The Dunlop Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK Championship returns to Donington Park for the final round of the 2019 season with all eyes on the TCR points leaders; James Turkington and Lewis Kent, chasing the crown.
Following in the footsteps of Dan Lloyd from 2018, the pair have recorded three class wins each this season with Turkington in the CUPRA Leon TCR scoring his maiden overall win at Brands Hatch last time out. The Ciceley Motorsport driver currently sits just 19 points ahead of Kent with 55 to play for over the weekend. Turkington, whose brother secured the BTCC title last weekend, comes into the final on a run of five overall back-to-back podiums, which started here in Leicestershire earlier in the year.
Last visiting in June, the series will use the National layout rather than the GP loop meaning every tenth will count on the shorter 1.9 mile circuit, especially in qualifying, where up to five bonus points are available for the TCR polesitter.
That honour went to Lewis Kent during the summer, but an underfuelled Hyundai i30, meant he lost out on overall victory in the final lap, as further misfortunes in race two saw him retire early. The Essex and Kent Motorsport driver would go on to take a double victory at Croft, before Turkington responded with his double class win at Brands Hatch in August, retaking the points lead and setting up this weekends finale.
Adam Morgan is set to join Turkington at Ciceley Motorsport. A seven time BTCC race winner, Morgan last race the Cupra alongside Stewart Lines in Britcar last year and will be a favourite for podiums this weekend. A strong result would help Ciceley wrap up the teams ahead of Essex and Kent Motorsport.
Continuing the TCR UK class will be 2019 regular Darrelle Wilson. The Opel Astra TCR driver has been present throughout and will be aiming to collect more silverware for the DW Racing team, as he battles Nick Halstead for third in the TCR standings. Halstead, driving the Honda TCR was the surprise of Brands, picking up pole position and podium in race one. A repeat could help the Orange Motorsport driver overhaul the 21 point deficit to Wilson.
Heading the TCT standings is Henry Neal. The Dynamics Motorsport driver has four class wins this year, more than any other. Looking to end his season on a high, in his father, Matt Neal’s, Honda Civic Type R, after his first overall victory at Brands Hatch last round.
Joining them in the class will be three Team HARD cars. Paul Taylor, will make his debut in the series alongside Darron Lewis, who he was teammates with in GT4 Supercup earlier this year. Lewis has been a multiple winner in the AM class. Completing the trio in the Volkswagen Passat CC’s will be VW Racing Cup multiple winner; Josh Coggan.
They won’t be the only Touring car representatives this weekend either, as Team BMR enter their Subaru with Bradley Burns driving, after a season in ADAC TCR Germany. Meanwhile Stewart Lines pilots Rob Collard’s pole sitting Vauxhall Astra BTCC car, being run jointly by Power Maxed Racing and Maximum Motorsport. The championship organiser raced at Brands Hatch last round finishing third in class in both races.
Rounding out TCT will be Richard Woods. The Croft star, secured a fourth place in the second race after technical issues brought his debut to a halt. Woods, racing the Ford Focus, will complete the bumper grid featuring eight manufacturers.
