Belgium’s Comtoyou Racing to contest the 2017 TCR International Series with an Audi RS 3 LMS entrusted to the reigning double champion Stefano Comini!
Stefano Comini at the wheel of an Audi RS 3 LMS by Comtoyou Racing in the TCR International Series
The 2017 season of the TCR International Series will kick-off on 1st-2nd April at the Rustavi International Motopark, in Georgia, with a last-minute contender that will certainly be under the spotlight! Winner of the two first editions of the TCR International Series, Stefano Comini will sport his #1, this time driving an Audi RS 3 LMS entered by Belgian squad Comtoyou Racing.
« After learning that the relationship with my former team would not continue this year, I received a number of offers », explains the 27-year-old Swiss driver. « Among those, the one of Comtoyou Racing… Jean-Michel Baert, the boss of the outfit, has hired François Verbist, whom I know well since we worked together in 2016. I think highly of him, from a professional and personal point of view, and I was immediately convinced that this was the best option for me. This project has been launched last-minute and we’ll get to Georgia with very little preparation. There, the objective will be to score as many points as possible. I must say that trying to conquer a third crown in a row, with a third different car brand, is a very exciting challenge! »
The team joining the TCR field can be deemed as brand new. Based in Waterloo and involved in European VW Fun Cup since the end of 2015, Comtoyou Racing has seized the opportunity that presented itself. « Sometimes, in life, there are chances you cannot let go. Especially, when all the pieces of the puzzle seem to come together nicely”, acknowledges Jean-Michel Baert, the Team Principal of Comtoyou Racing. « This project has seen the light in less than one week! Audi Sport Customer Racing wished to see an Audi RS 3 LMS in the TCR International Series and, as I am a long-time customer with the Audis R8 LMS, they lured me a bit… At the same time, François Verbist was available to organize the team, from a technical and logistical point of view. In addition, Stefano Comini was without a drive a few weeks from the start of the season, and the idea of having the #1 on our car was very appealing. In five days, we have set up everything and fetched the car from Audi Sport Customer Racing at Neuberg. It is now on its way to Georgia. »
Well known for his role at Team WRT since 2010, François Verbist will be a key element in the new organization, contributing all his experience and competence. “It’s crazy how fast this project has taken off!’’, he says with a smile. « Between the first phone call with Audi Sport Customer Racing and the delivery of the car, only 48 hours had passed. We are happy to have their support, as they wish to showcase the competitiveness of the Audi RS 3 LMS in the global series. Everything has happened very late and, clearly, we would have liked to have more time to prepare things. It won’t be the case … and we’ll need a couple of races to be at the top, but I am sure that we have the best people in the team and that we will make it. On top, with Stefano, we have one of the very top drivers. It is a huge challenge, but we are here to bid for the title!”
The countdown has started and the Audi RS 3 LMS #1 of Comtoyou Racing will certainly be a much-awaited novelty in Georgia!
