Urrutia ditches Road-To-Indy dead end for TCR Europe
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| Santiago 'Santi' Urrutia found the Road To Indy ladder to be a dead end |
Uruguayan racer Santiago Urrutia will race with WRT in the 2019 TCR Europe series, campaigning an Audi RS3 LMS alongside team-mate Maxime Potty, who has already been announced in a Volkswagen Golf.
Urrutia will be making his touring car début in the forthcoming season, choosing to do so in the highly-competitive European touring car series.
The 22-year-old has already made a name for himself in single-seater racing, competing in the Italian and European Formula Abarth series’ in 2011 and 2012.
In 2013 he stepped up to the European Formula 3 Open, taking two wins, before making an unsuccessful move to GP3 in 2014 where he finished the year in 23rd in the standings.
Urrutia lifted the 2015 Pro Mazda Championship title in the United States, before graduating to the Indy Lights series in 2016 where he remained for the next three years, claiming a total of eight race wins including finishing runner-up overall in 2016 and 2017.
The young racer will be supported by Audi Uruguay in the coming season as he makes his first appearances racing with a roof above his head.
‘’There are great expectations ahead of this TCR Europe campaign and it can’t be otherwise when you know the level of the Audi RS 3 and Team WRT," said Urrutia. “For me, it is going to be an entirely new experience, as I never competed in front wheel-drive cars, but I am excited by the challenge and by racing again in Europe after four years.
“It’s a new chapter in my career and I feel honored to join such a great squad as Team WRT and to drive an Audi. I’m really looking forward to represent Uruguay on the international racing scene."
WRT Team Principal Vincent Vosse believes that the gamble of the Belgian team to run with young drivers will pay off this year, with Urrutia’s team-mate Potty also being just 19-years-old.
“We are really happy to announce our TCR Europe program, which is a real bet on youth and talent," said Vosse. “The 2019 TCR Europe is going to be well-attended and I cannot think of a more competitive environment for our two young guns!
“We welcome Santi, who has a terrific record with single-seaters on two continents and is backed by the passion of an entire nation.
“We are equally delighted seeing Maxime come back to the WRT family, where he was born as a touring car driver.
“The challenge that lies ahead of us is not an easy one but we are well equipped and extremely determined to fight for the top honors."