Nicolas Baert will contest this weekend’s FIA World Touring Car Cup races at MotorLand Aragón in Spain as a wildcard racer, with the TCR Europe regular racing for his father’s Comtoyou Racing team.
Baert, 19, has impressed in his first full season of touring car racing in 2020, and he currently sits fourth in the TCR Europe drivers’ standings with one win and two podium finishes to his name.
The Belgian will now make his first appearance at the world level in Spain this weekend, gaining yet more valuable racing experience in his Audi RS3 LMS TCR.
“It’s a great opportunity but I am driving there to get more experience, not to try to win any races,” said Baert, who will carry an additional 20 kg of weight and be ineligible for points as a wildcard racer.
“As a rookie it’s great to be driving with these big names. We worked a lot before the season started and also during the season [so far].
“We knew we were fast because we tested with Gilles Magnus, Nathanaël Berthon and Tom Coronel and we had the same pace.
“For me my only expectation was what would be my position in the races, not the lap times.”
Baert has previously raced on the Spanish circuit, as he competed in the Spanish Formula 4 Championship last year, which featured Aragón on the calendar.
“I know the track and with the Formula 4 it was really good to drive, a bit hard to learn and quite demanding on the tyres. But good.
“My father just told me you will get a lot of experience and just focus on this. He told me I will go there without any pressure and that everything will be okay.”
His father, Jean-Michel Baert and the owner of the Comtoyou Racing outfit is proud to give his son the opportunity at the highest level of touring cars this weekend.
“In the team we are impressed with his work and assiduity,” said Baert Sr. “He works hard with his engineer and data guy to improve in each session.
“In TCR Europe the only target was to enter Q2; he reached more than our expectations. He receives the wildcard for WTCR in order to increase his experience, learn more, and deal with the best drivers in this category.
“He knows very well Nathanaël and Tom after they took second place in together in the 24H Portimão in June.
“As his father I am very proud but the most important thing is not his surname − he is Nicolas!”