![Honda YPF Racing [Squadra Martino], Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR](https://www.touringcars.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Honda-YPF-Racing-TCR.jpg "Phhoto: Honda YPF Racing")
Leonel Pernía and Nelson Piquet Jr will spearhead a five-car Honda Racing effort in this year’s TCR South America series, with Adrián Chiriano, Tiago Pernía and Fernando Croce also part of the Squadra Martino-run effort.
The team will be known as Honda Racing in 2026, having lost the backing of 2025 title sponsor YPF, but will nonetheless benefit from continuity as it largely retains its driver line-up from the previous season.
This year, Mariano Pernía will not be part of the team, but Croce is stepping into his place, having contested the final four events of 2025. Brazilian racer Croce took a best finish of 11th on his TCR début last season, having joined with PMO Racing before moving to Porthack Racing in Honda machinery. He will use the team’s older FK7 Civic.
For Leonel Pernía, already confirmed as a driver in December, the target will be to defend his title. The Argentine won six times last year in a dominant campaign, with team-mate Piquet finishing as runner-up, 97 points adrift, having himself claimed three wins – all in the final trio of events.
Chiriano ended the 2025 season in 12th overall, socring a best result of sixth at El Pinar in Uruguay, in the previous generation Civic. For 2026, the Argentine will move up to a newer Honda Civic Type-R FL5 TCR.
Tiago Pernía will have a particularly busy 2026 season, having already been confirmed as competing in TCR Europe with the team. Last year, Leonel Pernía’s son scored his maiden victory in the series at Curvelo, his only rostrum visit of the season, on his way to seventh overall in the standings.
TCR South America gets underway on 7 – 8 March at the Circuito dos Cristais in Curvelo, Brazil.