There is only a bit more than a month to go before the start of the new TCR European Endurance Championship, the new TCR series dedicated to endurance races on the tracks of Balaton Park, Vallelunga, Misano, and Slovakiaring. However, the endurance world is not new to the category, as there are various events and series that allow TCR cars to participate in their competitions.
The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge seems to be the lead championship in it: it was born in 2004, and in 2018 it allowed TCR cars to race in its field. The series sees two 120-minute-long races every weekend, with a driver change in the middle of them. The competition is high, and it saw many champions on its way: during the last three years, Taylor Hagler first, and Robert Wickens – back on track in 2023 after the horrendous accident he had in Pocono – later were the top drivers together with Bryan Herta, at the wheel of Hyundai challengers. Moreover, a lot of manufacturers participate, such as Honda, Hyundai, Audi, and Alfa Romeo; every car now has a sequential gearbox.
The 24h Series is quite the symbol of endurance racing. TCR cars have raced there since 2016, and the participation has always been very vivid, as the races are pretty long and require a lot of effort. The most challenging endurance race is surely the Nürburgring Langstrecken Series with its 24h of the Nordschleife. That particular race doesn’t have such an entry list, but it does ask for a lot of resistance.
The TCR South America has often organized endurance races, on the tracks of Interlagos and Córdoba. In 2024, the only endurance race in the series will be the 60 minutes of Interlagos. The TCR Australia used to start its championship with an endurance race on the track of Mount Panorama in Bathurst. The race used to have a lot of guests, representing one of the most important events of the season.
Therefore, the TCR European Endurance adds itself to the list of endurance racing, promising a lot of entertainment and competitiveness from every driver. The first round will go underway in Hungary on April 28th.
