• CIVIC CUP RACER BENSLEY TO MAKE TCR UK DEBUT
• ‘UNICORN’ LYNK & CO RETURNS TO FIELD
• TCR UK PREPPING FOR OFF -SEASON EXPANSION

Former Civic Cup racer Ryan Bensley will make his first TCR UK appearance at Silverstone this weekend as the Championship finishes off the season on the seldom used International layout.

The former Civic Cup frontrunner will race his Lynk & Co 03 with Motion Motorsport taking responsibility for the running of the car after a recent test at Donington Park.

“I am looking forward to driving the car, from the limited running I have had, the car just feels sensational to drive,” the Norfolk based racer stated in the official announcement. “With more track time, I know it can be a consistent front-running machine. I’m looking to be on the pace for the finale, so that I can prepare for next year and improve further with the car and the team,” he added.

The Lynk & Co has been seen as a bit of a ‘Unicorn Car’ in TCR UK. Bensley was initially revealed as one driver of a two-car effort from Pro Alloys Racing earlier in the year, but off-track challenges delayed his graduation to the series.

Pro Alloys brought Viktor Anderson to the first round of the series with the Swedish TCR Europe youngster showing the capabilities of the Swedish/Chinese machine with a win in the opening race At Brands Hatch. Fellow Civic Cup racer Owen Hillman campaigned the car on the Silverstone National layout, taking the car to the front of the field in one race, putting on display the pace that the car had been predicted to bring to the British based TCR series.

While the Pro Alloys car is currently up for sale, the Motion Motorsport car of Bensley is the machine that Andersson took to fifth in TCR Europe in 2023.

The lack of entries for the marque in 2024 seems to have been due to entrants taking a ‘watch and see’ approach. The predictions that it would dominate the series in the right hands fell to one side as drivers failed to score full season deals. Those who have raced, or tested, the 03 have suggested that the car would match its international success in the UK. Names familiar to BTCC fans were linked to the car, with drivers ousted from the category due to the 2024 grid shrinking featured in paddock rumours, with the car being seen as a headline selling point for the championship.

Adding the car to a growing season finale grid is welcome news for TCR UK as it finishes its BRSCC commitment before switching to BARC, and a more budget friendly calendar for 2025.
Promoter Stewart Lines stated: “Ryan has been one of the stalwarts of the Milltek Sport Civic Cup and it’s great to see him move into touring car racing and join TCR UK. It’s also good to see another Lynk & Co back on the grid, showing the growing diversity of brands we have in the championship this season.” The addition of the Lynk & Co and a couple of expected extra entries for this weekend comes as an excellent fillip as the Championship begins to pursue new teams and drivers for next season.