UK-based Vannin Motorsport has entered two Audi RS 3 LMS in the upcoming event of the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour at Valencia for Manuel Fernandes and Luke Sargeant.
This will mark the first time a British team has competed in the TCR World Tour, and it will be both drivers’ first race in the global series as well. Although Fernandes was entered at his home event at Vila Real last year, he was unable to take part after an accident at the end of qualifying.
The Portuguese driver has since been a front-runner in TCR Spain but is changing teams and cars for his TCR World Tour programme and is set to appear again next month at Vila Real.
Sargeant is a graduate of the TCR UK championship, and this year also competes in TCR Spain with the team. He made his TCR debut in 2023 and has competed regularly since, finishing on the podium twice at the 2024 season finale at Silverstone.
“It will be both drivers’ first time in the championship, but also ours,” said team principal Peppe Planeta. “The aim is to do both Valencia and Vila Real with Manuel; and then with Luke we’ll see, it’s just Valencia at the moment for him. It’ll be good to have Audi back on the grid as well, and it’s the first time there’s been a British team in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour, so that’s nice to be part of a first.”
Picture: TCR Spain
