Guerrieri not giving up on WTCC hopes

Esteban Guerrieri wants to follow in José María López’s wheel tracks by racing full time in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

Guerrieri made an instant impact on his WTCC debut in his native Argentina in August, progressing to the DHL pole position shootout and setting the fastest lap of all over the Termas de Río Hondo weekend driving a Campos Racing Chevrolet.

While Guerrieri’s Súper TC2000 campaign has been his focus since then, a WTCC switch for 2017 remains a key objective.

“The hopes are still there,” he said. “My plan would be to get involved in a programme with an official factory team. So far it has not been much of a progress on that plan, but I never give up easily and will keep searching for it.

“I keep in contact and receive good advice from [WTCC promoter] François Ribeiro which always helps as he knows better that anyone what is going on in the WTCC. Of course I keep in touch also with Campos, we have evolved a very nice relationship with Ruben Espin and all the guys from the team. I wish I could secure the budget to make the full season with them, they deserve to have the right economical conditions, as they are a great team with a huge potential.”

Guerrieri, 31, would also consider a partial WTCC programme in 2017 if he were unsuccessful in securing the budget needed to complete a full season in the championship.

“This could be a nice option,” said the Buenos Aires resident. “Trying to do some races during 2017 could be a good way to still be involved in the WTCC world and to see if there was an option for 2018 with a full programme.”