Leopard Racing, the sporting subset of the energy drink company Leopard Natural, will enter a pair of Volkswagen Golf TCRs in the 2016 edition of the championship, with Comini and Vernay at the wheel.

The cars will receive support from top GT team WRT, which has wins in Spa 24 Hours and Nurburgring 24 Hours and titles in Blancpain Sprint, Endurance and GT championships among its accolades.

Comini, 26, won the inaugural season of TCR International in a Seat Leon for Target Competition, which helped him to six victories.

"I have to thank Leopard Racing for giving me this wonderful opportunity and believing in my ability and in my experience with touring cars," said Comini.

"As always I am here to win, with grit and passion. I already had the opportunity to meet most of the team, there's a beautiful mix of languages but I don't think I'll have any trouble fitting in."

Vernay, 28, has past titles in Indy Lights and Porsche Carrera Cup France and has spent 2015 driving a Leopard-backed WRT Audi entry in Blancpain Endurance, with the campaign yielding a win at Monza.

"I’m very happy to continue working with Leopard Racing and WRT for a second season and also to come back with Volkswagen, with who I got a great podium finish in the 2009 Macau Grand Prix," said Vernay.

"A front wheel drive car will be a new and difficult challenge for me but I’m confident in everyone who work on the program and I definitely have the title as target."

The Golf TCR was present in four rounds of the International Series last year, with Pol Rosell giving VW a win on its debut at Spielberg.