WTCR: A Chinese challenge for the FIA World Cup - ISSUE 03 / 2019 - Italiaracing
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ISSUE 01/ /2019
ISSUE 03 2019
WTCR:
A Chinese challenge
for the FIA World Cup
Sepang hosted TCR Russia’s first round TCR DSG Endurance
TCR Asia opening event was held at Fort Grozny kicked off at Monza
COLOPHON
THE TCR
SNAPSHOT Editor in chief
Fabio Ravaioli
(fabio.ravaioli@tcr-series.com)
Editors
Alfredo Filippone
(alfredo.filippone@tcr-series.com)
Mark James
(mark.james@tcr-series.com)
Contributors
Actualfoto, Clovis Chooi, DPPI,
João Filipe, Fabiola Forchini,
Grigoriy Golyshev, Laura Hernández,
Sean Henshelwood, Danil Kolodin,
Patrik Koziolek, Fiammetta La Guidara,
Lee Mun Yee, Vadim Nikishev,
Jamie O’Leary, Adalberto Ramos,
Women beat men Evgeny Safronov, Salvatore Tarantino
Where: Circuito de Navarra
What: Amalia Vinyes and Alba Cano
finished 1-2 in the CER opening round
What’s next
in the world of TCR
26/28 April ADAC TCR Germany Motorsport Arena Oschersleben Published by WSC
26/28 April TC America Virginia International Raceway
27 April VLN Nürburgring Nordschleife World Sporting Consulting Ltd
27/28 April FIA WTCR Hungaroring 22 Eastcheap, 2nd Floor,
27/28 April TCR Europe / Benelux / Eastern Europe Hungaroring London EC3M 1EU,
27/28 April Super Taikyu Sportsland Sugo
United Kingdom
27/28 April Coppa Italia Autodromo di Pergusa
27/28 April Endurance Champions Cup Autodromo di Pergusa
3/4 May TCR Scandinavia Ring Knutstorp
3/4 May IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Designed by
3/5 May TCR DSG Endurance Autodromo P. Taruffi, Vallelunga
4/5 May TCR Asia / China Zhuhai International Circuit Inpagina s.r.l., via Giambologna 2,
10/11 May TCR UK Oulton Park 40138 Bologna, Italy
10/12 May FIA WTCR Slovakiaring info@inpagina-bo.it
17/19 May FIA WTCR Circuit Park Zandvoort
17/19 May TCR Australia Sydney Motorsport Park
17/19 May ADAC TCR Germany Autodrom Most
17/19 May TCR Italy Misano Circuit M. Simoncelli
17/19 May TCR Russia Nizhniy Novgorod
18/19 May TCR Eastern Europe / ESET Series Red Bull Ring
Reproduction in whole
18/19 May TCR Japan Autopolis Int. Racing Course or part is prohibited without
18/19 May Canadian Touring Car Championship Canadian Tire Motorsport Park the publisher’s permission
18/19 May ADAC 24H Rennen Qualifying Race Nürburgring Nordschleife
2
SPOTLIGHT
Hyundai Motorsport for young drivers
From the outset, one of the aims of the
TCR concept was to encourage the
discovery and development of young
driving talent. It was no surprise,
therefore, to read the recent
announcement by Hyundai Motorsport
Customer Racing of the introduction of
a Young Driver initiative that shares
those aims.
Open to any driver under the age of 24
driving a Hyundai i30 N TCR, the Young
Driver initiative aims to help drivers to
progress up the TCR ‘pyramid’ from
national or regional series through to
the FIA WTCR. As part of the
programme, drivers will be selected Marcello Lotti
based on their results, their ability to and Andrea Adamo
work with engineers and their
professional approach both at events rewarded with a test with BRC Racing recognized the value of the initiative,
and away from the circuits. Drivers alongside the team’s WTCR drivers. In commenting: “Having this level of
taking part in the initiative will wear a addition, drivers such as the 2018 WTCR support from a customer racing
specially-designed logo on their race winner Gabriele Tarquini will act as manufacturer for the TCR regulations is
suits, which should make them easy to mentors, providing support and advice fantastic. A major part of the appeal of
spot in the TCR paddocks. to the future Touring Car stars, while the category is the ability for drivers and
All the drivers will be invited to attend there will also be additional training teams to progress from a domestic series
a round of the FIA WTCR during 2019, and media coaching available. to international competition with the
while the best performances will be WSC CEO Marcello Lotti immediately same car, so to have the Hyundai
Motorsport Customer Racing Young
Driver initiative embrace is very
encouraging. There are already a great
number of very talented up-and-coming
drivers racing in TCR, and incentives like
this will only make the series more
attractive.”
Andrea Adamo, the Hyundai
Motorsport Team Director added:
“The introduction of the Hyundai
Motorsport Customer Racing Young
Driver initiative adds another layer of
support from the department available
to our customers around the world. We
already have some fantastic drivers
racing with our cars, and the
opportunities presented by being part of
the programme will hopefully attract
more young talent to Hyundai and the
i30 N TCR. Through the new scheme we
can help them in their professional
motorsport careers, allowing them to
progress through the national and
regional TCR series towards FIA WTCR.
I look forward to working with them in
seasons to come.”
3
WTCR Björk is the first points leader THE SWEDE CLAIMS LYNK&CO’S MAIDEN WIN AT MARRAKECH Lynk&Co has thrown down the gauntlet. On its maiden appearance in a TCR competition, the WTCR opener at Marrakech, the Geely Group-owned brand has scored the first ever victory for a Chinese manufacturer in international motorsport. The Lynk&Co 03 cars run by Cyan Racing proved to be competitive throughout the whole Moroccan event, claiming two other podium results and coming close to a 1-2 finish in Race 3. Therefore, it is not a surprise to see that Thed Björk is now on top of the standings, five points clear of Esteban Guerrieri and twelve of Gabriele Tarquini, the winners of the first two races. Amongst the other brands, Honda, Hyundai and Audi were more than up to the task, CUPRA was rewarded by Mikel Azcona's brilliant performance, while Volkswagen and Alfa Romeo struggled in the middle of the pack. 4
5
WTCR RACE 1 – GUERRIERI OPENS THE SCORING The Argentine converted his pole position into a lights-to-flag victory and crossed the finishing line with a slim six-tenths margin over Björk, who gave Lynk&Co a podium result in its maiden race. Guerrieri’s teammate Néstor Girolami completed the podium; actually the third to take the chequered flag was Jean-Karl Vernay, but he was handed a 5-second time penalty for pushing Andy Priaulx in the first part of the race and so dropped to 7th. At the start, Guerrieri made good use of pole and kept Björk at bay; behind them Girolami and Priaulx clashed and the Briton took third; Girolami dropped to fifth behind Vernay who had overtaken Tarquini at the start. On lap 5, Vernay pushed Priaulx wide and the latter dropped from third to sixth; on lap 11, Azcona hit Norbert Michelisz and passed him to take ninth position, but was then given a 5-second penalty that dropped him to 15th. RACE 2 – VICTORY FOR A FEVERISH TARQUINI Despite being weakened by a flu that gave him a high fever, reigning 6
MARRAKECH - ROUND 1, SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2019
DRIVER CAR TEAM
1 Esteban Guerrieri Honda Civic FK7 TCR All-inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 18 laps, 26:18.929
2 Thed Björk Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Racing Lynk&Co 0.638
3 Néstor Girolami Honda Civic FK7 TCR All-inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 2.181
4 Gabriele Tarquini Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 2.965
5 Andy Priaulx Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Performance Lynk&Co 4.928
6 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic FK7 TCR KCMG 4.973
7 Jean-Karl Vernay Audi RS 3 LMS Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport 5.805
8 Yann Ehrlacher Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Performance Lynk&Co 11.855
9 Kevin Ceccon Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR Team Mulsanne 13.049
10 Nicky Catsburg Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Lukoil Racing 13.693
Fastest lap: Attila Tassi (Honda Civic FK7 TCR, KCMG), 1:26.970, average 122.90 kph, lap 3
MARRAKECH - ROUND 2, SUNDAY 7 APRIL 2019
DRIVER CAR TEAM
1 Gabriele Tarquini Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 20 laps, 31:45.772
2 Jean-Karl Vernay Audi RS 3 LMS Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport 3.317
3 Yann Ehrlacher Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Performance Lynk&Co 3.991
4 Esteban Guerrieri Honda Civic FK7 TCR All-inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 4.514
5 Mikel Azcona CUPRA TCR PWR Racing 4.669
champion Tarquini scored his first 6 Thed Björk Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Racing Lynk&Co 7.064
victory of the season, as he inherited 7 Yvan Muller Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Racing Lynk&Co 8.197
the lead when his teammate Nicky 8 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic FK7 TCR KCMG 8.496
Catsburg crashed due to brake failure. 9 Frédéric Vervisch Audi RS 3 LMS Comtoyou Team Audi Sport 8.895
At the start Catsburg sprinted from
10 Néstor Girolami Honda Civic FK7 TCR All-inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 9.439
pole position and led from Tarquini,
Vernay and Yann Ehrlacher who Fastest lap: Rob Huff (Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, SLR), 1:26.974, average 122.90 kph, lap 15
overtook Guerrieri at T1. Azcona
retained sixth position from Björk and
MARRAKECH - ROUND 3, SUNDAY 9 APRIL 2019
Yvan Muller
DRIVER CAR TEAM
Those positions were frozen until
Catsburg crashed from the lead on lap 1 Thed Björk Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Racing Lynk&Co 23 laps, 37:58.474
10. His car swerved to the right while 2 Frédéric Vervisch Audi RS 3 LMS Comtoyou Team Audi Sport 0.680
entering a chicane and went straight 3 Mikel Azcona CUPRA TCR PWR Racing 3.039
into the tyre wall; the Dutch driver
4 Esteban Guerrieri Honda Civic FK7 TCR All-inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 6.182
explained that it was a brake failure
and he voluntarily steered to the right 5 Gabriele Tarquini Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 10.174
to avoid a heavier impact. 6 Néstor Girolami Honda Civic FK7 TCR All-inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 12.127
The safety car was deployed and, when 7 Gordon Shedden Audi RS 3 LMS Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport 14.725
the race resumed, Tarquini pulled away 8 Norbert Michelisz Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 15.455
from Vernay, who was closely chased
9 Ma Qing Hua Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR Team Mulsanne 16.128
by Ehrlacher, Guerrieri and Azcona.
Though the gaps were small, nobody 10 Daniel Haglöf CUPRA TCR PWR Racing 17.233
was able to attempt an overtaking
Fastest lap: Mehdi Bennani (Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, SLR), 1:26.880, average 123.10 kph, lap 6
manoeuvre.
7
WTCR
RACE 3 – BJÖRK WRITES
MOTORSPORT HISTORY
Björk wrote an historical page in
motorsport, presenting Lynk&Co with a
maiden victory; the result could have
been even better for Lynk&Co, as Yvan
Muller and Björk were set for a 1-2
finish for Cyan Racing until the
Frenchman retired when something
broke in the front suspension.
Frédéric Vervisch made a poor start
from pole and was pipped by Muller
and Björk; the Belgian was able to
defend third position ahead of Azcona.
During the first lap Ehrlacher and Tiago
Monteiro collided and crashed,
prompting the safety car to come out
onto the track.
At the restart, Muller built a small gap
ahead of Björk who was put under
pressure from Vervisch and Azcona.
Suddenly on lap 12, Muller’s pace faded
and he slowed down and headed for
the pits. Björk inherited the lead and
was able to close all the gaps, which
prevented Vervisch from attempting an
overtaking manoeuvre.
On lap 20, Vernay spun and crashed
from fifth due to a brake failure, which
resulted in another safety car
intervention until the end of the race.
Reigning TCR Europe champion Azcona
ranked third, stepping onto the
podium on his maiden WTCR
appearance.
The WTCR will resume at the
Hungaroring on April 27/28 for rounds
4, 5 and 6.
8
www.yokohama-online.com
EUROPE
TCR Europe
is booming!
QUANTITY AND QUALITY MARK OUT A 31-CAR FIELD
TCR Europe is ready for its second edition as a full-fledged
series, and what an edition the 2019 one promises to be!
Following a very successful introduction in 2018, all the
indicators are on the rise: the number of full-season entries
exceeds the 30-car mark, with 7 brands represented and a
clear increase in the level of contenders. More and more, top
teams and drivers across the continent are attracted by the
series, which received an additional credibility boost by the
excellent debut of Mikel Azcona, the 2018 champion, in the
FIA WTCR. The young Spaniard stunned all observers on his
debut at Marrakech, by making it to Q3 in the second
qualifying, scoring points in all three races and even taking
a podium finish in Race 3. There could hardly be a better
way to prove the value of the European series…
11EUROPE For 2019, there are no major changes while newcomer M Racing has to the fundamentals of TCR Europe, Frenchmen Nelson Panciatici and which keeps its format of seven two- Natan Bihel as drivers. Last but not race events, with only two changes of least, BRC Racing has entered a car for venues, as Hockenheim and Luca Filipp in his debut in Touring Car Oschersleben replace Zandvooort and racing. Assen. Action will start at the Not present in the FIA WTCR this year, Hungaroring, in an event shared with the Peugeot 308 will be a title the FIA WTCR. contender in TCR Europe, with 2017 The Hyundai i30 N is going to be the TCR Europe Trophy winners DG car model most represented, with Compétition and Aurélien Comte some great combinations. Target joining from the World Cup. The Lion Competition will again field Dušan can also count on two faithful Borković, alongside new hires Josh customer teams in the shape of JSB Files and Mat’o Homola, who joins Compétition, with Julien Briché and There is a strong French contingent from the WTCR, plus siblings Andreas Lilou Wadoux, and the three cars of with John Filippi in the Vuković Motorsport and Jessica Bäckman. Hungary’s M1RA Team Clairet Sport, two of them Renault Mégane (top), Aurélien Comte Motorsport is also entering two TCR entrusted to the Clairet siblings, Teddy (above) and the Clairet brothers aces, Luca Engstler and Dániel Nagy, and Jimmy. (below) in Peugeot 308 cars 12
Team WRT will
run an Audi
for Urrutia and
a Volkswagen
for Potty (right);
Al-Khelaifi will
drive a CUPRA
for the
QMMF-supported
programme
(below)
TCR multiple champion Luca Engstler (left) and
Georgia’s motorsport hero Davit Kajaia (above)
13EUROPE
The Honda Civic colours are defended the champion’s team last year, has
by the private outfits of Viktor formed a partnership with QMMF
Davidovski (PSS Racing Team) and Racing to enter Qatar’s Abdulla Ali Al-
Martin Ryba (Brutal Fish Racing Team) Khelaifi. The Spanish outfit will also
and by Boutsen Ginion Racing, who run a second car for Georgia’s
will field Touring Car legend Tom motorsport hero and TCR International
Coronel. The Dutchman, though, will race winner Davit Kajaia who returns
have to give priority to his WTCR to international racing after one
commitments at the Hungaroring, sabbatical year.
with the 2016 TCR Benelux champion The last addition to the list was
Stéphane Lémeret subbing for the Hungary-based Zengő Motorsport that
occasion. has entered the 23-year-old Támas
CUPRA, the brand that took the title Tenke who made his TCR debut earlier
last year with Azcona, again relies on this year in the Middle East Series.
Norway’s Stian Paulsen and his team, Both Audi RS 3 LMS cars are entered
as well as on JSB’s Marie Baus-Coppens by top squads from Belgium:
whose car has been upgraded with a Comtoyou Racing fields RACB’s young
sequential gearbox, while PCR Sport, hope Gilles Magnus, while Team WRT
Swedish siblings Andreas and
Jessica Bäckman have joined
Target Competition (above); Stian Paulsen
will keep on with his own team (below)
RACB, Belgium’s
National Sporting
Authority, supports
Gilles Magnus in the
Comtoyou Audi (above);
Tom Coronel runs a
parallel programme to
WTCR’s in the Boutsen
Ginion Racing Honda
Civic (right)
14has hired Indy Lights star Santiago
Urrutia, from Uruguay.
After dominating the 2018 TCR UK
series, Sweden’s WestCoast Racing
returns to the international scene,
keeping faithful to the Volkswagen Golf
GTI with Touring Car veteran Gianni
Morbidelli paired with Olli Kangas from
Finland. Another Golf car has been
entered by Team WRT for Maxime Potty,
who will also aim for TCR Benelux
honours, as the three-country
competition continues to take place
From the top to the bottom: within the framework of TCR Europe.
Gianni Morbidelli’s One of the most-awaited appearances in
WestCoast Racing 2019 will be the Renault Mégane RS
Volkswagen Golf and the developed by Vuković Motorsport. The
Hyundai cars of Luca Filippi Swiss outfit is entering former WTCR
(BRC Racing), Mat’o Homola contender John Filippi, while another
(Target Competition) car by Wolf-Power Racing is expected to
and Nelson Panciatici join, in the hands of Alex Morgan.
(JM Racing) Last but not least, the Hungaroring
season-opener will feature a significantly
larger grid as TCR Europe contenders will
be joined by the dozen entrants of the
new TCR Eastern Europe powered by
ESET series. Among them are drivers
from the Balkans region, Czech Republic
and Poland, but also Carol Wittke from
Germany who joins Baus-Coppens,
Jessica Bäckman and Lilou Wadoux to
form an intriguing ladies quartet.
15ASIA
Moran is the
surprise leader
THE ECUADORIAN WINS THE SECOND RACE AT SEPANG
Surprisingly, Diego Moran emerged as at the end of the first lap, while
the first points leader in TCR Asia, after Coicaud moved up to fourth overtaking
the season opener at Sepang the TCR Thailand champion Jakraphan
International Circuit. Davee.
Surprisingly because the top seeds The safety car was deployed on lap 3,
before the event were fellow Hyundai when David Lau’s Audi spun and stalled
drivers Luca Engstler and Pepe Oriola. If in the middle of the track. When action
Engstler fulfilled prior expectations in resumed on lap 5, Coicaud overtook
Race 1, claiming an authoritative Oriola for third; the Frenchman then
victory, he came off the worst in a passed Moran for second and finished
tough fight with Oriola and did not the race four seconds behind the
finish the second race. winner.
RACE 1 – A LIGHTS-TO-FLAG WIN RACE 2 - ORIOLA AND ENGSTLER
FOR ENGSTLER MAKE CONTACT
The reigning champion began the In an exciting race, Moran won the
season in style with a lights-to-flag fight for the lead with Daniel Miranda
victory. The young German sprinted from the Philippines. Behind the
from pole position and bid farewell to leading pair, Oriola and Engstler had a
the rest of the field; too much ruthless fight that ended with the two corners, as Kim Jin Soo and
wheelspin meant that Engstler’s young German stranded in the gravel. Hertner were punted into spins by
teammate Théo Coicaud, second on the Roland Hertner, who sat on pole of the Coicaud and Hui respectively.
grid, found himself in the middle of the top-ten reverse grid, made a poor start. By the end of the first lap, Oriola and
pack. Oriola benefited from the Miranda was first into T1, followed by Engstler both overtook Hui for third
situation and kept Moran at bay to take Moran, Hertner, Alex Hui, Oriola and and fourth; they started to fight and
second. However, Moran overtook Oriola Engstler. There were dramas in the first made contact twice at T1. Coicaud who
had dropped to 12th after the collision
with Kim, recovered to 7th. On lap 6,
Moran took the lead from Miranda, then
Coicaud and Hui made contact while
fighting for fifth and the latter retired.
On lap 7, Engstler tried to pass Oriola
on the outside line at T1, they clashed
and the German’s car spun off.
Moran won from Miranda, Oriola and
Coicaud who managed to pass Adam
Khalid for fifth and then Davee for
fourth.
TCR Asia’s second event will take place
at Zhuhai International Circuit, China
on May 4/5.
16Round 1 – Saturday 6 April,
Sepang Int. Circuit
1. L. Engstler (Team Engstler, Hyundai i30
N); 2. T. Coicaud (Team Engstler, Hyundai
i30 N); 3. D. Moran (Team Oettinger,
Volkswagen Golf GTI)
Round 2 – Sunday 7 April,
Sepang Int. Circuit
1. D. Moran (Team Oettinger, Volkswagen
Golf GTI); 2. D. Miranda (Eurasia
Motorsport, Hyundai i30 N); 3. P. Oriola
(Indigo Racing, Hyundai i30 N)
17ITALY
Tavano’s title
defence starts well
GAVRILOV AND BETTERA SHARE RACE VICTORIES AT MONZA
Salvatore Tavano’s defence of the TCR
Italy title began with the Sicilian driver
leaving Monza as the leader of the
standings after the first event of the
season. Driving a CUPRA run by the
Scuderia del Girasole, Tavano finished
both races in second position, scoring
more points than anybody else.
The race victories went to the young
Russian guest star Klim Gavrilov and to
Enrico Bettera, who had set pole
position in Qualifying.
Among those who shone, the 16-year-
old Jacopo Guidetti deserved a
mention, as he was classified fourth
and third in his maiden appearance in
an automobile competition.
RACE 1 – GUEST DRIVER
GAVRILOV TAKES WIN
Pole-sitter Enrico Bettera’s Audi stalled
at the start and was passed by almost
the entire field. Matteo Greco took the
lead ahead of Massimiliano Mugelli,
Tavano and Gavrilov. The four leaders
delivered an exciting battle with plenty
of contacts and Mugelli had to pit with
a punctured tyre after clashing with
Tavano.
Gavrilov took the lead with a superb
move on Greco at the Parabolica and
the young Russian pulled away
followed by Tavano. Greco slipped to
fourth behind Marco Pellegrini after
they made contact, which would later
cost Pellegrini a 25-second penalty.
On lap 8, Pellegrini’s Hyundai was
sandwiched between Felix Wimmer’s
CUPRA and Jacopo Guidetti’s Audi; they
collided and Pellegrini spun.
With some very quick laps, Tavano
closed the gap from Gavrilov, but the
18Russian increased his pace and secured from the top-ten reverse pole, while chasing Mugelli; eventually Bettera
the win from Tavano, Greco and Mugelli jumped to second with a moved into the lead on lap 6. Mugelli,
Guidetti. perfect start and Pellegrini was given a whose Alfa Romeo Giulietta was on
drive-through for moving before the wets, struggled to keep his pursuers
RACE 2 – BETTERA COMPLETES green light. behind. At the Parabolica, Gavrilov lost
A GREAT RECOVERY Mugelli then took the lead from a control of his Audi and collected both
The race started on a drying track: quintet of drivers – Wimmer, Andrea Mugelli and Greco; the latter spun off
some drivers chose wets, others opted Argenti, Tavano, Bettera and Greco – into the gravel, the Russian retired
for slicks and some mixed the two tyre who delivered a fierce battle. They with a broken suspension and Mugelli
types. Wimmer, on wets, took the lead swapped positions several times while pitted for repairs while the safety car
was deployed.
At the restart, Bettera pulled away and
won from Tavano; Guidetti crossed the
line in third position, but due to a 5-
second penalty he was classified equal
with Pellegrini.
The championship will resume at
Misano on May 17/19.
Round 1 – Saturday 6 April,
Monza ENI Circuit
1. K. Gavrilov (LTA Rally, Audi RS 3
LMS); 2. S. Tavano (Scuderia del
Girasole, CUPRA); 3. M. Greco (Scuderia
del Girasole, CUPRA)
Round 2 – Sunday 7 April,
Monza ENI Circuit
1. E. Bettera (Pit Lane Competizione,
Audi RS 3 LMS); 2. S. Tavano (Scuderia
del Girasole, CUPRA); 3. J. Guidetti (BF
Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS) / M. Pellegrini
(Target Competition, Hyundai i30 N)
19RUSSIA Still the same title contenders LADYGIN, BRAGIN, GRACHEV AND DUDUKALO ARE THE MEN TO BEAT Triple TCR Russia champion Dmitry Bragin keeps on winning despite changing his car nearly every year. On his first appearance at the wheel of a Hyundai i30 N car, Bragin had a disappointing qualifying due to a power steering failure, then suffered from an early spin in Race 1, but he made up with a lights-to-flag victory in Race 2. The season opener at Fort Grozny showed that the title contenders are still the same. Once again Bragin will be fighting with the LADA Sport duo of Kirill Ladygin and Mikhail Grachev who claimed a dominant 1-2 in Race 1, but also with Lukoil Racing’s veteran Aleksey Dudukalo. RACE 1 – LADYGIN LEADS GRACHEV IN A LADA 1-2 The track was still damp after the morning rain when the field took the rolling start; Ladygin made good use of the pole and led from Grachev, Klim Gavrilov, Dudukalo, Ivan Lukashevich and Bragin. During the first lap, Lukashevich and Bragin came together; the latter spun off and Lukashevich dropped to ninth. Ladygin then pulled away, while Grachev was under pressure from Gavrilov; behind them Dudukalo’s fourth place was threatened by Grigory Burlutskiy and Mikhail Mityaev. Soon Andrej Maslennikov joined this group and on lap 6 overtook both Burlutskiy and Mityaev, climbing to fifth. During the final laps the order was reshuffled as Gavrilov and Dudukalo collided, which helped Maslennikov to move up to third, while Lukashevich was given a drive- 20
Round 1 – Saturday 20 April,
Fort Grozny Autodrom
1. K. Ladygin (LADA Sport Rosneft,
LADA Vesta Sport); 2. M. Grachev (LADA
Sport Rosneft, LADA Vesta Sport); 3. A.
Maslennikov (Lukoil Racing, SEAT
León)
Round 2 – Sunday 21 April,
Fort Grozny Autodrom
1. D. Bragin (TAIF Motorsport, Hyundai
i30 N); 2. A. Dudukalo (Lukoil Racing,
Audi RS 3 LMS); 3. M. Grachev (LADA
Sport Rosneft, LADA Vesta Sport)
through for the incident with Bragin start from the outside of the front on lap 12, the safety car was
on the first lap; Bragin then took row and led into T1. Dudukalo kept deployed to recover Burlutskiy’s and
sixth just behind Burlutskiy. Gavrilov at bay to stay in second Ibragim Akhmadov’s cars and racing
place, while Grachev and Ladygin resumed on lap 16 of 20.
RACE 2 – BRAGIN’S FIRST WIN followed in fourth and fifth. Bragin kept control and won from
IN A HYUNDAI CAR Maslennikov stalled the engine and Dudukalo, Grachev and Ladygin,
Dudukalo started from pole on the found himself at the back of the field while Irek Minnakhmetov won the
grid that featured the top-seven and Lukashevich spun at T1 after close battle for fifth from Anton
classified in Race 1 placed in reverse clashing with Pavel Kalmanovich. Badoev, Mityaev, Lukashevich, Ivan
order; from this season, the number Bragin created a small gap and the Chubarov and Maslennikov
of the positions to be reversed top positions did not change until TCR Russia will resume at Nizhniy
(between six and ten) is decided by a lap 9, when Gavrilov was given a Novgorod for rounds 3 and 4 on May
draw. However Bragin made a better drive-through for a jump-start. Then, 17/19.
21IBÉRICO
Round 1 – Saturday 13 April,
Autódromo do Estoril
Francisco Mora
1. F. Mora (Veloso Motorsport, CUPRA);
2. G. Moura (Speedy Motorsport, Audi
RS 3 LMS); 3. R. Vaks (ALM Racing,
Honda Civic FK7)
makes it Round 2 – Sunday 14 April,
Autódromo do Estoril
1. F. Mora (Veloso Motorsport, CUPRA);
2. R. Vaks (ALM Racing, Honda Civic
a double at Estoril
FK7); 3. G. Moura (Speedy Motorsport,
Audi RS 3 LMS)
Francisco Mora was the most
experienced driver on the grid and
dominated the opening event of the
revived TCR Ibérico at Estoril with a
double victory.
In Race 1, Mora started well from pole
position and pulled away from the rest
of the TCR field. For the whole race,
Mora was able to stay on the same pace
of the Porsche GT3 of Nuno Batista that
eventually topped the overall
classification.
Behind Mora, the 16-year-old Gabriela
Correia, who created a surprise by
qualifying second on the wet track,
dropped down to fifth during the
opening lap and eventually retired
three laps before the end as the result
of an incident. Gustavo Moura took
second place at the start and retained it
until the end, while the Estonian duo
of Robin Vaks and Mattias Vahtel
finished in third and fourth positions
respectively.
Daniel Teixeira sat on pole position for
Race 2, but Moura made a better start
and Teixeira then also lost second
place to Mora. The latter took
the lead from Moura during the first
lap, while Teixeira managed to re-pass
Moura, but then spun and dropped to
sixth.
On lap 2, Vaks overtook Moura for
second; behind them there was a close
fight for fourth between Vahtel, Correia
and Teixeira.
Vaks managed to shake Moura off and
closed the gap from Mora, but he
couldn’t get close enough to try an
overtaking move. Mora won from Vaks
and Moura, while Teixeira recovered to
fourth after passing both Correia and
Vahtel; however he was given a 30-
second penalty for exceeding the track
limits and dropped back to sixth.
The TCR Ibérico will resume for rounds
3 and 4 at Vila Real on 5/7 July.
2224H TCE SERIES
12-hour races at Mugello and Spa
ONE WIN APIECE FOR AUTORAMA MOTORSPORT AND RED CAMEL-JORDANS
After the season’s opening race in by Autorama Motorsport by Wolf-Power and Nuya.
Dubai, the 24H TCE Series visited Racing was victorious in Italy, while They took the lead at the start of the
Mugello and Spa for two 12-hour races the Red Camel Jordans.nl CUPRA DSG second leg, but after one hour pitted
that awarded points for the European won in Belgium. to replace a broken driveshaft and lost
Championship. Both races consisted of At Mugello, the first part of the race 11 laps. Following the technical issue
a 4-hour first leg on Friday and an 8- was won by the Monlau Competición suffered by Monlau Competición, the
hour second leg on Saturday. CUPRA shared by four Thai drivers: Autorama Golf of Fabian Danz, Jan
The Volkswagen Golf GTI DSG entered Kusiri, Sathienthirakul, Asiralertsiri Sorensen and Kristian Jepsen inherited
the lead and kept a consistent pace
while it was chased by the AC
Motorsport Audi driven by Stéphane
Perrin, James Kaye and Vincent
Radermecker. In the final part of the
race, Radermecker managed to close in
on the leading car, but eventually had
to settle for second position, 26
seconds behind Sorensen. Sweden’s
Stefan Nilsson, Mats Olsson, Peter
Fahlström and Emil Sällberg completed
the podium in the Lestrup Racing Golf
GTI.
The orange CUPRA entered by Red
Camel-Jordans.nl won the 12H Spa-
Francorchamps; the Dutch team of Ivo
and Rik Breukers with Francis Tjia
finished fourth in the 4-hour first part
of the race, but recovered in Saturday’s
8-hour leg and emerged on top after a
24breathtaking fight with the Autorama
Golf GTI and the AC Motorsport Audi
that finished second and third.
These were satisfying results for both
teams. In fact the Danz-Sorensen-
Jepsen trio retained the lead in the
standings, while the AC Motorsport
guys, despite holding the lead at the
end of leg one, were relieved to finish
on the podium after a huge crash
during Thursday’s test required the
front end of the car to be completely
rebuilt overnight.
The next round of the 24H TCE Series
will be the 12H Brno on 24/25 May.
Round 2 – Saturday 30 March,
12H Mugello
1. Danz/Sorensen/Jepsen
(Autorama Motorsport with Wolf-Power
Racing, Volkswagen Golf GTI DSG);
2. Perrin/Radermecker/Kaye
(AC Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS);
3. Nilsson/Olsson/Fahlström/Sällberg
(Lestrup Racing, Volkswagen Golf GTI)
Round 3 – Saturday 20 April,
12H Spa-Francorchamps
1. Breukers/Breukers/Tjia
(Red Camel-Jordans.nl, CUPRA);
2. Danz/Sorensen/Jepsen
(Autorama Motorsport with Wolf-Power
Racing, Volkswagen Golf GTI DSG);
3. Perrin/Radermecker/Kaye
(AC Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS)
25CER
Girl power in Spanish enduro
It was the Circuito de Navarra at Los wins last year at Jarama. The best of the male drivers were Cano’s
Arcos that hosted the opening event of The first race, on Saturday, saw a teammates Gianluigi Vicinanza and Álex
the Campeonato de España Resistencia. female 1-2, with Andorra’s Amalia Cosín who grabbed the last place on the
Competitors of the TCR class took part Vinyes victorious for Baporo Motorsport podium in another CUPRA.
in two 48-minute races; as usual the ahead of Monlau Competición’s Alba In Sunday’s race there was an exciting
largest part of the field was running Cano; after starting from eighth on the battle for the lead between Vicinanza-
CUPRA cars while the only interloper grid, Vinyes recovered and eventually Cosín, PCR Sport’s Guillermo Aso-Álvaro
was the SMC Junior Team with the very stole the lead from Cano, winning with Fontes and Gonzalo Martín de Andrés-
same Peugeot 308 that scored two race a gap of 7.3 seconds. Enrique Hernando in the SMC Junior
Peugeot.
After the three teams swapped
positions several times, Martín de
Andrés and Hernando emerged as the
winners, beating Aso-Fontes by 3.7
seconds, while Vicinanza-Cosín finished
in third position once again.
The next round of the season will be
held on 25/26 May at Motorland
Aragón.
Round 1 – Saturday 6 April,
Circuito de Navarra
1. A. Vinyes (Baporo Motorsport,
CUPRA); 2. A. Cano (Monlau
Competición, CUPRA); 3. G.
Vicinanza/A. Cosín (Monlau
Competición, CUPRA)
Round 2 – Sunday 7 April, Circuito de
Navarra
1. E. Hernando/G. Martín de Andrés
(SMC Junior Motorsport, Peugeot 308);
2. A. Fontes/G. Aso (PCR Sport, CUPRA);
3. G. Vicinanza/A. Cosín (Monlau
Competición, CUPRA)
26DSG ENDURANCE
the CUPRA driver stopped for the first
Uncle and nephew of two mandatory pit stops. Capello
followed 6 laps later, handing the lead
to Fedeli, who managed to keep Paolo
takethewin in Monza Pelatti’s Audi at bay.
After the first pit stops, Alessandro
Altoè retained the lead from the Audi
cars of Giacomo Barri and Gabriele
It was a family success in the inaugural CUPRA of Carlotta Fedeli-Cosimo Volpato who was then forced into the
2-hour race of the new TCR DSG Barberini. pits with a brake problem. Barberini
Endurance Italian championship at Capello won the ten-minute Qualifying and Guida followed in fourth and fifth
Monza. Race to take pole position, but Fedeli, positions respectively.
Giovanni Altoè, paired with the latest back to racing after becoming a mother, After the second round of pit stops,
member of the racing dynasty from took an excellent start from Row 2 and with only 20 minutes left, Giovanni
Adria, his nephew Alessandro, took a passed both Capello and Giovanni Altoè Altoè was back in the lead, with Barri
satisfying win at the wheel of a CUPRA at the first chicane. Unfortunately, she only two seconds behind; Barberini,
car. could not keep the lead and was Russo and Capello were chasing the
The pair beat the other two main front- overtaken by her two rivals at the leading pair.
running cars of the weekend: the Audi Parabolica. Capello and Altoè then There wouldn’t be a final duel for
RS 3 LMS of Le Mans legend Dindo started a thrilling duel, swapping first victory, as Barri was slowed by
Capello and Nicola Guida, and the place several times until lap 20, when technical problems and also incurred a
25-second penalty, dropping to 6th,
while Capello had no such problems to
climb positions and seize a podium
finish in second place.
Round 1 – Saturday 6 April,
Monza ENI Circuit
1. G. Altoè/A. Altoè (Scuderia del
Girasole, CUPRA); 2. R. Capello/N. Guida
(Scuderia del Girasole, Audi RS3 LMS);
3. C. Barberini/C. Fedeli (Scuderia del
Girasole, CUPRA)
27VLN
Harald Proczyk had set pole position
The second round in the TCR class in the morning
qualifying, with a lap of 8:39.341 that
was worth the 27th position overall
cancelled by… snow on the starting grid. The second best-
placed TCR car was the Max Kruse
Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI of
Andreas Gülden and Benjamin
The 44th DMV 4-hour Race, the second for good at the end of the first lap by Leuchter, 35th overall with a time of
round of the VLN series on the snowfall. 8:45.105.
Nürburgring Nordschleife, was stopped The Hyundai i30 N of Peter Terting and At the end of the first lap the
competitors were caught in a
snowstorm that reduced visibility well
below the safety standard. The race
director had no alternative than to
wave the red flag; the field circulated
behind the safety car to complete the
second lap and the race was stopped
and not restarted. Proczyk was
leading the TCR class by a six-second
margin over Moritz Oestreich in the
Hyundai Veloster N that he was due to
share with Nico Verdonck.
Further back followed Gülden, Tiago
Monteiro in the Fugel Motorsport
Honda Civic and Heiko Hammel in the
Mathilda Racing CUPRA that had won
the previous round of the series.
The VLN’s third round will be the 4-
hour 61st ADAC ACAS H&R Cup on 27
April.
28COPPA ITALIA
Brigliadori and Sciaguato share the honours
Rainy weather plagued the opening behind him Sciaguato and and Caiola came together; this resulted
event of the Coppa Italia Turismo at Guastamacchia overtook Caiola to take in Caiola taking the lead and Sartoni
Mugello, where Eric Brigliadori and second and third on the podium. In the going wide in avoidance.
Nicola Sciaguato took one victory last part of the race, Caiola lost fourth Caiola was chased by Sciaguato who
apiece. position to Simone Sartoni. defended second place from Piccin and
In a wet first race, Brigliadori sprinted The second race began on a dry track; Sartoni. The latter stopped on track
from pole followed by Alessio Caiola, Fabio Fabiani made a poor start from with a technical issue and the safety
Guido Sciaguato and Mauro pole and Nicola Sciaguato jumped into car was deployed. When the race
Guastamacchia. The leader was able to the lead. During the first lap, Fabiani resumed with nine minutes to go, a
pull away from the very first lap, while spun off and rejoined, then Sciaguato shower hit the track; Caiola went wide
at T1 and rejoined in fourth position.
Sciaguato inherited the lead and went
on to take a comfortable win, while
Piccin salvaged second place, beating
the recovering Fabiani by less than two
hundredths.
The series will make the trip to Sicily
for the second event that will be at
Pergusa on 27/28 April.
Round 1 – Sunday 14 April,
Autodromo del Mugello
1. E. Brigliadori (BF Motorsport, Audi
RS 3 LMS DSG); 2. G. Sciaguato (BD
Racing, CUPRA DSG); 3. M.
Guastamacchia (MM Motorsport, Honda
Civic FK2)
Round 2 – Sunday 14 April,
Autodromo del Mugello
1. N. Sciaguato (BD Racing, CUPRA
DSG); 2. S. Piccin (MM Motorsport,
Honda Civic FK2); 3. F. Fabiani (BF
Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS DSG)
29STANDINGS
WTCR TCR Italy
(after rounds 3 of 30) (after rounds 2 of 14)
Drivers Drivers
1 Thed Björk Lynk&Co 03 TCR 61 pts 1 Salvatore Tavano CUPRA TCR 30 pts
2 Esteban Guerrieri Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 56 2 Enrico Bettera Audi RS 3 LMS 22
3 Gabriele Tarquini Hyundai i30 N TCR 49 3 Jacopo Guidetti Audi RS 3 LMS 21
4 Néstor Girolami Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 34 4 Klim Gavrilov Audi RS 3 LMS 20
5 Frédéric Vervisch Audi RS 3 LMS 32 5 Marco Pellegrini Hyundai i30 N TCR 10
6 Jean-Karl Vernay Audi RS 3 LMS 29 6 Matteo Greco CUPRA TCR 12
7 Mikel Azcona CUPRA TCR 29 7 Matteo Bergonzini CUPRA TCR DSG 11
8 Yann Ehrlacher Lynk&Co 03 TCR 24
8 Davide Nardilli Honda Civic Type R FK2 TCR 9
9 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 20
10 Andy Priaulx Lynk&Co 03 TCR 18 9 Andrea Argenti Opel Astra TCR 8
10 Felix Wimmer CUPRA TCR 7
Teams
1 All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 90 pts DSG Trophy
2 Cyan Racing Lynk&Co 78 1 Matteo Bergonzini CUPRA TCR DSG 40 pts
3 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 68 2 Günter Benninger CUPRA TCR DSG 30
3 Christian Voithofer CUPRA TCR DSG 24
TCR Asia TC America
(after rounds 2 of 10)
(after rounds 4 of 16)
Drivers
1 Diego Moran Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 42 pts Drivers
2 Théo Coicaud Hyundai i30 N TCR 34 1 Michael Hurczyn Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 76 pts
3 Luca Engstler Hyundai i30 N TCR 30 2 Nate Vincent Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 70
4 Pepe Oriola Hyundai i30 N TCR 30 3 Mason Filippi Hyundai Veloster N TCR 50
5 Daniel L. Miranda Hyundai i30 N TCR 26 4 Bryan Putt Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 48
6 Jakraphan Davee CUPRA TCR 21 5 James Walker Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR 39
7 Adam Bin Khalid Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 14 6 Alain Lauzière Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 30
8 Douglas Khoo Kok Hui CUPRA TCR 8 7 Michael McCann jr. Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 25
9 Kim Jin Soo Hyundai i30 N TCR 8 8 Christian Cole Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 21
10 Roland Hertner Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 2 9 Nelson Chan Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 20
10 Jared Salinsky Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 18
Cup
1 Douglas Khoo Kok Hui CUPRA TCR 54 pts TCR Cup
2 Roland Hertner Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 41 1 Bryan Putt Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 86 pts
3 David Lau Ying Kit Audi RS 3 LMS 15 2 Alain Lauzière Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 68
3 Michael McCann jr. Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 55
Teams
1 Liqui Moly Team Engstler 64 pts Teams
2 Volkswagen Team Oettinger 56 1 FCP Euro 86 pts
3 Solite Indigo Racing 38 2 eEuroparts.com ROWE Racing 55
3 TFB Performance 50
TCR Ibérico
(after rounds 2 of 8) TCR Malaysia
(after rounds 6 of 6)
Drivers
1 Francisco Mora CUPRA TCR 50 pts Drivers
2 Gustavo Moura Audi RS 3 LMS 33 1 Luca Engstler Hyundai i30 N TCR 142.5 pts
2 Robin Vaks Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 33 2 Kai Jordan Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 68
4 Mattias Vahtel Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 24 3 Martin Ryba Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 53
5 Daniel Teixeira SEAT León TCR 18 4 Mitchell Cheah Min Jie Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 48
5 Joaquim Santos SEAT León TCR 18 5 Paul Ip Kung Ching Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 44.5
7 Gabriela Correia CUPRA TCR DSG 16 6 Douglas Khoo Kok Hui CUPRA TCR 38
8 Pedro Marques CUPRA TCR 14 7 Michael Choi Koon Ming Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 35
8 Rob Huff Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 33
DSG Trophy 9 Kenneth Lau Chi Yung Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 24
1 Gabriela Correia CUPRA TCR DSG 35 pts 10 Brendan Paul Anthony Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 20
2 Daniel Teixeira SEAT León TCR 21
2 Joaquim Santos SEAT León TCR 21 Cup
1 Kai Jordan Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 97.5 pts
2 Martin Ryba Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 82.5
Teams
3 Paul Ip Kung Ching Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 72
1 ALM Honda Racing 55 pts
2 Veloso Motorsport 50 Teams
3 Speedy Motorsport 33 1 Liqui Moly Team Engstler 248.5 pts
2 Prince Racing 83
3 Brutal Fish Racing Team 61TCR Middle East IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
(after rounds 9 of 9) (after rounds 2 of 10)
Drivers Drivers
1 René Münnich Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 195 pts 1 Tom O’Gorman/Shelby Blackstock Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR 70 pts
2 Luc Breukers CUPRA TCR DSG 150 2 Mason Filippi/Harry Gottsacker Hyundai Veloster N TCR 54
3 Zoltán Zengő CUPRA TCR DSG 107 3 Todd Lamb/Brian Henderson Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR 51
4 Tamás Tenke CUPRA TCR DSG 52 4 Nick Galante/James Vance Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 50
5 Csába Tóth CUPRA TCR DSG 30 4 Ryan Eversley/Chad Gilsinger Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR 50
6 Paul Dehadray Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 26 6 Colin Mullan/Max Faulkner Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR 50
6 Kieran Griffin Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 26 7 Mikey Taylor Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 49
8 Yusif Bassil CUPRA TCR DSG 20 8 Russel McDonough/Ryan Nash Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 49
8 Ivo Breukers CUPRA TCR DSG 20 9 Mike La Marra/Matt Pombo Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR 48
10 Tamás Horváth CUPRA TCR DSG 10 10 Mark Wilkins/Michael Lewis Hyundai Veloster N TCR 47
10 Gábor Kismarty-Lechner CUPRA TCR DSG 10
Teams
Teams 1 LA Honda World Racing #37 70 pts
1 All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport #77 172 pts 2 Bryan Herta Autosport - Curb Agajanian #21 54
2 Red Camel-Jordans.nl #101 150 3 Atlanta Speedwerks #84 51
3 Zengő Motorsport #8 122
Super Taikyu
TCR Russia (after rounds 1 of 6)
(after rounds 2 of 14)
Teams
Drivers 1 Audi Team Mars #65 Audi RS 3 LMS 31 pts
1 Kirill Ladygin LADA Vesta Sport TCR 39 pts 2 BRP Audi Mie #19 Audi RS 3 LMS 23.5
2 Dmitry Bragin Hyundai i30 N TCR 36 3 KCMG Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR 19
3 Mikhail Grachev LADA Vesta Sport TCR 36 4 Motul Racing with Dome #97 Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR 17
4 Aleksey Dudukalo Audi RS 3 LMS 30 5 Audi Team DreamDrive #45 Audi RS 3 LMS 13
5 Andrej Maslennikov SEAT León TCR 23 6 Team Noah #75 Honda Civic Type R FK8 TCR 10
6 Klim Gavrilov Audi RS 3 LMS 17 7 Adenau Racingline Performance #10 Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 7
7 Anton Badoev CUPRA TCR 17
8 Ivan Chubarov
9 Irek Minnakhmetov
CUPRA TCR DSG
Audi RS 3 LMS
13
12
24H TCE Series - Continents
(after rounds 1 of 4)
10 Ivan Lukashevich Huindai i30 N TCR 12
Drivers
DSG Trophy
1 M. Menzel/J. Ogay/Y. Mettler/F. Danz/S. Tanner Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 30 pts
1 Ivan Chubarov CUPRA TCR DSG 45 pts
2 R. Jost/J. Apothéloz/L. Hartog/O. Graeper CUPRA TCR DSG 28
1 Mikhail Mityaev SEAT León TCR DSG 45 pts
3 I. Breukers/H. Littig/K. Kresnik/C. Hill CUPRA TCR DSG 26
3 Albert Gilfanov Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR DSG 32
4 P. Thirion/D. Caillon/B. Bazaud/S. Morales/J.L. Rihon Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 24
5 G. Magnus/T. Boonen/S. Perrin/V. Radermecker Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 22
Teams
6 P. Poon K.C./S. Wong Y.S./A. Hui K.T./A. Fung K.C. Audi RS 3 LMS 20
1 LADA Sport Rosneft 75 pts
7 K. Griffin/P. Dehadray/P. House/L. Griffin Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 18
2 STK TAIF Motorsport 48
8 Z. Zengő/C. Tóth/G. Kismarty-Lechner/G. Kontra/T. Horvath CUPRA TCR DSG 16
3 Lukoil Racing 42
Teams
1 Autorama Motorsport by Wolf Power Racing #112 30 pts
2 Bas Koeten Racing #125 28
3 Red Camel-Jordans.nl #101 26STANDINGS
24H TCE Series - Europe TCR DSG Endurance
(after rounds 2 of 5) (after rounds 1 of 6)
Drivers Drivers
1 F. Danz/K. Jepsen/J. Sorensen Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR DSG 37 pts 1 Alessandro Altoè/Giovanni Altoè Volswagen Golf GTI TCR DSG 29 pts
2 S. Perrin/V. Radermecker/J. Kaye Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 35 2 Nicola Guida/Rinaldo Capello Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 23
3 Ivo Breukers CUPRA TCR DSG 28 3 Cosimo Barberini/Carlotta Fedeli CUPRA TCR DSG 18
4 R. Edland/M. Holmgaard Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR DSG 26 4 Roberto Russo CUPRA TCR DSG 12
5 Rik Breukers CUPRA TCR DSG 19 5 Nicola Sciaguato/Guido Sciaguato CUPRA TCR DSG 10
6 P. Fahlström/S. Nilsson/M. Olsson/E. Sällberg Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR DSG 17 6 Giacomo Barri/Ermanno Dionisio Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 8
7 J. Holmgaard/B. Simonsen Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR DSG 16 7 Michele Imberti/Andrea Gabellini Volswagen Golf GTI TCR DSG 6
8 V. Piepmeyer/C. Kletzer Audi RS 3 LMS 15 8 Massimiliano Pezzuto/Nicolò Pezzuto Volswagen Golf GTI TCR DSG 4
9 S. Ambrazevičius/A. Gečiauskas/D. Kablys CUPRA TCR DSG 14 9 Giuseppe Montalbano/Vincenzo Montalbano Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 2
10 D. Schilliger/A. Spescha SEAT León TCR DSG 13 10 Sandro Pelatti/Gabriele Volpato Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 2
Teams
1 Autorama Motorsport by Wolf Power Racing #112 37 pts CER
2 AC Motorsport #188 35 (after rounds 2 of 9)
3 Red Camel-Jordans.nl #101 28
Drivers
1 Gianluca Vicinanza/Álex Cosin CUPRA TCR DSG 64 pts
24H Middle East 2 Amalia Vinyes
3 Alba Cano Ramírez
CUPRA TCR
CUPRA TCR DSG
56
56
(after rounds 3 of 3)
4 Gonzalo Martín de Andres/Enrique Hernando Peugeot 308 TCR 40
Drivers 5 Didac Ros/Marc de Fulgencio CUPRA TCR DSG 40
1 Luc Breukers CUPRA TCR DSG 68 pts 6 Guillermo Aso/Álvaro Fontes CUPRA TCR DSG 36
2 Zoltán Zengő CUPRA TCR DSG 55 7 Raul Martínez/Ruben Martínez CUPRA TCR DSG 32
2 Csába Tóth CUPRA TCR DSG 55 8 Arturo Espuny CUPRA TCR DSG 26
4 Ivo Breukers CUPRA TCR DSG 50 9 Vicente Dasi/Josep Parera CUPRA TCR DSG 20
5 Yusif Bassil CUPRA TCR DSG 43 10 Alberto Vescovi/Roberto Ferri CUPRA TCR 18
6 René Münnich Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 37
7 Paul Dehadray
7 Kieran Griffin
Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR
18
18 Coppa Italia Turismo
7 Tamás Horváth CUPRA TCR DSG 18 (after rounds 2 of 14)
7 Gábor Kismarty-Lechner CUPRA TCR DSG 18
Drivers
Teams 1 Nicola Sciaguato/Guido Sciaguato CUPRA TCR DSG 19 pts
1 Red Camel-Jordans.nl #101 68 pts 2 Eric Brigliadori/Fabio Fabiani Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 16
2 Zengő Motorsport #8 52 3 Samuele Piccin/Romy Dall’Antonia Honda Civic Type R FK2 TCR 9
3 All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport #77 37 4 Alessio Aiello/Mauro Guastamacchia Honda Civic Type R FK2 TCR 6
5 Alessio Caiola CUPRA TCR DSG 5
6 Simone Sartoni CUPRA TCR DSG 3
SEQ
1 Alessio Aiello/Mauro Guastamacchia Honda Civic Type R FK2 TCR 11 pts
2 Samuele Piccin/Romy Dall’Antonia Honda Civic Type R FK2 TCR 11
3 Luigi Bamonte Honda Civic Type R FK7 TCR 4
DSG
1 Nicola Sciaguato/Guido Sciaguato CUPRA TCR DSG 13 pts
1 Eric Brigliadori/Fabio Fabiani Audi RS 3 LMS DSG 13 pts
3 Alessio Caiola CUPRA TCR DSG 4Three questions to…
The big news is the arrival of a
Chinese manufacturer in international
motorsport. What are your feelings
about being involved in such a
Andy Priaulx landmark occurrence?
“It is very exciting, because Lynk&Co is
very dedicated to this programme. They
have a long-term view. Looking at the team
and the approach they have is very
You’ve come back to Touring Cars positive. To be with a manufacturer that is
after a while away, so potentially it’s a new to motor racing is exciting. They are
complete change of mind and driving motivated and are looking for new ways to
style after you raced for many years the market and Touring Car competition.
in GTs. How do you feel? I think this is of benefit for the brand and
also for motorsport itself. I can see
“For sure it’s a big change, but it’s very a very exciting prospect for the future.”
nice to be back and see so many faces
with whom we were familiar for so long,
as I drove for ten years in World Touring
Cars. It is all different, and going to front
wheel drive is a big change for me, but I
feel comfortable and prepared. I have to
take this season as a rookie, but an
ambitious rookie. I have been away for
ten years, but now I’m back again and I
need to learn a new car, new
regulations, some new competitors and
some new tracks. There are some things
unknown to me, but I feel I can still have
a good season.”
WTCR is very competitive and you
have already seen this with your own
eyes at Marrakech: fifth in Race 1,
13th in races 2 and 3. Are you
satisfied with these results?
"I am quite happy with the result of Race 1,
the team did a great job with the car and I
was able to get a strong qualifying session,
followed by a good race. I could have fini-
shed on the podium without the incident
with Vernay. It was unfortunate, but that's
racing sometimes. As for Sunday’s races,
starting that far down on a street circuit like
that makes it almost impossible to make
progress. But I managed to get into the
points and we have made loads of pro-
gress heading into the next rounds. I think
the standard of the field is very high with a
wide range of drivers. Of course some of
us – Gabriele, Yvan, myself – have the ex-
perience on our side, but the young guns
are very fast. You really can’t pick anybody
out. You have to try and take all the possi-
bilities you have. It’s a question of trying to
be the most consistent of the pack.”You can also read
