The2022 TCR UK Touring Car Championship was the fifth season of the TCR UK Touring Car Championship. The championship featured production-basedtouring cars built toTCR specifications and was held over fifteen races across seven meetings throughoutEngland. The championship was operated byStewart Lines'Maximum Group.
Hugo Cook announced his return, after a late season entry in2021, in his family runAudi RS 3 LMS TCR.[22]
Another driver graduating from the Volkswagen Racing Cup was Matthew Wilson who would debut with JWB Motorsport in a brand newCupra León Competición TCR.[24] He would be joined at the opening round by Kieran Griffin and Miltek Civic Cup front runner, Rob Butler, both driving aVolkswagen Golf GTI TCR.[25]
Having entered the second half of the2021 season, Jack Depper announced a return for the full campaign driving for Capture Motorsport in aVolkswagen Golf GTI TCR.[27]
Steve Gales entered the championship for the first time. He was initially slated to run aVolkswagen Golf GTI TCR but would arrive at the first round with anAudi RS 3 LMS TCR.[28]
Darelle Wilson would enter the full season with his family runVauxhall Astra TCR. He would remain one of only 2 drivers to appear in every season of TCR UK.[30]
Teenager Alex Ley was announced for a late season entry driving a Daniel James Motorsport runHyundai i30 N TCR.[31]
Having entered the final event in2021, Isaac Smith joined for the full season in a family runVolkswagen Golf GTI TCR.
Changed Teams
With Motus One Racing leaving the championship, Max Hart joined JamSport Racing driving aHyundai i30 N TCR.
Having entered the opening rounds in2021, Motus One Managing DirectorWill Powell left to race in theBTCC. His teammate at Motus One, Danny Krywyj also failed to return.
Having done selected events in2021, Alex Morgan, Alex Kite, Tom Hibbert, Jamie Sturges, Toby Bearne and Daniel Wylie all did not return.
Simon Tomlinson & Kieran Griffin left the series after the opening round.
Neil Trotter and Chameleon Motorsport would enter the championship from the second round onwards with aCupra León TCR.[10]
Rob Butler would switch to Garage 81 for the second round. He would leave the series before the third event, returning to the Miltek Civic Cup.[37]
Alex Ley entered the season earlier than announced, appearing from the second round onwards.[38]
Having appeared in 2 rounds during2021, Mark Smith returned for both Donington Park meetings with hisCupra León TCR being run under the Richmond Fire Motorsport banner.
Hugo Cook left the series after round 2.
Callum Newsham missed the second round due to illness.[39]
Jack Depper would leave the series after the third round.
Prior to round 4, Adam Shepherd left JamSport Racing and joined Area Motorsport.[9]
Both Russell Joyce and Chris Wallis missed round 4 and 5 before both returned for round 6.
Darron Lewis and George Heler would join the grid for round 6. Lewis would run hisAudi RS 3 LMS TCR for his own team while Heler'sVolkswagen Golf GTI TCR would be run by Paul Sheard Racing.[36][34] However, both entries were ineligible to score points.
Steve Gales' entry changed several times during the season. For the opening round hisAudi RS 3 LMS TCR was run under thePlayerLands banner. For rounds 2 & 3 he was entered under theWelch Motorsport banner. He missed round 4 due to damage sustained at the previous round before returning for round 5. This time he would drive aVolkswagen Golf GTI TCR for MPHR. For the final two events, MPHR would continue to run him but he returned to driving anAudi RS 3 LMS TCR.
Ahead of the final event, bothAndy Wilmot and Max Hart announced that they would be leaving JamSport Racing.[40]
For the season finale, Chameleon Motorsport upgraded and expanded to twoCupra León Competición TCR's for Neil Trotter and Mini Challenge UK racer Lewis Brown.[11][12]
Prior to the final round, Area Motorsport announced on social media that Bruce Winfield would switch to aHyundai i30 N TCR. He would be joined by fellow Hyundai drivers Alex Ley andAndy Wilmot who left Daniel James Motorsport and JamSport Racing respectively.[20]
^Grid positions were decided by a drivers second fastest time in qualifying. No points were awarded.
^Max Hart initially qualified on Pole Position but was demoted to last with a further 10 second delayed start due to a technical infringement.
^Andy Wilmot initially won the Diamond Trophy but was later disqualified due to a technical infringement.
^Jac Constable crossed the line first but was handed a 10 second penalty for a jump start which dropped him to third.
^Andy Wilmot initially won the race overall but was disqualified due to a technical infringement.
^Andy Wilmot initially won the Goodyear Diamond Trophy but was disqualified due to a technical infringement. However as Darron Lewis was a guest entry, the full 25 points would be awarded to Neil Trotter.
^Russell Joyce initially won the Goodyear Diamond Trophy but was penalised 3 places for causing a collision handing the win toAndy Wilmot.
Chris Smiley
Max Hart