New for the 2023 season of TCR Competition is the TCR World Ranking, where drivers score points via a dedicated system, which at the end of the year, will see the top 45 drivers in the TCR World Ranking, join the top 15 drivers who have competed in the TCR World Tour.
All 60 drivers will then compete in the TCR World Ranking Final at a location to be confirmed early next year to crown the TCR World Champion Driver, Team and Manufacturer.
Let’s take a look at how the TCR UK Touring Car Championship drivers have progressed after rounds twelve and thirteen took place at Donington Park in Leicestershire last weekend.
The Cut-Off Point for the 2023 TCR World Ranking Final – October 1st 2023
This week is a key update on the KUMHO TCR World Ranking for the TCR UK Touring Car Championship, as the Donington Park meeting last weekend was the last opportunity for drivers to score (or lose) points in the series ahead of the October 1st cut-off for qualifying for the TCR World Ranking Final.
While there will still be some movement from the other series over the next few weeks which could see a few minor position changes for the TCR UK drivers, as it stands, seven of the series’ active drivers are set to qualify for the event – based on both their race performances as well as the high points value of TCR UK rounds, which have featured more than 20 cars throughout most of the season.
Bruce Winfield remains the top TCR UK driver in the TCR World Rankings
Bruce Winfield had an average weekend in his Area Motorsport Hyundai i30, and while he didn’t finish on the podium, he scored enough points to hold station and is 16th overall in the ranking on 71.84 points.
While he remains in title contention, he’s now almost certain of a spot in the Final should he want it.
Jac Constable moves up to second best of TCR UK field
A podium finish for the Rob Boston Racing Audi driver on Saturday has moved Constable up to the second-best placed of the series’ drivers in the ranking, climbing nine spots to 26th, just two places ahead of Race 1 winner Adam Shepherd.
Shepherd’s team-mate Alex Ley relinquished his spot as the second-best placed of the series’ drivers in the ranking despite taking a third place podium finish in the second race las weekend, dropping seven places to 30th overall in the ranking.
Carl Boardley qualifies at the final hurdle
Carl Boardley’s exceptional debut season in TCR UK has seen the current championship leader land an almost certain qualifying spot for the final, as he launched up 22 spots to 44th in the ranking following a steady weekend at Donington Park – making it into the important top 45 at the final opportunity this year,
It was a less successful weekend for his CUPRA stablemate Jenson Brickley, whose DNF in Race 2 almost certainly cost him a guaranteed position, while Bradley Hutchison’s exclusion in Race 2 means he wasn’t able to gain the points needed to make it into the top 45 either.
2022 Champion makes it into the TCR World Rankings
Last year’s TCR UK champion Chris Smiley has also gained a qualifying position for the final, at least provisionally.
Smiley is 56th overall in the ranking, so he’s 41st of the top 45 after the TCR World Tour drivers are removed, which means as long as four drivers don’t move ahead of him before the end of the month he gets a spot on the grid.
TCR UK Drivers movements in the TCR World Rankings
The top seven TCR UK Touring Car Championship drivers in the 2023 TCR World Rankings are set to have a place in the 2023 TCR World Ranking Final:
Bruce Winfield, Jac constable, Adam Shepherd, Alex Ley, Carl Boardley, Josh Files and Chris Smiley.
Next time – Brands Hatch Indy – The 2023 Season Finale!
The 2023 TCR UK Touring Car Championship is back in action in 6 weeks time, on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of October, where rounds 14 & 15 will take place at Brands Hatch in Kent, where the final two races of the year will see the 2023 Champion crowned.
The Indy layout will be used for this event, which takes place during the same weekend as the annual Formula Ford Festival.
You can purchase tickets for this event at the following link: https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/2023-calendar/
