I mean, it's a bummer that another car we can't buy in the States will go racing on American soil, but I'll never say no to more variety on the grid.
Photography by J.A. Ackley
This is the Cupra Leon VZ TCR, approved by IMSA to run in the Michelin Pilot Challenge for 2025. But what is a Cupra Leon VZ TCR?
Ever heard of the Spanish marque SEAT? Well, Cupra Racing replaced SEAT Sport in 2018 as the company’s high-performance brand. Cupra Racing is part of the Volkswagen Group, and the Leon uses the MQB platform. That’s the same platform that the Audi A3 Mk3 and Mk4 and the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 and Mk8 are based on.
John Martin, of Patriot Race Engineering, the U.S. distributor for Audi, Volkswagen and now Cupra Racing TCR parts, says the Leon TCR shares about 75% of its parts with the Audi RS3 LMS SEQ in the Michelin Pilot Challenge. That includes the turbocharged, inline-four EA888 engine.
If you take a gander at the rear, no diffuser, simply a flat-bottom under the bumper. Something that isn’t clearly visible is that the Leon has a different front subframe and front uprights than the RS3.
But, wait, where can you find a SEAT Leon in the U.S.? You can’t … but that is set to change. SEAT has announced its intentions of entering this market with the Cupra brand by 2029.
The roadgoing SEAT Leon. Photo courtesy SEAT.
“Racing is in Cupra’s DNA,” said Xavi Serra, head of Cupra Racing, in an IMSA press release. ‘We are always looking for new challenges that dare us to be better, and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge is certainly one of them. We are very excited to participate in our first competition in the USA ahead of our market launch by the end of the decade. The Cupra Leon VZ TCR has already proven its performance in other international championships, and now it’s ready to compete in a new challenge.”
In TCR Europe, Franco Girolami used a Cupra Racing Leon en route to the 2024 championship. That success has translated to interest from teams on fielding one in the IMSA Michelin Challenge in 2025, says Martin.
“This is a proven brand,” Martin adds. “Maybe it’s not well known to a lot of people, but it’s proven itself on the race track. The car comes with unlimited support from myself and my company, as well as Cupra. We’re committed to making this a success in the U.S.”
I mean, it's a bummer that another car we can't buy in the States will go racing on American soil, but I'll never say no to more variety on the grid.
In reply to Colin Wood :
I agree about not getting another cool car here but I am excited to see another car on the TCR grid.
Agreed. Glad to see it but it's equally available here as that lone, little Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR in the series.
2029 is a long way away with ample time for corporate shakeups and reverse decisions to be made.
And yes I know the problem with bringing small cars to the States: there are maybe 10 folks in an internet echo chamber that are about the only people interested.
Coniglio Rampante said:And yes I know the problem with bringing small cars to the States: there are maybe 10 folks in an internet echo chamber that are about the only people interested.
I've had a similar conversation with several people. It's goes something like this:
Person: I wish [carmaker] would sell [car model] in the U.S.
Me: They won't because not enough people would buy it.
Person: Well I would buy it.
Me: So if it showed up in dealerships today, you'd go out right now and buy it?
The topic is usually dropped after that.
In reply to Colin Wood :
Yup.
Earn extra credit for conversations with "Boring Colors Guy" who when similarly questioned says "but that green is too bright" or "not that shade of orange" or something similar.
It's interesting to see two Volkswagen Group marques participate in IMSA TCR. You don't often see companies with multiple brands participate in the same series with two different ones these days.
I'm also wondering when the pendulum will swing against SUVs and crossovers. We've seen it in the past with minivans and station wagons, is the SUV/crossover next?
In reply to J.A. Ackley :
And it's interesting that VW pulled itself out of most if not all motorsports about 5 years ago, citing the cost of handling Dieselgate. The GTI TCR's that were run by FCP Euro had just won the SRO TC America championship in 2019.
Oh well. At least privateers still run GTI's at the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring and other such races.
I guess for IMSA, it must make more sense at VAG to allow Audi and Seat/Cupra to race instead of VW.
I think this is a very clever move, but not about cool small cars. The bean counters at VW would never make an investment like a new brand based on cars they historically haven't been able to sell through existing brands, nor would they cannibalize the VW brand with other mass market cars.
However:
"Wayne Griffiths, who serves as CEO of both brands, announced that Cupra will debut in the U.S. by the end of this decade with two new all-electric SUVs.
...
And as for sales, Cupra may be up to something interesting here. "This will be done through a new distribution model," he said, but didn't elaborate further. "
I think TCR isn't win Sunday/sell Monday but rather a stalking horse for VWAG direct to consumer EV sales.
paddygarcia said:
"Wayne Griffiths, who serves as CEO of both brands, announced that Cupra will debut in the U.S. by the end of this decade with two new all-electric SUVs.
...
of course we are getting SUVs. Why would we possibly want a quick and nimble car that would be better for 90% of the driving most people actually do.
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