’s event, with the main sponsor of the former apparently unable to commit to the series any longer. The Finn recently took victory at Spa-Francorchamps to move up to fourth position in the drivers’ championship.
Gleason, who is in his second TCR season, remains in negotiations with a key backer in order to continue in the series.
Team Principal Greger Petersson welcomed the duo to his team, and emphasised his hope that his outgoing drivers can return to the team later in the year.
“Mikhail has shown commitment to the TCR International Series and we are delighted that he sees WestCoast Racing as a team that can help him meet his racing goals. And with Alain we add great experience in touring cars that will be a benefit to any team.
“Of course, we are very disappointed to have lost the services of Aku and Kevin, with Aku showing great speed and promise and Kevin having delivered wins for the team in the TCR International Series. But this is the reality of motorsport where commercial partners are needed to meet budgets and I hope both of them will be able to return to us and the series soon.”
Russian racer Grachev admitted that he is looking forward to having Menu and Italian Gianni Morbidelli as his experienced team-mates.
“For me it is important to grow as a racing driver,” said Grachev. “In a team like WestCoast Racing and with experienced teammates like Gianni and Alain, I have that opportunity.”
Menu added that not having had the opportunity to test the Honda Civic will be a hindrance, especially as the weekend’s timetable will take place exclusively on the Sunday, with no Saturday running scheduled for the teams.
“It’s nice to be back in the TCR International Series and I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given,” said the Swiss. “WestCoast Racing is one of the top teams in the championship with one of the front-running cars, so I am very much looking forward to it.
“It will be tough, as I haven’t had an opportunity to test the Honda Civic ahead of what will be a single-day event.”