Revealed during the closing stages of 2016, the all-new Kia cee’d TCR developed by Austria’s STARD (Stohl Advanced Research and Development) has seen significant development in recent months, and just recently the operation released their 2017 plans, for which Asia and China will play a significant role.
To start the season they have announced a new partnership with China’s EJE Engineering, who will represent K:FORCE China with the Kia TCR and aftermarket products developed by STARD, into the Asian region.
CEO Edmand Chan and CTO Eddie Hughes will operate the Chinese program for all K:FORCE activities including car sales and customer service for all TCR competition in Asia, from International events, all the way down to local club racing.
“We have cooperated with EJE Engineering in other projects already, for example in CTCC,“ Michael Sakowicz, CEO of STARD explained. “The team around Edmand and Eddie is very experienced and has a great understanding of what it takes to perfectly support customers in sales and after sales operations, and especially with technical support on and off the race track. The operation under the banner of “K:FORCE China“ will receive full backing from our STARD engineering and sales teams.“
“After many detailed discussions and meetings in China and Austria last year, we are convinced that STARD and it´s K:FORCE Kia cee´d TCR are one of the most interesting products on the young TCR market,“ Edman Chan, CEO of EJE Engineering explained.
“We are very excited and honoured to be the representative for the K:FORCE TCR and aftermarket line for Kia cars in China. We are fully prepared and motivated to provide professional “STARD level“ service, in China.“
The TCR Asia Series enters it’s third season in 2017, with a 12-round program across Asia, whilst TCR Thailand will enter it’s second season of competition and TCR China will make it’s debut, promising for a busy period for EJE Engineering.
“This is fantastic news for the Asian region, not the least because it carries the badge of one of Asia’s most successful manufacturers,” WSC Asia Limited’s David Sonenscher admitted.
“The TCR project is exploding around the world, with growth in Asia a significant part of that growth, and with TCR China coming on board this year alongside Asia and Thailand, there will – I’m sure – be great interest in the STARD-developed Kia cee’d TCR, most especially as they have an operation based in Asia managing the project. We wish them all the best for the coming season, and look forward to seeing them as part of the TCR Asia Series in 2017.”
Any teams looking at becoming involved with the TCR concept in the Asian region, should make contact via [email protected]
