By Mick Palmer

Adam Shepherd has announced that he will return to the TCR UK championship for a second season in his race winning Hyundai i30 N with Area Motorsport.

Shepherd returned to the track at the TCR Media Day last week with the car at Donington Park – the scene of his debut TCR UK win in 2022 – with a view to committing to the upcoming season, and after a satisfactory run made the move to take up a full season slot on the grid.

“We’re delighted to be able to start the 2023 TCR UK season and build on last year,” Shepherd said. “We had a mixed 2022 with a few issues but showed great pace taking many podiums, a race win, and a lap record. We currently only have the budget for the first few rounds, but are looking to hit the ground running, push for wins, and work hard to secure more budget as we aim for the overall championship.”

A mid-season turnaround In form saw Shepherd build a championship challenge in the latter half of 2022. Second places at Brands Hatch and Oulton Park seemed to have been bettered during the opening Castle Combe race where the Area racer dominated until a last corner puncture led to him crawling across the line, and losing out to Bruce Winfield by a matter of metres. A win finally came at Donington, but an early morning accident in the season ending meeting at Snetterton had him on the back foot for the day leading to a retirement and a DNS – leaving him sixth in the championship.

Described by rivals as a driver who is “lightning fast” and learns by “winding back his pace,” Shepherd and his AMR company are also serving the BRSCC (the organising club for TCR UK) with a deal for providing decals for championships under their control.