Luke Sargeant will make his TCR UK debut at Oulton Park in the Area Motorsport run Hyundai Elantra that Josh Files campaigned during the opening round of 2023 at Snetterton.

Sargeant – who ran an i30 N in pre-season, before running the car at the Donington TCR Media Day – kicked off his career with some Civic Cup racing earlier his season.

“It’s amazing to be making my debut in the TCR UK Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park in the Hyundai Elantra,” he said. “I’ve been watching the opening rounds from Snetterton and Croft and I know I’m joining at an exciting time in the 2023 season.

“When I decided I wanted to go racing, my first thought was that I wanted to be in TCR UK and next month I get the chance to realise that ambition. As I join the grid in my first season of car racing, I know that there is a competitive field this year, and I’m looking forward to a solid debut which will kick off my programme for 2023.”

The Elantra was on the pace in the opening round where Files ran to second in the first race behind team mate and championship leader Bruce Winfield. In the second encounter an engine based fault caused a retirement while the car was leading – the car has since been fitted with a new engine and turbo.

The Sargeant driven machine is due for more appearances this year, but the Elantra was supposed to sit on the grid beside the Jamie Tonks run machine with Area. After winning a race last season Tonks was seen as a serious title challenger for this year before a major sponsor pulled the plug at the last minute, curtailing the start to his year. Tonks is still hopeful that his example of the Elantra will hit the grid for a part-season campaign alongside the Sargeant car.

The Oulton Park round takes place as a single day meeting on June 10^th.