Santiago Urrutia from Uruguay is going to join reigning World Champions Lynk & Co Cyan Racing for the 2020 World Touring Car Cup season.
"We are very happy to have Santiago with us and we are delighted to welcome him as a key player in our 2020 WTCR title bid," said Christian Dahl, CEO and founder of Cyan Racing.
The 23-year-old comes from a background of single seaters and touring cars. He finished third overall in the 2019 TCR Europe season and second overall in the 2016 and 2017 Indy Lights series.
"I'm super happy to join Cyan Racing, it's very emotional for me and for my whole country as I'm first to become professional racing driver in Uruguay," said Urrutia.
"I'm obviously young and I want to race in the WTCR with Cyan Racing for many, many years. I am really grateful to have got this opportunity and trust from the team and I will give all to live up to the expectations."
Urrutia was one of four drivers that Lynk & Co Cyan Racing tested at Anderstorp in Sweden earlier this summer to find a replacement for Andy Priaulx who has decided to support his son's racing career in the US.
Watch the ‘Challenge The World’ episode from the test here.
"We decided to go with Santiago as he showed strong potential during the test. He got along really well with the team and he was fast in the car straight away," said Fredrik Wahlén, Managing Director of Cyan Racing.
The 2020 WTCR season starts on September 12-13 at the Salzburgring in Austria and Urrutia has got a hectic schedule together with the team to get ready behind the wheel of his Lynk & Co 03 TCR race car.
"It's not going to be easy, but that is why I love racing," said Urrutia.
"I have done a lot of preparations in the simulator and we are going to test on some of the circuits from the calendar, so I feel confident for the season."
Urrutia completes the Lynk & Co Cyan Racing WTCR ine-up and he will drive together with 2017 World Champion Thed Björk at the Cyan Performance Lynk & Co outfit, while Yvan Muller and nephew Yann Ehrlacher will race at Cyan Racing Lynk & Co squad.
"I am very happy to get 'Santi' as my team-mate, he is super-dedicated, and his background is a little bit like mine. He is super-fast, and I really look forward to work with him and to get to know him better," said Thed Björk.
Santiago Urrutia profile
Lives: Miguelete, Uruguay
Born: 30 August 1996
History
2019 - TCR Europe - 3rd
2018 - Indy Lights - 3rd
2017 - Indy Lights - 2nd
2016 - Indy Lights - 2nd
2015 - Pro Mazda Championship - Champion
2013 - European F3 Open - 4th
2012 - Formula Abarth European Series - 4th
2012 - Formula Abarth Italian Series - 4th
Contact information
Johan Meissner
Press Manager
Cyan Racing
+46(0)70 241 3234
johan.meissner@cyanracing.com
About Cyan Racing
Cyan Racing was founded in 1996 and was formerly named Polestar until Volvo Cars acquired the performance section and trademark in 2015. Cyan Racing is privately owned and operated. The team has claimed the last three Touring Car World titles, most recently the 2019 WTCR team title with Lynk & Co – and participated in the development of the Polestar performance models of the Volvo S60 and V60 in the years 2013 to 2015.
About Lynk & Co
Lynk & Co is the new global urban mobility brand addressing the needs and preferences of the connected generation and challenging auto industry conventions. Its products are designed and engineered in Sweden and will be sold globally.