Hungarian team M1RA has confirmed its driver line-up for the 2109 TCR Europe season, with Dániel Nagy and Luca Engstler campaigning a pair of Hyundai i30 N TCR cars for the full season.
The team will embark on a second season in the highly-competitive TCR Europe series, with 20-year-old Nagy entering into his second year with the team.
Nagy will be joined by fellow youngster Engstler, with the 19-year-old Engstler coming fresh from having lifted the inaugural TCR Malaysia series title earlier in 2019.
The team has also renewed its partnership with Hyundai Motorsport, with Team Principal Dávid Bári being confident that with the i30 his two drivers can challenge for the overall title this year.
“To continue with Hyundai Motorsport was the next logical step for us,” said Bári. “The i30 N TCR proved to be one of the best cars in the category and we had a close relationship with the manufacturer as a customer team last season.
“We have two gifted and motivated junior age drivers, who have already proved their talents driving a Hyundai, so I am hopeful to unleash the full potential of our team and M1RA will be able to challenge for victory in TCR Europe with this very strong package.”
Last year, Nagy was in the hunt for the TCR Europe drivers’ title for much of the season, eventually finishing fifth overall after claiming one victory and six podiums. Nagy also contested the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) event at the Hungaroring as a wildcard entry, where he also took a podium finish.
“I am really happy to be continuing with M1RA and Hyundai, because after last season this was my main wish,” said Nagy.
“We had a successful year together in 2018 – I am proud of our podium finish in WTCR and feel at home in this team, between M1RA guys.
“I believe there is still room for improvement. Consistency is the key, which I missed sometimes in the previous campaign, but I am working hard to be able to fight for the title this year.”
Engstler will move up to the European TCR series, after spending the past two years in TCR Germany as well as dovetailing his 2018 campaign with TCR Asia, where he is the reigning champion.
The German will again have another busy year in 2019 as he has already been confirmed as defending his TCR Asia title, with there being no calendar clashes between the two regional series.
“I am pleased with the next step in my career and happy to work with M1RA,” said Engstler. “It is clear to me that this team is one of the best in the championship and I am proud to be part of it this year.
“My goal for TCR Europe to learn as much as possible, because everything will be new for me. New tracks, new series, new team. The tests showed that we have a good pace, so I am looking forward the start of the season.”
The 2019 TCR Europe season gets underway at the Hungaroring on 27 – 28 April.