The official entry list for the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO has been published with 25 all-season registrations accepted.

Getting underway in Marrakech, Morocco from 7-8 April, WTCR is the new name for the FIA World Touring Car Championship from 2018.

Of the 25 drivers preparing for action on the semi-permanent Circuit Moulay El Hassan, four are previous FIA WTCC champions, while three have raced in Formula One.

Eleven teams representing seven customer racing brands appear on the entry list, with the 25 drivers representing 11 countries.

Among the notable names taking part are Yvan Muller, a four-time FIA World Touring Car champion, Mehdi Bennani, the first Arabic driver to win an FIA world championship motor race, 2017 WTCC champion Thed Björk, Rob Huff, who captured the WTCC title in 2012 and Gabriele Tarquini, who achieved considerable success in touring car racing – including winning the 2009 WTCC crown – after racing in Formula One.

Tiago Monteiro, is among the all-season entrants but will miss the first event of the season while he continues to recover from injuries sustained in a testing accident last September. Benjamin Lessennes, who at 18 years is the youngest driver in the field, will deputise for him.

Alan Gow, President of the FIA Touring Car Commission, said: “We are delighted the FIA World Touring Car Cup has attracted such a strong list of entrants for 2018, featuring an exciting array of world champions, experienced racers and drivers aiming to forge their reputations in the sport. A great deal of work has gone on behind the scenes to put in place what we hope will be a very exciting, successful and highly competitive series. The interest from drivers and teams is an early reward for that endeavour and we look forward to the opening event of the season with great interest.”

François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, the WTCR promoter, said: “When we announced the FIA World Touring Car Cup from 2018, one of the things we promised was more cars. With a packed grid full of champions and winners, we’ve delivered on that promise. It proves the switch from WTCC to the WTCR format in partnership with the FIA and WSC has been fully embraced by drivers and teams: the prospects for a very exciting 2018 have just gone up another level. We will soon announce some of the wildcards that will take part in selected events and provide added intrigue.”