Victory and double podium in WTCR
Our customer, BRC Racing Team, is celebrating a race win and a double podium finish at Race of Japan, the eighth round of the 2019 WTCR – World Touring Car Cup season.
BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse driver Norbert Michelisz kept his cool under pressure at Suzuka Circuit to take a lights-to-flag victory in Race 2. In addition to his reverse-grid pole position, the Hungarian scored points in all three races and departs Japan with a deficit of just six points in the drivers’ championship.
“It was a positive race weekend. We struggled a bit on Friday but we managed to turn it around so I’m very confident for the rest of the season,” said Norbert.
His team-mate Gabriele Tarquini joined him on the podium in Race 2 after finishing in a hard-fought third place. The Italian finished inside the top-ten in every race at the 2.243km Suzuka East Course circuit.
“I think it was a strong weekend for us as a team but also for me personally. After a tough qualifying in the wet the can was very good in dry conditions,” said Gabriele.
As a result of its strong weekend, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse has reduced the gap to the lead to 13 points in the teams’ battle.
Wet, wet, wet
Treacherous conditions caused by heavy rainfall on Friday hampered the grid positions of all four i30 N TCR cars.
BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team drivers Augusto Farfus and Nicky Catsburg started at the back of the grid in the races, but on a dry track on Saturday and Sunday they were able to prove the pace of their cars and carve their way through the field.
“I managed to make my way through in all the races but it was just not enough to get the points we want. It’s a shame, as we had a good car in the dry but now we focus on the future,” commented Augusto.
“All the sessions up until the race were wet and we struggled a bit with our wet pace. However we ended the weekend on a high, we really improved the car, gained a lot of positions and had fun in the races,” summarised Nicky.
Team Principal of BRC Racing Team Gabriele Rizzo said: “Overall, we have had a positive weekend at WTCR Race of Japan. We came back fighting from a difficult Friday, in which all our cars struggled in the wet sessions, to score a lot of points. We’re still in the hunt for both the championships, which are now very close with just two more rounds in the season. Thank you to the whole team for all their hard work this weekend, and we remain focussed on maximising the outcome in the remaining sessions of the season.”
WTCR will return on November 15-17 for Race of Macau.
