Tiago Pernía, the son of current TCR South America champion Leonel Pernía, is looking to be on the grid in next year’s TCR Europe series after a strong first season in the regional TCR South America championship.

The Brazilian-American driver finished seventh in the drivers’ standings, and took a commanding victory at the seventh event of this season, taking victory and pole position at Curvelo in his Honda YPF Racing Civic Type R FL5 TCR.

The 22-year-old is targeting being on the grid in next year’s TCR Europe series, following in the footsteps of current Kumho FIA TCR World Tour racer Ignacio Montenegro, who went from TCR South America, to Europe, and onto the world stage this year.

“I enjoy TCR a lot, it’s the car I like the most to race, more than Formula,” said Pernía. “It’ll be a real challenge for me to go to a new category and a new team and new circuits, so I hope that I will enjoy it a lot. TCR South America has helped me a lot to build me as a driver. The team was really good this year, and I’ve had my father helping me at every race.”

One of the main challenges for Pernía will be both the new circuits, and the change of tyre compound to Kumho, a tyre he’s not got much experience with.

“What I know is that Kumho tyres have more race pace, so it’ll be a new challenge for me, to be faster in the races. In qualifying it’s also a different tyre so it’ll be difficult. In the past years TCR South America used Kumho tyres so I know from the team it’s a great tyre.

“I’ve also never raced in Europe. What attracts me the most is Spa-Francorchamps and Monza too. I really like to be there, I know Monza a lot from simulators and it’s my dream to race there.”

After his first full year in TCR, Pernía aims to contest both TCR South America and TCR Europe in 2026, with his plans set to be finalised in the next few weeks.

“The idea is to race in both TCR South America and TCR Europe, so it will be difficult, but I know we can manage the difference of circuits. We are really close, there are only need some small details to finalise, but with the strength we are pushing to be there, I know it will be possible.”