Autosportfoto

Striking colour scheme for Audi Sport Leopard LUKOIL Team in WTCR

Team WRT will run under the Audi Sport Leopard LUKOIL Team banner when the WTCR - FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO fires into life in Marrakech, Morocco next month.

The new name, which reflects ongoing support from Leopard Racing and new partner LUKOIL - plus the Audi Sport customer racing department - will be carried on the Audi RS 3 LMS of Gordon Shedden and Jean-Karl Vernay, who are both being tipped for title success in 2018.

And the Belgium-based squad is no stranger to success having guided Stefano Comini (2016) and Vernay (2017) to back-to-back title joy in the TCR International Series.

"I'm really happy to be part of the team again, there are some prestigious partners on board and I am sure we can do some great things with the new Audi," said Frenchman Vernay. "It's going to be an exciting season, it's all brand new. The championship is at a really high level, probably the best for the last 10 years. We will have to work hard and mark sure we are ready for the first race on this new exciting calendar, going back to Argentina, Japan and some great tracks in Europe. I'm very happy with everything and have some good guys along with me on the team with Gordon. We have to work well together and then get ready to fight against the other guys, I can't wait for the first race in Marrakech."

Shedden added: "Definitely looking forward to the 2018 season and joining the Audi Sport Leopard LUKOIL Team in the all-new WTCR. Fantastic that the FIA are involved and a huge challenge for me to join this championship. I couldn't ask for a better team to join and with the new Audi RS 3 LMS. The link up with LUKOIL looks like a really exciting combination. I can't wait to get in the car."

Briton Shedden will run the number 52 this season with Vernay carrying #69 on his entry.

Zdroj: fiawtcr.com