Stefano Comini

Stefano Comini is a Swiss racing driver who won the inaugural TCR International Series title in 2015 and one more TCR title a year after.

Before he became a champion of that worldwide competition, Stefano won 2011 Megane Trophy Eurocup and 2012 Renault Clio Cup Italy.

The number 25 was Stefano's lucky number

The Best Cadet in his debuting season

Stefano was born on February 3, 1990, in Lugano, Switzerland. At the age of seven, he tested a go-kart. Until 2005, Stefano was racing in various karting championships in Italy and Switzerland, taking some titles in the junior category. Comini began his career with open-wheeled single-seaters in 2006 at famous Monza circuit, racing in the Formula Monza 1.2 with Fadini Corse. He won one of seven races and finished in tenth place. Stefano won the Best Cadet award and became the youngest winner of that category.

In 2007, Comini moved to a higher class, to the Formula Monza 1.6, driving for MG Motorsport. He finished third overall, with four wins in twelve races. He also participated in four races of the Swiss Formula Renault 2.0 and two races of the Italian Formula Renault 2.0 Winter Series.

Formula Renault was the next step for young Comini

Comini entered Formula Renault 2.0 Italy in 2008. He was driving for Team Dueppì and CO2 Motorsport. After fourteen races without any wins and podiums, he finished 17th in the final standings. The only victory Comini scored was in the Swiss Formula Renault 2.0, in the final round of the season at Monza.

Racing with Vantage GT4 at Nordschleife

In 2009, Comini expanded his program to the Italian and Swiss Formula Renault 2.0, driving for CO2 Motorsport. He failed to score any win in 22 races, with just three podiums in each of the two championships. He finished sixth in Italy and seventh in Switzerland. During 2009, Comini participated in three races of the VLN Endurance series at the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife, driving Aston Martin Vantage GT4 of the Swiss Gentle Team.

Third place in his first Megane Trophy season

In 2010, Comini ended his formula career with two races in the Formula Abarth championship round at Monza. He switched to touring cars and entered the Megane Trophy Eurocup with the Oregon Team. Stefano won three of 13 races and took third place in the classification, behind Nick Catsburg and Pierre Thiriet. Comini raced one more time with the Swiss Gentle Team, driving Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in the 24 hours of Dubai.

Comini won 2011 Megane Trophy Eurocup

Stefano was a dominant driver in the 2011 Megane Trophy Eurocup

Comini was a dominant driver in the 2011 Megane Trophy Eurocup and he won 11 of 14 races. He scored 12 pole positions and made the  fastest lap times at six circuits. As an award, Comini got Nissan GT-R GT1 test at Fuji Speedway in Japan.

Italian Clio champion in his first attempt

Comini moved to Renault in 2012, driving a Composit Motorsport's Renault Clio in the Clio Cup Italia. He won the championship in his first attempt with five wins in 10 races. Comini had a diverse program of races in 2012, driving in four other  competitions. He re-entered Megane Trophy Eurocup in four races and took two podiums. With Bonaldi Motorsport, he participated in two races of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo at Monza and he won both races. Comini was also a guest driver for Antonelli Motorsport in two races of the Porsche Carrera Cup Italy and one race of the Porsche Supercup.

Comini competed in Renault Clio Cup in 2012 and 2013

One more year with Renault Clio

After trying all those GT cars, Comini continued to race with Renault Clio in the Renault Clio Cup Bohemia. He joined Target Competition and finished 5th in the standings, with four wins in 13 races. He had guest appearances in the Renault Clio Cup Italy and Megane Trophy Eurocup, scoring the victories in both competitions.

Target and Stefano switched to Seat

In 2014, Comini remained with Target Competition but he moved to Seat Leon Eurocup. He was driving a new Seat Leon Cup Racer and he finished fourth in the classification, with three wins in 12 races. Once again, Stefano was a guest in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo but only for one round.

Comini won the inaugural TCR International Series in 2015

Stefano Comini - 2015 TCR world champion

The cooperation with Target Competition continued in 2015. Comini entered the first edition of the TCR International Series, the new global touring car competition. He was driving Seat Leon Cup Racer and he won the title in a fierce battle over 11 racing circuits in Europe and Asia, winning six races and adding five more podiums. He won the title ahead of two Spaniards Pepe Oriola and Jordi Gene.

Back-to-back championship title in 2016 TCR International Series

In 2016, Comini stayed one more season in the TCR International Series but he changed both the team and the car. His new racing machine is Volkswagen Golf GTI of the Leopard Racing team. Leopard Racing's drivers were Stefano and Jean-Karl Vernay. Both drivers were involved into the title fight until the last round at Macau Guia Circuit. Comini won the first race in Macau and finished fourth in the second race, taking his back-to-back TCR title ahead of James Nash.

2016 TCR International Series champion Stefano Comini

Third place in the 2017 TCR International Series

In the 2017 TCR season, Comini was among the front-runners again with new team, driving the #1 Audi RS3 LMS for Comtoyou Racing. He was a race winner three times, finishing third in the championship points behind Jean-Karl Vernay and Attila Tassi. In 2017, Comini also recorded few wins and podiums in TCR regional and national competitions (Benelux and Italy).

In 2018, TCR International Series and World Touring Car Championship merged into the WTCR - World Touring Car Cup, but Comini didn't enter that championship. He contested in the TCR Europe Series with two different teams, driving a Subaru WRX STI TCR and Honda Civic Type R TCR.  Scoring no wins or podiums, he finished 12th in the points.

Photos: Stefano Comini FB, tcr-series.com,  lueschers-autoblog.ch,