The TCR Europe Touring Car Series returns this weekend as the epic title battle continues, while 30 cars will be on track at one of motorsport's most iconic venues, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, with the largest entry the series has seen this decade.

Going into the weekend, reigning TCR Italy champion Nicolas Taylor holds a 14-point lead over Viktor Andersson, with Andersson's Monlau Motorsport team-mate Marco Butti just one point behind him, with the Italian aiming to impress his home fans and fight his way towards the top of the points table at the Monza circuit.

Mike Halder is leading the charge for Honda, and while the model is Japanese, the car is built by Italian touring car powerhouse JAS Motorsport, based just up the road in Arluno, Milan.

Nicola Baldan will also be aiming for success at home. The Italian driver set the fastest lap time around the circuit in the TCR Italy championship series last year, and is just 24 points behind his team-mate Taylor in the standings.

British racer Alex Ley has experience racing in Monza after two years racing in Italy, and with the BRC Racing Team he'll be looking to continue his championship recovery after such a strong start when the 2026 TCR Europe season got underway in Mugello back in March.

New and returning drivers as well as new teams join the field

There are new names to the championship, and some returning favourites on the grid this weekend.

The first big name confirmed last week is last year's almost champion Teddy Clairet, who returns with a team new to the grid, Vannin Motorsport. The popular Frenchman will be joined by newcomer Luke Sargeant, the 39-year-old Briton making his TCR Europe debut after strong campaigns in TCR Spain and a one-off appearance in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour earlier this year.

ALM Motorsport sets a record as the team with the most cars on the grid in a single event, as the team fields no fewer than six Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCRs this weekend.

As well as cars for its three regular drivers Mike Halder, Ruben Volt, and Max Hart, the team has added two-time TCR UK champion Carl Boardley to its roster, as well as 2024 Scandinavian champion Mikael Karlsson and Danish racer René Povlsen, who will also make his TCR Europe debut this weekend.

SP Compétition will run young French racer Tom Pussier, who makes his TCR Europe debut, partnering the returning Mikhail Simonov who has enjoyed a very successful spell in the Italian championship with the team.

Meanwhile, JSB Compétition is back on the grid with cars for Raphael Fournier and Julien Briché, with Briché back at the track where he set his only career pole position eight years ago.

AIKOA Racing meanwhile expands to two cars, with Tenerife Trophy points leader Giacomo Prandelli's new team-mate to be confirmed before the weekend gets underway with an open test on Thursday afternoon.

When and how to watch

The drivers get two practice sessions on Friday, before qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday, followed by the reversed-grid Race 2 on Sunday morning.

The races will be streamed live on digital sports channel DAZN. Furthermore, through The Racing Line app, the series can be found easily as a promoted partner; the app is available on the Apple and Google Play stores.

Timetable

Thursday 24th September
17:00 - Test

Friday 25th September
12:30 - Free Practice 1
17:00 - Free Practice 2

Saturday 26th September
11:55 - Qualifying (20 + 10 minutes)
16:55 - Race 1 (25 minutes + 1 lap) 

Sunday 27th September
11:05 - Race 2 (25 minutes + 1 lap)

All times are Central European Summer Time (CEST).

Entry list

7 - Mike Halder - ALM Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
8 - Nicola Baldan - PMA Motorsport - Audi RS 3 LMS
10 - Viktor Andersson - Monlau Motorsport - CUPRA Leon VZ TCR
12 - Gabriele Covini - BRC Racing Team - Hyundai Elantra N TCR
17 - Nicolas Taylor - PMA Motorsport - Audi RS 3 LMS
19 - Felipe Fernández - RC2 Racing Team - Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
20 - Teddy Clairet - Vannin Motorsport - Audi RS 3 LMS
22 - Giacomo Prandelli - AIKOA Racing - Audi RS 3 LMS
24 - Julien Briché - JSB Compétition - Hyundai Elantra N TCR
27 - Ruben Volt - ALM Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
33 - Santiago Concepción - Squadra Martino - Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
37 - Victor Chan - RC2 Racing Team - Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
38 - Tom Pussier - SP Compétition - CUPRA Leon VZ TCR
41 - Carl Boardley - ALM Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
48 - Mikael Karlsson - ALM Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
69 - Max Hart - ALM Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
72 - Sandro Pelatti - PMA Motorsport - CUPRA Leon VZ TCR
73 - Victor Fernandez - RC2 Racing Team - Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
74 - Victor Weyrich - Herrero Racing - CUPRA Leon VZ TCR
76 - Alex Ley - BRC Racing Team - Hyundai Elantra N TCR
85 - Tiago Pernía - Squadra Martino - Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
87 - Junui Park - Solite Indigo Racing - Hyundai Elantra N TCR
97 - Junesung Park - Solite Indigo Racing - Hyundai Elantra N TCR
111 - Marco Butti - Monlau Motorsport - CUPRA Leon VZ TCR
112 - Mikhail Simonov - SP Compétition - CUPRA Leon VZ TCR
115 - Luke Sargeant - Vannin Motorsport - Audi RS 3 LMS
117 - Adam Shepherd - Monlau Motorsport - CUPRA Leon VZ TCR
145 - Raphael Fournier - JSB Compétition - Hyundai Elantra N TCR
441 - René Povlsen - ALM Motorsport - Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
TBC - AIKOA Racing - Audi RS 3 LMS