» WTCR: Slovakia wildcards announced

Petr Fulín and Andrej Studenič have been confirmed as the wildcard entries for next weekend’s FIA World Touring Car Cup round at the Slovakia Ring.

Fulín, who had a one-off outing in the FIA World Touring Car Championship 2014 and is the reigning FIA European Touring Car Cup champion, will pilot a Cupra León TCR entered by his own Fullin Race Academy team.

“Our goal is to enjoy the weekend and to have a nice experience. We know the track but we have the oldest car and will have 20 kilograms more inside for the wildcard handicap,” the 41-year-old Czech driver said ahead of his WTCR debut.

“The competition will be very strong and [the last event in] Vila Real showed that drivers are able to learn new tracks very quickly. That’s why we are pushing everything preparing for the weekend. Maybe this championship could be something new [for us] for next season.”

Fulín will be joined by local driver Studenič, who has competed across a variety of disciplines including GT racing and hillclimbs.

Studenič, who has driven various European hillclimb, GT and touring car classes. The Bratislava-born driver, also 41, will compete in a Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR for Brutal Fish Racing.

“I’ve only driven this car for a few dozen kilometres, which is very little compared to the WTCR competition,” he said.

“I do have a lot of racing experience, but not with this type of touring car. I hope the two free practice sessions will be enough for us to set up the car and get a clearer view. Naturally we have ambitions, without them we wouldn’t be racing at all. However, I have no clue how we’ll stand up to the experienced competition.”

The FIA WTCR Race of Slovakia takes place on July 14-15.

Image viaTouringcars.net