A new touring car category is set to join the Australian motorsport landscape with confirmation that a promoter has been secured to run a national TCR series next year.

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) is expected to make a formal announcement regarding its plans for its new TCR class before the end of the month.

CAMS has been evaluating candidates to run the series after asking for expressions of interest in January following the signing of a five-year agreement with TCR.

Speedcafe.com understands that a former Supercars senior staff member has been involved in the bid from the chosen promoter.

TCR is fast becoming a dominant force in touring car racing with its production based 2.0 litre sedans resulting in several national series across the world, including the World Touring Car Cup.

“TCR will happen in 2019 to coincide with the discussions we’ve had, and negotiations are all but concluded,” CAMS chief executive Eugene Arocca told Speedcafe.com.

The touring car class has proved a hit with manufacturers since its conception, with Audi, SEAT, Volkswagen, Ford, Alfa Romeo, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lada, Opel, Peugeot, Renault, Skoda, and Subaru all having developed cars for the category.

Audi and Hyundai have already indicated their support for a possible TCR Australia class with the former holding meetings with CAMS regarding its plans for a series at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in February.

An example of its RS3 LMS TCR car arrived in Australia last year for promotional duties and has since remained in the country in preparation for a possible launch of a national TCR series.

Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia has also secured the rights to supply race cars from the Volkswagen Audi Group, which includes Audi, Volkswagen and SEAT vehicles.

Where the category will fit in the Australian motorsport landscape remains to be confirmed with the Shannons Nationals program one option for the series.