Michelle Halder moves to TCR Spain

RACERS

May 4, 20212 min read

Young German TCR specialist and race-winner Michelle Halder announced that her family-run team will switch to the newly-formed TCR Spain, in addition to their NSL campaign.

The 2020 TCR Europe "Lady of the Year" has announced that she will move to the newborn championship TCR Spain, together with her brother and teammate Mike.

Michelle Halder, 21-year old racing driver from Überlingen, Germany, has made headlines in the past couple of seasons, when she became the first woman to win a race in the ADAC TCR Germany and the first woman to win at continental level in TCR Europe.

Halder, who switched from single seaters to touring cars after two seasons in ADAC F4, is one of the most interesting female prospects in global TCR championships.

After her breakthrough victory in Zandvoort in 2019, Michelle claimed another victory at Nürburgring in 2020, in what would be her last participation in the series. In a late move, the Halder brothers decided to move to TCR Europe, where they were immediately up to speed in their Honda Civic Type R TCR cars.

Michelle made history at Zolder, securing victory in race 2. She would finish a very solid debut season in 15th position, with four top-10 results.

"We are very pleased to announce that we will be competing in TCR Spain this year." - she wrote in a statement on Tuesday 4th May. "We are very much looking forward to the new challenge with new tracks."

Launched by the Real Federación Española de Automovilismo, the Spanish TCR championship will kick off in 2021 with a five-event calendar in conjunction with the RFEDA Racing Weekends – events that host the most popular Spanish racing championships like the Spanish Touring Car Championship (CET) and the Spanish F4.

The series will feature a triple-header format each weekend, with races of 20 minutes + 1 lap. Saturday qualifying will shape the grid for the first race, while the second best lap will set the order for Race 2. Race 3 will have a reverse grid of the top-6 finishers from the previous competition.

The young german driver will thus make her debut in the Spanish-based series at the season opener in Navarra, on May 29-30, behind the wheel of the Honda Civic FK7 TCR.

Additionally, she will continue her commitments in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS), where she shares a Cupra TCR car with her brother Mike in the SP3T class.

2021 TCR Spain calendar 10/11 April, Circuito del Jarama-RACE 29/30 May, Circuito de Navarra Los Arcos 31 Jul/1 Aug, Motorland Aragón 18/19 September, Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia 13/14 November, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya