Josh Files will reunite with Target Competition for the 2019 season, with the Brit racing a Hyundai i30 N TCR in the TCR Europe series, resurrecting the partnership that saw him clinch the 2016 and 2017 TCR Germany titles.

Files last raced with the Italian team in 2017, when he lifted his second successive TCR Germany title with the outfit.

The 28-year-old will now switch from Honda, with whom he has raced for the past three seasons, to Hyundai machinery for the coming campaign.

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It will be Files’ second season in the TCR Europe series. Last year the Norwich-based racer finished sixth overall in the drivers’ championship standings after securing one win and four podium finishes with the KCMG Honda team.

“I am super excited,” said Files. “This year will be the hardest ever; that I am sure of, given the level of drivers entering the series.

“I have the ultimate confidence in Target Competition to provide me with a race winning car, now it’s down to me to get the job done!

“It’s a completely new challenge for me. I have to learn a new car, I have new teammates and the competition is harder than ever.

“The good news is though, not only do I know the team well, but for the first time ever I can say that I have raced at all of the tracks that we go to!”

Files will join a five-car Target line-up that also contains Andreas and Jessica Bäckman, Dušan Borković and Mat’o Homola.

Joint Team Principal Andreas Gummerer believes that shows the intent of the team as it heads into a second year in European-level TCR competition.

“For us it’s important to have someone like Josh back in the team,” said Gummerer. “We’ve known him from a long time and we know what he is capable of.

“Adding him to Borković, Homola and the Bäckmans makes our intentions clear!”