At least two Honda Civic Type-R FL5 cars will take on the FIA TCR World Tour in 2024, after the announcement that new team GOAT Racing will campaign the cars.
Barcelona-based GOAT Racing has been formed by the family of Rubén Fernández Gil to compete in the series.
The Fernández family has been increasingly involved in TCR in recent seasons, with Rubén and brothers Felipe and Victor competing regularly across TCR Europe, TCR Italy and TCR Spain since 2021.
Multiple TCR race winner and experienced touring car driver Pepe Oriola has been appointed as the Team Manager. Oriola, 29, raced with the team in the TCR Europe season finale last year.
No drivers have yet been announced for the programme.
“We are very excited to announce the creation of GOAT Racing,” said Team Principal Rubén Fernández Gil.
“Although we are a new name, we have assembled a team full of touring car experience. This, coupled with an enthusiastic and renowned partner like JAS Motorsport and the championship-winning quality of the Honda Civic Type R TCR gives us great confidence that we can make an impact in the TCR World Tour.
“We’d like to thank JAS Motorsport and Marcello Lotti at WSC for their help in making our dream a reality.”
Pepe Oriola, Team Manager, is hoping to achieve further success in his touring car career with his new managerial role with the team.
“This is an exciting time to launching GOAT Racing and a great honour for me to put all the experience I have gained in touring car racing both inside and outside the car over the past 15 years into a new role,” said Oriola.
“It’s fantastic to be back working with JAS Motorsport. As a driver I was a race winner in JAS-built Hondas in TCR Europe and made history as the first TCR South America champion in 2021.
“Now the challenge is to make history as a Team Manager by helping guide GOAT Racing to even bigger achievements.”
JAS Motorsport will provide technical support to the programme. Its TCR Project Leader, Mads Fischer, welcomed the announcement.
“The FIA TCR World Tour is the pinnacle of global touring car competition so naturally we are very pleased to support the category again with the Civic Type R TCR and to try to add to the successes the car has already achieved in the category,” added Fischer.
“GOAT Racing are a brand-new team but they are stacked full of talented and experienced personnel.
“We have an excellent relationship with Pepe through his time as a TCR champion with the Civic and are confident that this programme has everything it needs to succeed.”
WSC President Marcello Lotti is pleased that the first team to commit to the 2024 FIA TCR World Tour has now been revealed.
“I am delighted to welcome GOAT Racing as the first confirmed team for the 2024 KUMHO FIA TCR World Tour,” added Lotti.
“It’s a brand-new team, but it has already grown solid roots in TCR competition thanks to the enthusiasm and sportsmanship of the Fernández brothers.
“I’m sure that their association with JAS Motorsport for running a couple of Honda Civic Type R cars will be very successful.”