By Mick Palmer

Dan Kirby has announced that he is returning to TCR competition after a year out from the drivers seat as he teams up with Zest Racecar Engineering in a CUPRA Leon Competición.

Kirby finished in third place in the 2021 Touring Car Trophy behind Lewis Kent and Bruce Winfield in a Power Maxed run Cupra Leon TCR after taking his first win and a handful of podiums in TCR racing.

“I’m delighted to be back for another season in TCR UK,” he said. “Having sat out of motorsport for the last 18 months, I’m keen to start where I left off and hopefully be in the championship hunt come the end of the season.

“TCR UK has come on strong attracting some top drivers and teams, and is a real credit to the organisers and I’m under no illusions how stiff the competition is for this coming season. Huge thanks go to Zest Racecar Engineering, who have worked hard to make the deal happen. I can’t wait to get going next weekend at Snetterton.”

Kirby is also known for being one of the people behind Trade Price Cars and formerly owned the Trade Price Cars BTCC team that took Jake Hill to his first victory in the championship. Kirby tested that NGTC machine alongside the second car of former F1 racer Mark Blundell in 2019 after amassing experience in Ginetta GT4 and Porsche Carerra Cup GB competition. After selling of the Audi machines Trade Price moved into sponsorship with Excelr8 aa the team took its maiden title last term with Tom Ingram.

For this season Kirby will team up alongside Carl Boardley with the returning Zest team allowing the outfit the opportunity to enter the Leon Competición pairing into the teams championship.