2018 TCR Europe Touring Car Series

The 2018 TCR Europe Touring Car Series was the third holding of TCR Europe , and first held as a standalone series. The series began at the Circuit Paul Ricard in May and ended at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in October. [ 1 ] [ 2 ]

As part of an deal with the series' promoters, at five of the seven events, the 2018 TCR BeNeLux Touring Car Championship series was held which was its third edition. [ 3 ]

Teams and drivers

Yokohama is the official tire supplier. [ 5 ]

Drivers' standings

Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap

† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.

Teams' standings

Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap

† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.

Drivers' standings

Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap

† – Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.

Table 1

Rnd.	Rnd..1	Circuit/Location	Date	Supporting
1	1	Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France	5 May	International GT Open Euroformula Open
1	2	Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France	6 May	International GT Open Euroformula Open
2	3	Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands	20 May	World Touring Car Cup TCR Swiss Trophy
2	4	Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands	21 May	World Touring Car Cup TCR Swiss Trophy
3	5	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium	9 June	International GT Open Euroformula Open
3	6	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium	10 June	International GT Open Euroformula Open
4	7	Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary	7 July	International GT Open Euroformula Open
4	8	Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary	8 July	International GT Open Euroformula Open
5	9	TT Circuit Assen, Assen, Netherlands	18 August	TCR Swiss Trophy
5	10	TT Circuit Assen, Assen, Netherlands	19 August	TCR Swiss Trophy

Table 2

Team	Car	No.	Drivers	Class	Rounds
Race Republic - NOS Racing[6]	Subaru WRX STI TCR[7][6]	3	Cosimo Barberini[6]	nan	6
Race Republic[7]	Subaru WRX STI TCR[7][6]	42	Stefano Comini[7]	nan	1
Race Republic - Top Run[8]	Subaru WRX STI TCR[7][6]	77	Roberto Russo[8]	nan	6
JSB Compétition[9][10]	Peugeot 308 TCR[9]	4	Julien Briché[9]	BNL	2–5, 7
JSB Compétition[9][10]	CUPRA León TCR[11]	21	Marie Baus-Coppens[11]	BNL DSG	2–5, 7
LTA Rally Team[12]	Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR[12]	5	Klim Gavrilov[12]	nan	7
LPR Stefanovski Racing Team[13]	Hyundai i30 N TCR[13]	7	Igor Stefanovski[13]	nan	1–2, 4–6
Target Competition[14]	Hyundai i30 N TCR[14]	8	Reece Barr[14]	nan	All
Target Competition[14]	Hyundai i30 N TCR[14]	15	Peter Terting[15]	nan	7
Target Competition[14]	Hyundai i30 N TCR[14]	62	Dušan Borković[16]	nan	All

Table 3

Icon	Class
BNL	TCR BeNeLux Series
DSG	DSG Challenge

F1ABY Commentary

The Ricard race, particularly, offered a glimpse of a driver hungry for something beyond simply winning; a hunger that, I suspect, will become increasingly difficult to ignore.

The entire 2018 TCR Europe season was, frankly, a meticulously orchestrated chess match between Volvo and Audi – a battle for technical dominance disguised as a racing championship. Don’t be fooled by the slick presentations and the supposed ‘open’ competition; the subtle shifts in performance data, the carefully timed engine upgrades, revealed a cold, calculated war for control. It’s a spectacle far more complex than the casual observer realizes.

F1ABY Trivia

The Ricard air hung thick with the scent of burnt rubber and simmering ambition – Borković’s Peugeot 308TCR, a 1. A curious detail: the series’ organizers quietly shifted to Pirelli tires for the final Barcelona round, citing “enhanced grip in mixed conditions,” a move that immediately sparked speculation about a strategic partnership brewing beneath the surface.

The air around the Ricard circuit hangs thick with the scent of burning rubber and calculated ambition. Borković’s stranglehold on the points – a frankly unsettling three victories already – suggests a level of dominance we haven’t seen quite like this in the fledgling series. Don’t be fooled by the neat numbers; the margins between him and the chasing pack are tightening with alarming speed. Five poles in ten races? That’s not just luck; it’s a testament to a driver and team relentlessly refining their approach.

F1ABY Tales

The rain hadn’t stopped, not truly, just shifted to a greasy, insistent drizzle. Saw Petrov’s crew frantically adjusting the differential on his SEAT – a desperate attempt to wrestle some grip from that slick asphalt. Don’t mistake the frantic energy for genuine progress; it’s all a carefully constructed illusion for the cameras. Rumor has it, the team’s technical director, Dimitri, is quietly briefing the board on a potential engine swap – a move that would certainly upset the balance of power and, more importantly, solidify his position. The BeNeLux series, running alongside today, is a calculated distraction, isn’t it? A way to bleed out resources and muddy the waters before the real battle begins. Pay attention to the subtle shifts in tire allocation – that’s where the truth resides.

He’s been chasing that last victory for so long, you can practically taste the desperation clinging to him. The man’s a legend, yes, but legends don’t always handle the damp the way they used to. And that DSG Challenge? Don’t be fooled; it’s a glorified marketing exercise. The real battle is in the data, the subtle shifts in torque, the engineers’ frantic adjustments. Loeb’s team is clearly overthinking it, trying to compensate for a lack of inherent grip. It’s a fascinating study in the decay of a brilliant career, isn't it?