Stefano Comini has confirmed via Facebook that he will not be defending his TCR International Series title with Leopard Racing this year, with the two having a contractual dispute over payments.
Comini has taken both of the first two TCR International Series drivers’ titles, but has now discovered that whilst Leopard Racing plan to be present at the season opener in Georgia, it will not be him who is behind the wheel.
Writing on Facebook, Comini confirmed that he is still waiting on late payments from the company for last year’s work.
Comini reported that he “has received news that Leopard Racing will be present at the start of the season with a single car, and that it is not himself who will be driving it”.
With less than three weeks to the start of the season, Comini has little time to find himself an alternative drive for 2017.
Comini humorously continued that he “does not have the money for the resupply of beers and straws as Leopard Racing have still not paid salaries [owed] in 2016.”
The 2017 TCR International Series kicks off in Georgia on the 31 March to 2 April.