Manufacturer options for competitors wishing to race in the various TCR categories around the globe have grown again with the unveiling of the Fiat Tipo TCR
The car has been built up to the TCR regulations by Tecnodom Sport, which has both significant experience in Touring Car construction and of TCR racing. The team won the 1.4-liter class of the Italian championship in 2016, campaigning an Alfa Romeo Mito, and last year won three rounds of the then-new TCR Italy series with an Opel Astra.
The TCR philosophy encourages single entities being responsible for a brand entry – either a manufacturer’s motorsport department or an independent race specialist – and offering production runs as customer cars for race teams to buy and run.
With the TCR regulations adhering to the same basic format across the 14-race UK series, three regional championships and even the general regulations of the FIA-run World Touring Car Cup, the potential market is healthy for both the constructor and teams wanting to campaign the cars.
The Tipo has been built up by Tecnodom under the engineering leadership of Roberto Zampieri, chief test driver of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Abarth brand.
The Tipo employs the same 1.7-liter engine used in the Giulietta TCR of fellow FCA brand Alfa Romeo, built by Romeo Ferraris; and two of the Giuliettas are raced in the FIA WTCR by Team Mulsanne. The Fiat program has also chosen to go the sequential gearbox route, using the same Sadev unit employed in VW Group and Honda TCR entries.
Tecnodom Sport is now undertaking the homologation procedure with TCR for the Fiat and intends then to race it in the TCR Italy series. Team principal Domiziano Giacon also plans a test day at the Adria circuit to allow potential customers to sample the car.
Driver Kevin Giacon, who has been testing the Fiat, says there are already enquiries from Turkey and South America for the car, and two more examples are under construction. “We are very proud of it – it is very well built and has a lot of potential,” Giacon added.
