Seven guest entries will join the FIA TCR World Tour regulars for this weekend’s races in Valencia, Spain, with six of those being competitive drivers from TCR Europe.
The grid will increase to 18 cars for the Spanish event, the second of the TCR World Tour season, thanks to the additional entries.
Eric Gené leads the TCR Europe guest entries, by dint of being the highest-placed from that series’ championship standings.
The 18-year-old is contesting his first full season in the European series with Monlau Motorsport, who he will race with this weekend, and currently sits third overall thanks to a consistent run of points-scoring finishes – taking four top fives out of the opening six races.
Gené is the only guest entry in a CUPRA, taking the Spanish car brands representation to three, alongside SP Compétition’s TCR World Tour regulars Aurélien Comte and John Filppi.
“It’s a great opportunity to take part in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour event in my own Country,” said Gené.
“I know it will be one of the best experiences in my racing career. CUPRA, Monlau Motorsport and my family have done a really good job to make this possible – so I’m very grateful.”
Marco Butti, a TCR Europe race winner at Spa-Francorchamps, joins the event with GOAT Racing, partnering fellow TCR Europe Honda racer Felipe Fernández Gil.
The entries see the GOAT team expand to four cars, with 20-year-old Butti joining World Tour regulars Esteban Guerrieri and Ignacio Montenegro.
“I am happy to come back to the FIA TCR World Tour with GOAT Racing,” said Butti, who took part in a full season with the team in 2024.
“It’s my second season with the Honda, and we have improved our speed a lot this year.
“Valencia is a track that is lovely for us, and one I like a lot. Then after that there is Monza, my home circuit. We have to work hard to be at the top another time in the World Tour, because the level is getting higher and higher.”
MA:GP’s Viktor Andersson will also return to the world stage, having raced his Lynk & Co 03 in six races of the inaugural season when the grid was shared with TCR Europe.
Swede Andersson currently sits tenth in the TCR Europe drivers’ standings, with a best result of third at Spa.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said the 21-year-old. “We have been at the circuit before in TCR Europe, I was third there in qualifying last year, so I like the track.
“We’ll see how competitive we can be, as the field is super-good. There are many great drivers and strong teams, so it will be a challenge, but I’m really looking forward to trying it out.”
ALM Motorsport will also field a Honda for Ruben Volt, who is having a mixed season in TCR Europe so far this year but was a title contender in TCR Italy in recent seasons.
“It’s always good to compare yourself against the best in the world, so yes, I’m very excited for it,” said 19-year-old Volt. “I can’t wait to hit the track and have the opportunity to race against those drivers who have such a well-known international reputation.”
French outfit JSB Compétition will field two Hyundai Elantra N cars for team owner Julien Briché, who was fourth in the most recent TCR Europe race in Germany, and TC France’s 18-year-old Raphaël Fournier.
“We are watching at next week’s event as an opportunity to gain experience with the car,” explained Briché. “Valencia is a circuit we like, so I’m happy to race there with Raphaël who is in his first year of TCR. This will help him to get a lot of experience.
“We are happy to be going, and Hyundai is supporting us, helping with setups. We’ll do our best, and I hope we can pull off a little surprise.”