The 2026 TCR Europe Touring Car Series comes to its conclusion this weekend, with many championship battles to be decided in what is considered its most competitive season to date.

Nine drivers head into the weekend in contention for the drivers’ championship. Marco Butti has just assumed the lead after a strong points-scoring weekend at Monza, while Alex Ley’s Race 2 victory put the British driver back in the frame, just 11 points behind.

Nicolas Taylor, who has led the standings for much of the year, will need to bounce back from a difficult Monza. He has the chance to do so with no compensation weight on board his Audi this weekend, and nor do Viktor Andersson and Mike Halder, who are both just behind him in the points and have been strong contenders all year.

Rounding out the mathematical possibilities are Nicola Baldan, Tiago Pernía, Ruben Volt and Junui Park, all of whom could also win the title with an exceptional weekend.

The teams’ championship is also up for grabs. PMA Motorsport have led the standings all year, but last year’s champions Monlau Motorsport are now 15 points ahead of them after a strong weekend in Italy, while ALM Motorsport are just 34 points back and also in the frame to collect a second teams’ title in three years.

Last year, Ruben Volt scored pole position and easily won the first race, and was on course to repeat the feat in Race 2, flying through the field in his ALM Motorsport Honda Civic. It showed that he and the Honda have very strong pace at the track, as was also clear at the mid-season test, when Felipe Fernández topped the times.

Solite Indigo Racing, who are coming off the back of two race wins this year, also return to the circuit where they claimed their first ever win 13 months ago, when Junesung Park won the final round of the season. The South Korean recently scored his first podium in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour at his home track, and will be looking to end his year on a high at the circuit where he took his first win.

End of an era as Rubén Fernández helms his final race as promoter

It'll be a poignant weekend, as it's Rubén Fernández’s last as the promoter of the championship after two seasons at the reins. The touring car driver-turned-promoter has been responsible for a remarkable turnaround. The series featured strong competition but dwindling grids during 2024, and it now regularly boasts the largest and most competitive grids in international TCR competition, with exceptional media coverage, strong support and global interest, and with teams and drivers from Asia and the Americas also represented in the European-based series.

WSC Group, the promoter of the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour, will take over as promoter from next season, with plans to retain the same team that has helped bring about this turnaround. An exciting new calendar for 2027 will be revealed during the weekend.

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

Friday 23rd October
10:46 - Practice 1
16:13 - Practice 2

Saturday 24th October
11:20 - Qualifying (20 + 10 minutes)
17:30 - Race 1 (25 minutes + 1 lap) 

Sunday 25th October
11:35 - Race 2 (25 minutes + 1 lap)

Friday-Saturday times are Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Sunday times are Central European Time (CET)