The UK and France are the hosting countries for the first two rounds of the 2017 24H TOURING CAR ENDURANCE SERIES (TCE SERIES) powered by Hankook. Like for the inaugural season last year, action starts with the Hankook 24H SILVERSTONE (31 March-2 April), followed by the first running of the Hankook 12H MAGNY-COURS (21-22 April). Participation in the 24H TCE SERIES powered by Hankook is open for SP3-GT4 machinery and touring cars from the TCR, A3, A2, D2, D1 and CUP1 classes. This year’s series includes five rounds in as many European countries, all with live streaming in HD quality.

“From the very beginning, touring cars have been playing a major role in our events,” CREVENTIC’s Natasha Mark says. The Dutch agency is the promoter and organiser of the 24H TCE SERIES powered by Hankook, in co-operation with the DNRT (Dutch National Racing Team). “Held for the first time last year, the separate 24H TCE SERIES powered by Hankook allows touring car teams to compete for outright honours and this proved to be a successful concept. With over 20 full-season entries already received, we are looking forward to a second season with great competition.”

SP3-GT4 class can compete with TCR at the same level

The addition of the SP3-GT4 class to the 24H TCE SERIES is a new element for 2017. The SP3-GT4 class caters for a wide variety of cars, including the numerous cars to GT4 regulations currently available on the market, as well as touring cars with a similar performance. Thus, the TCR cars as the top touring car category will be facing serious competition in the battle for outright honours while still maintaining their own chances. Compared to TCR cars, SP3-GT4 cars are slightly faster over one lap, but the better fuel efficiency and the subsequent lower number of pit stops for TCR cars ensures that both classes can compete at the same level in 12- or 24-hour endurance races. If required, slight BoP-tweeks can be added to guarantee the competitiveness and equal chances for both classes.

A great variety of cars for Hankook 24H SILVERSTONE

Also known as ‘the home of British motor racing’, the circuit of Silverstone in the UK hosted the inaugural Hankook 24H SILVERSTONE last year. From last place on the grid, British team ABBA with Rollcentre Racing made excellent progress with its BMW M3 V8 and emerged as the winners, three laps ahead of the Red Camel-Jordans.nl SEAT Leon Cup Racer. The winners of the six different classes all ended up in the top ten of the overall classification. A total of 41 cars took the start in last year’s race and a grid of similar size is expected for this year’s event at the Grand Prix circuit in Northamptonshire. The provisional entry list already shows a great variety of cars in all categories. Like last year, the Super 7 Inter Series is present as a support category with a pair of races on the Saturday (1 April) prior to the start of the 24-hour race.

Inaugural Hankook 12H MAGNY-COURS

Like Silverstone in the UK, the French circuit of Magny-Cours is a centre for the domestic motorsport industry with its ‘Technopole’. The circuit near the city of Nevers in the French Nièvre department was opened in 1961, the current lay-out of the track has been in use since 1992, with slight modifications having been added over the years. From 1991 till 2008, Magny-Cours hosted rounds of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, with Michael Schumacher as the record winner with eight victories. At Magny-Cours, the 24H TCE SERIES powered by Hankook will stage a joint event with the 24H PROTO SERIES powered by Hankook. The prototypes will have their twelve-hour race on Saturday (22 April), the touring cars will race on Sunday (23 April). Currently, the provisional entry list for the TCE SERIES round at Magny-Cours includes 25 cars, but entries are still being accepted. Further information can be found on the series’ website, http://www.24htceseries.com.

Source. Creventin/Photo. John Patterson