Daniel Teixeira has strengthened his commitment to Iberian Supercars and Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade as the two-time Touring Car Champion is participating in this year's season with a new TCR.
The Murça-native driver clinched the Iberian and Portuguese series honors driving a Cupra TCR. However, for this year, he has switched to the JT59 Racing Team-run Hyundai Elantra N TCR.
“After selling the Cupra TCR, we considered various options, including GT4s, which are theoretically more competitive in Iberian Supercars and the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade. However, we preferred a TCR, as we wanted to continue having a car that would suit both me, in circuit racing, and my father, in hillclimb racing. In the end, my father's preference for Touring cars combined with my love of TCRs, which I consider to be real racing cars without any kind of electronic driving aid, dictated this choice for a state-of-the-art TCR," said the JT59 Racing Team driver, who is the highest-ranked Portuguese driver in the TCR World Ranking.
With a newer and more competitive machine, Daniel Teixeira is focused on defending the titles he has won in recent years. But his aspirations extend further, and the first contact he had with his new machine at last Saturday's test in Estoril reinforces his convictions.
"For 2024, the objectives are to revalidate the titles we won in 2022 and 2023, always aiming to be as far ahead as possible in terms of the general classification in every race. I really enjoyed the contact I had with the Hyundai at the Estoril test; you can see that it's an evolved car, and now it's up to me and the team to exploit its potential. I believe that the championship will once again be very well-organized, competitive, and hotly contested, and as such, we are naturally excited to be part of this competition once again," concluded Daniel Teixeira.
The first race of the Iberian Supercars, Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, and Supercars España will be held at the Circuito de Jerez on 25 and 26 May.
Photos: Rui Reis