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Lessennes wishes Monteiro well after being handed WTCR race chance

Benjamin Lessennes has extended his best wishes to Tiago Monteiro after being called up to deputise for the Portuguese at Boutsen Ginion Racing for the start of the WTCR - FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO.

Lessennes, 18, will race the squad's Honda Civic TCR after being promoted from his Test and Reserve Driver role as temporary cover for Monteiro, who continues to recover from injuries sustained in a testing crash last September.

"I am very pleased to make my FIA WTCR race debut with Boutsen Ginion Racing, although I wish it had been in happier circumstances," said Lessennes. "I don't know how many races I will do before Tiago returns to his car, but I would like to send my best wishes to him for a speedy recovery. I have some good experience of the new Honda Civic from having tested late last year and - more recently - with Boutsen Ginion Racing at Zandvoort. I'm confident we can do a good job, although it is very clear that the level of competition in WTCR this year will be higher than what we've faced previously."

Lessennes won the TCR Benelux title with Boutsen Ginion Racing in 2017. After testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Thursday, the Belgian will race for the squad at WTCR AFRIQUIA Race of Morocco from 7-8 April when he will become the youngest driver on the grid.

Zdroj: fiawtcr.com