TCR / 14 March 2018

Josh Files and Attila Tassi to race new Honda in TCR Europe

Josh Files and Attila Tassi will contest the TCR Europe Series in 2018 in brand-new Honda Civic TCRs after joining JAS Motorsport as official test drivers.

British driver Josh, 27, has been one of TCR racing's most successful drivers. He is the reigning TCR Germany Champion, having won back-to-back titles, and also claimed the inaugural TCR Middle-East crown in 2017.

He finished third in the TCR Europe Trophy last year with a win in the first of two heats and was a podium-finisher on a one-off outing in TCR International at the season finale at Dubai Autodrome; all achieved in the JAS-built Honda Civic Type R TCR.

Eighteen-year-old Attila finished as runner-up in the hotly-contested TCR International Series behind the wheel of a Honda in what was just his second year in high-level motorsport.

Both Josh and Attila have played key roles in the winter testing schedule of the Civic TCR, which made its debut at January's 24 Hours of Dubai.

As part of both drivers' programmes, they will contest the newly-expanded TCR Europe Series with a yet-to-be-named customer team, as well as continuing to develop the Civic TCR.

TCR Europe kicks off at Circuit Paul Ricard, France, on May 5-6 and consists of seven rounds at renowned circuits, including a home event for Attila at the Hungaroring, on July 7-8.

Josh Files said: "It feels great to know I'll be racing in TCR Europe this year with a Honda Civic TCR that I'm already familiar with after quite a bit of testing during the winter. After winning the German and Middle-East TCR crowns in JAS Hondas, TCR Europe is a logical next step for me and I know what it takes to win at this level. While my team is undecided for the moment, I'm sure I'll have the machinery and the support necessary to be a major title contender."

Attila Tassi said: "I'm very happy to confirm my participation in TCR Europe. Outside of WTCR, this is the highest-level championship for TCR cars and the competition will be fierce, but I feel that the testing I’ve done with JAS Motorsport over the winter will be of huge benefit. I’m not sure which team I will race for in TCR Europe but, having finished second in TCR International last year as part of a JAS customer team, I'm confident everything will be in place to challenge for the title."

Mads Fischer, JAS Motorsport TCR Project Leader, said: "We are very pleased to appoint Josh Files and Attila Tassi to official test roles within our TCR programme. Both are fantastic drivers; Josh taking championships in two years in JAS Hondas, and Attila, at just 18, beating some of the world’s best drivers in the discipline. Each has been invaluable during testing of the new Honda Civic TCR and I’m sure both will be extremely successful in TCR Europe. Both drivers should soon be able to announce their race programmes.”