BRC Racing Team Ready for the 2026 TCR Europe Challenge
BRC Racing Team is gearing up for the 2026 TCR Europe season, fielding two Hyundai Elantra N TCR cars for young talents Gabriele Covini and Alex Ley.
Both drivers are already familiar with the team environment and arrive following their experience in the 2025 TCR Italy Championship, a season in which they demonstrated steady progress and delivered notable results. Covini secured two pole positions, while Ley stood out with two race victories, confirming his potential in one of the most competitive touring car championships on the scene.
The move to the continental series represents a natural step in the development path of both young drivers, who will face a season featuring new circuits and an exceptionally strong grid. It will be an important proving ground for their growth, with the clear ambition of aiming for the highest levels of touring car motorsport.
The 2026 season will mark the eleventh edition of the TCR Europe Touring Car Series, with the calendar kicking off at Mugello, Italy, from March 20–22 on a circuit making its debut in the series. The championship will then head to the legendary Spa-Francorchamps before moving in June to Circuit Paul Ricard in France. July will see the series return to the Hungaroring, back on the TCR Europe calendar for the first time since 2023. After the summer break, the season will enter its decisive phase with the penultimate round at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza from September 25–27, before the grand finale at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from October 23–25.
A balanced calendar spread across the year promises an intense and highly competitive season.
Gabriele Rizzo Team Principal BRC Racing Team: “We are delighted to announce a young and ambitious lineup. It is a source of pride to support the growth of Gabriele Covini, who has been with us for years, and to consolidate the journey started last season with Alex Ley. The championship-winning Hyundai Elantra N TCR is a technical certainty for the team; for both drivers, stepping up to the continental series is a key milestone in climbing the TCR competition pyramid. Our compliments go to the promoter for bringing this championship back to a level of absolute excellence. Facing such a competitive series is the perfect motivation for our drivers’ goals.”
Gabriele Covini: “I’m very proud to compete in the TCR Europe series with BRC Racing Team. After two seasons together in the TCR Italy Championship, where I had the opportunity to grow and build a strong relationship with the team, continuing this journey at European level is an important step in my career. Last season I had the chance to take part in two TCR Europe events as a wild card, which allowed me to start getting familiar with the championship, the level of the drivers and the intensity of the race weekends in such a competitive series. I would like to thank BRC Racing Team for their trust and continued support. I’m approaching this season with great motivation: the goal is to keep improving race after race, be consistently competitive and fight for the top positions.”
Alex Ley: “I’m super excited to be racing in TCR Europe with the Italian squad BRC racing. Our target is clear, push for top results and make an impact throughout the season. I’m very confident with team around me, I have a great relationship with BRC and Hyundai working together for many years, so it feels like home to me. Let’s get the show on the road!”
2026 TCR Europe Touring Car Series calendar
20-22 March 2026 – Mugello, Italy
15-17 May – Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
5-7 June – Paul Ricard, France
3-5 July – Hungaroring, Hungary
25-27 September – Monza, Italy
23-25 October – Barcelona, Spain