Chinese driver takes his Hyundai Elantra N TCR to back-to-back title glory

Martin Cao produced the perfect comeback performance to secure a second consecutive TCR China Drivers’ crown during an action-packed title decider in Macau (November 14-17).

At the wheel of a Hyundai Elantra N TCR, Cao started the final event of the TCR China season one point adrift in the title battle. But victory from pole position in Race 1 and second place in the rain-hit Race 2 meant he could celebrate taking the championship two years in a row.

Cao, who bounced back from a crash in practice, also led the combined TCR Asia, TCR China and Kumho FIA TCR World Tour second race outright, despite the challenging conditions.

“I’m really excited to be the winner of the TCR China Championship again,” Cao said. “Second is the first loser and I don’t want to be on the losing side. It was a really hard fight for the championship, right from the beginning until the final race of the final event. That really means something. It’s a really high-level competition.”

Driving for the Hyundai N squad, Cao was one of three drivers representing three different teams and manufacturers who battled for the TCR China title across the season.

After winning the opening round at the Zhuzhou International Circuit, Cao’s consistency in capturing a trio of runner-up places and two third-place finishes in six races was key to his championship success. A brace of second places when TCR China returned to Zhuzhou alongside the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour in October ensured Cao was firmly in the title fight starting the Macau street-race finale.

Cao’s team-mates Andy Yan and Rainey He finished fifth and sixth in the final TCR China Drivers’ standings with Hyundai N ending 2024 as the TCR China Teams’ title runner-up.
The trio, together with Evolve Racing driver Lo Sze Ho, also secured second in the Models’ standings for the Elantra N TCR.