Both Denis Dupont and Gilles Magnus will compete in the TCR Europe series in 2019 with the backing of the RACB National Team, campaigning a pair of Audi RS3 LMS cars run by Comtoyou Racing.
For Dupont, the announcement means he moves from the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) to the European TCR series – with two date clashes in the first two rounds making a dual campaign unfeasible.
26-year-old Dupont scored two podiums and seven top ten finishes during the 2018 season in WTCR with Comtoyou Racing, and the Belgian will benefit from a continued cooperation with the team.
“It is not easy, but that motivates me enormously,” said Dupont. “We race on a few legendary and very fast circuits, where the Audi should be good for the day.
“As in any touring car championship, I assume that there will be strong competition. The fact that I do not know all circuits does not matter much. It is up to me to shine and win the title!”
The Royal Automobile Club of Belgium (RACB) has been supporting its national team for a decade now, and is continuing to invest in the future of Belgian touring car talent.
That has resulted in a new name joining the touring car racing fold in 2019 – Gilles Magnus. The 19-year-old has moved from single seaters, where he raced in 2016 and 2017 in Formula 4 and Formula Renault 2.0 NEC respectively, to tin-tops. In 2018 Magnus competed in two races of the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup.
“This is a dream that becomes reality,” said Magnus. “Being part of a national team is simply exceptional for an athlete who completely devotes himself to his sport.
“I want to take this opportunity, especially because my goal for this year is gaining experience. I have no specific goal other than to gradually make progress. I can also focus on the experience of Denis Dupont, because we are teammates at Comtoyou Racing.”
Magnus has already had some experience in a TCR car, having recently taken part in the Dubai 24 Hours race in an Audi RS3 LMS TCR.
RACB National Team Manager Geoffroy Theunis has already set Dupont an ambitious target for the coming season.
“We are counting on Denis to win the title,” said Theunis. “With his talent and the experience he gained in FIA WTCR last year, our compatriot has two main trump cards, and he knows his car, an Audi RS 3 LMS, through and through.
“As far as Gilles Magnus is concerned, the most recent recruit to the RACB National Team, he has to learn mainly. He is also running in an Audi RS 3 LMS.”