A healthy TCR class sees 19 drivers ready to take on the third season of TCR European Endurance. Reigning overall champions Eric Scalvini and Salvatore Tavano (Cupra Leon Competicion) will be back to defend their crown: after storming to the title last year, the Italian duo is set to drive the new VZ model of Wimmer Werk Motorsport’s Cupra in the hopes of clinching back-to-back success. They will face stiff competition, however – starting from BF Motorsport, a team that fought hard for the overall title last year. In 2026, their Audi RS3 LMS will be entrusted to Alessandro Lisi and Alessandro Berton. Lisi already partook in the series promoted by Riza International, as he raced in the 2024 season finale in Misano in which he took the DSG win; Berton, on the other hand, will make his TCR European Endurance debut, though the Italian has years of experience in TCR Italy, where he took the Master title two years ago.
Also fighting for the crown will be TEXACO Team AMS. After taking home all titles in 2024 and retaining the Gen-1 honours last year, the Turkish outfit is once again entering the top class as they did two seasons ago, driven by Sinan Çiftçi and Vedat Ali Dalokay. The former is the reigning Gen-1 champion, while the latter is a new entry in the championship, though he boasts years of experience at the TCR level – winning the 2023 TCR Italy DSG title and racing in TCR Europe last season at Misano. TEXACO Team AMS is also fielding a Gen-1 entry in the hopes of a third consecutive title, with Berk Kalpaklıoğlu and Umut Göktaş (Audi RS3 LMS) behind the wheel. The Turks are back for a second straight season, after finishing fourth and fifth in the 2025 DSG standings respectively. Their main class competitors this year will be GM Racing, who are set to make their TCR European Endurance debut in 2026. The Serbian outfit features an experienced line-up made up of former FIA European Touring Car Cup driver Rudolf Pešović and Žarko Terzić, a historic figure who has been with the team since their early days.
The DSG class also features plenty of stars that are set to fight for the class title. After taking the title in 2025, Wimmer Werk Motorsport will try to emulate their actions with a fresh line-up, as rookies Maximilian Kochendörfer and Aaron Klug will be behind the wheel of a Cupra TCR DSG. Born in 2003, Kochendörfer gears up for his third season of circuit racing, while this marks Klug’s maiden outing in a TCR series after impressing in karting competitions. Tuder Motorsport, Wimmer Werk’s main class rivals last season and reigning DSG runners-up, will take the fight up to the Austrians once more in 2026. Their Audi RS3 DSG will be driven by Davide Pezza, who stays with the team as he steps up from the RS Cup as the series’ Under 25 champion, and former TCR Italy driver Diego Cassarà, who will make his TCR European Endurance debut in his home round at Vallelunga.
Brothers In Arms are also expected to come back to the series after making their debut in Vallelunga two years ago; this time, the Italian outfit will bring two Cupra TCR DSG cars to the starting grid. One will be driven by Dario Caso, a former NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver, while the other is set to be entrusted to Andrea Argenti and Pasquale Serratore. The former makes his European debut after accumulating years of experience in TCR Italy, while the latter has raced in the Lotus Cup Italia in recent seasons. Casals Motorsport are another new entry in the series promoted by Riza International, together with their drivers Paolo Palanti and Cristian Carinci (Audi RS3 DSG). Palanti is one of the most experienced TCR DSG drivers in the country, as the Italian won the class title in Coppa Italia Turismo in 2022 before racing in TCR Italy DSG up until last year; Carinci also has solid experience in touring cars such as the Renault Clio RS and the Mitjet.
The schedule for the season opener in Vallelunga sees drivers hit the track for the very first time this season on Friday 17th April, with two 40-minute free practice sessions scheduled at 14:10 and 16:50 local time respectively. Qualifying will instead take place on Saturday 18th April, with the first session scheduled at 9:00 local time and the second at 9:50 – both lasting 15 minutes. Stage-1 is set to begin later that day at 13:55 local time, whereas the second stage takes place on Sunday 19th April, when the green flag will be waived at 15:30 local time.
