BRC Racing will embark upon two top touring car campaigns in 2019, as the Italian outfit adds a season in TCR Europe with Luca Filippi to its existing efforts in the FIA World Touring Car Cup.
The team is shifting its focus from TCR Italy to TCR Europe with its second-tier touring car programme, having taken on a full season domestically in 2018 with its Hyundai i30 N TCR.
For 2019, the team welcomes Filippi to its roster, with the 33-year-old former IndyCar racer making a full-time switch to touring car racing.
Filippi previously competed in the GP2 Series between 2006 and 2012, winning six races and finishing as the runner-up in the 2011 season.
For 2013, Filippi moved to North America where he took part in selected races in the IndyCar series with Barracuda Racing, before moving to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2014, CFH Racing in 2015 and Dale Coyne Racing in 2016.
In 2017 – 2018 he also took part in Formula E with NIO, but he only managed one top ten finish. Filippi was also a test driver for the Honda Formula One team in 2008.
“I can’t wait for my first race with the BRC Racing Team,” said Filippi. “I worked with the Italian team since the beginning of their activity.
“I saw the racing department growing year after year, until it became an excellence in the international motoring scene.
“Among other things, I believe I have driven every racing car that has passed through the BRC workshop, for different reasons: friendship, curiosity, passion.
“Starting from Budapest, I can add a further motivation: achieving great sporting satisfactions. I found an almost instinctive feeling with the Hyundai i30 N TCR, the car absolutely fits my driving style and I found myself comfortable from the first lap, both with the car and with the team.
“I take this opportunity to thank Massimiliano Fissore, for offering me this professional opportunity. I will demonstrate my gratitude with facts starting from Budapest.”