TCR Squad Comtoyou Racing Makes GT3 Step With Audi

Championship-winning touring car team Comtoyou Racing will expand into Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS next year with Audi Sport.

The Belgian squad has announced that it will operate three Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo IIs next season, with the full stable entering the Sprint Cup and two of the cars also competing in the Endurance Cup which includes the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

Comtoyou Racing recently won the TCR Europe title with Argentina’s Franco Girolami and also operates several cars in the World Touring Car Cup with Audi support.

TCR will remain a key part of the team’s program next year, with a four-car commitment confirmed for the European series and three entries planned for all nine rounds of the new TCR World Tour that was created after the World Touring Car Cup’s demise.

“We have been wanting to switch to GT3 for a few years now and Audi has been calling for us to do so,” said Comtoyou Racing team manager Francois Verbist.

“After three years of reflection, we thought it was the right time.

“Everyone knows how competitive this championship is and so the challenge is huge, but we come with a great deal of humility.

“We know that the car can win and that, like other customers, we can count on the technical support and advice of Audi Sport customer racing.

“The aim will be to be closer to the best and then aim for the titles in 2024.”

Comtoyou Racing’s commitment to GTWC Europe fills part of the gap left by fellow Belgian outfit Team WRT, which parted ways with Audi Sport after the 2022 season.

WRT ran a total of five cars in Endurance Cup and four in Sprint Cup this year but has started testing BMW M4 GT3s ahead of an expected program with the Munich-based manufacturer next season.

Girolami Eyeing GT Racing Future

TCR Europe champion Girolami, who won the title in his first season with Comtoyou, is targeting a GT3 drive next season alongside his touring car commitments.

The 30-year-old made one GTWC Europe Endurance Cup appearance this season with Mercedes-AMG squad Madpanda Motorsport and also tested an Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 earlier in the year.

Comtoyou Racing’s new program with the R8 LMS GT3 could present an opportunity for Girolami to enter sports car racing on a full-time basis.

“There have been some talks for TCR and GT racing, but nothing concrete yet,” he said.

“The next few weeks will be very important regarding my future and making a decision.

“Being TCR Europe champion is very important, especially because of the high driver level, but I think it’s important to keep working hard and planning for the future.

“In my case, that’s what I’m doing, and I hope to have my future clearly defined as soon as possible.”