The TCR Europe series will race at the Salzburgring circuit in Austria for the first time this weekend, with the championship battle hotting up, with both Aurélien Comte and Franco Girolami tied at the top of the points standings.

There have been four different winners from the first four races of the season, and three first-time winners in Comte, Nicola Baldan, and Levente Losonczy.

The challenging Salzburgring circuit will be a very different battleground to the last round at Zolder, with the super-fast 4.2km circuit known for being tough on tyres, and favouring fast and light cars with good aero – with those carrying compensation weight into the weekend set to be on the back foot.

While CUPRA rivals Comte and Girolami should be strong, both having dropped weight after mixed results at Zolder, there’s a good chance a new victor could come from the six-strong Honda fold, although the highest points scorer from Zolder, Ruben Volt, might struggle with his 40kg of ballast.

Nicola Baldan, who took his first pole position and race victory in one day two weeks’ ago to reignite his title challenge, will be looking for repeat success in his Audi RS 3 LMS. He won’t be the only Audi on the grid this weekend, as wild card Sandro Soubek joins the grid in a first-generation Audi, putting an Austrian on the grid at home.

Viktor Andersson could be one to watch out for as well. The MA:GP Lynk & Co driver has two pole positions to his name already in 2023, and the fast circuit could suit the Chinese model this weekend.

All teams will be able to take part in an all-day test day on Friday, before two practice sessions and qualifying on Saturday at 12:10, 15:00 and 17:30.

Race 1 takes place on Sunday morning at 09:25, with the reversed grid Race 2 at 13:30 CEST.