Former TCR UK race-winning drivers Max Hart and Alex Ley began their 2024 programmes successfully over the weekend, showing that the TCR UK Touring Car Championship continues to provide young drivers with the best opportunities to progress and race within TCR competition internationally.
Both drivers were part of the Hyundai Motorsport Junior Driver Programme in 2023, where Hart competed in TCR China and took a race win on his debut in the Macau Touring Car Cup.
Alex Ley was last year’s TCR UK Vice-Champion, taking three wins in his Hyundai i30 N TCR whilst Max Hart was a multiple race winner and championship contender during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Hart, who drives for the Z. Speed Hyundai team in the TCR Asia International Series this year and Ley, who drives for Target Competition Hyundai in the TCR Italy Touring Car Championship, both walked away with race wins in their respective series.
Thanks to the points scored in the opening two rounds of TCR Asia, Hart leads the championship standings, whilst Ley is the championship points leader in TCR Italy.
Part of the TCR Touring Car Competition ethos is that drivers can race on an affordable budget and be competitive with the same equipment, whether at the National or Regional level.
This often leads to drivers being recognised by teams who are supported by the brands involved and joining driver development programmes.
Hart and Ley’s performances prove that young and talented drivers who have competed in TCR UK, can progress up the international touring car ladder and showcase their abilities on the international scene.
TCR UK Touring Car Championship Promoter Stewart Lines is often asked how TCR UK can help the next generation of drivers achieve their goal of success in touring car racing, with the last 36 months seeing TCR UK drivers introduced into driver development programmes or going on to race internationally.
“I’ve had many conversations with people asking how TCR can work for their son or daughter who want to move into Touring car racing as part of their racing career,” explained Lines.
“My son is making his way through karting to progress into the Junior ranks in car racing, so the example set by both Max Hart and Alex Ley shows that it is possible for a young driver to find their way into Touring car racing through TCR UK and find success.”
“It’s a great reward to see Max and Alex start their 2024 seasons in such a positive way and I wish them all the best for this year.”
You can purchase tickets for this event at the following link: https://www.snetterton.co.uk/2024/may/tcr-uk-touring-car-championship
To find out more about the TCR UK Touring Car Championship visit https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/ for more information and how to get involved.
To find out more about the events on the 2024 TCR UK Touring Car Championship Calendar, visit https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/2024-calendar/ for more information.
