The first round of the 2018 TCR Asia Series will feature an entry of 15 cars, with the grid bolstered by five Thai entries in a cooperation with the TCR Thailand series.

R Engineering will return to the grid with a pair of 2017-spec Honda Civic Type-R cars for Malaysia’s Abdul Kaathir, who will be joined by a new team-mate in compatriot Akash Nandy.

Maximum Racing are a new entry to the series and will field a pair of 2016-spec Honda Civics for Hong Kong racers Lo Sze Ho and Ivan Szeto Wing Shun.

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Elegant Racing Team are also returning to the grid in their SEAT León TCR V2 cars, with Alex Liu and Kelvin Wong already having been announced as drivers.

Undoubtedly the favourites for the title will be Liqui Moly Team Engstler, who will again field Volkswagen Golf GTi cars for Ecuado’s Diego Moran and young German Luca Engstler.

Five Thai entries are on the starter list for this weekend’s first race at Sepang, with Billionaire Boy Racing, Vattana Motorsport, TBN MK ihear Racing, Morin Racing Team and Alphafactory Racing all putting in a single car each.

The first race of the season takes place at 10:05 local time (03:05 BST, 04:05 CEST) on Sunday.

Provisional entry list