Preview: Round 2 – Valencia

BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse continues its Kumho FIA TCR World Tour title challenge in Spain later this week (June 12-14) boosted by a standout 1-2 finish in the opening race of the 2026 season.

Having locked out the front row of the grid at Misano last month, Mikel Azcona headed Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing team-mate Norbert Michelisz over the line following a dominant performance from the pair in their Hyundai Elantra N TCR cars.

Although contact from a rival driver led to Hungarian Michelisz failing to finish Race 2, Azcona completed the Misano weekend with a second-place finish and a 17-point lead in the title chase ahead of his home round at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.

The venue proved a happy hunting ground for BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 12 months ago with Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing driver Néstor Girolami taking a victory and a third-place finish, while Azcona and Michelisz also banked important points. 

For the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour’s Valencia return, drivers compete on the shorter 3.136-kilometre layout rather than the 4,005-kilometre Grand Prix Circuit used in 2025. 

After Misano hosted two races, the Valencia timetable features three races in line with the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour’s Format 3 schedule. It means a busy weekend consisting of two free practice sessions, each lasting for 30 minutes, and a two-phase qualifying, including Q1 for 20 minutes and a 10-minute Q2 for the fastest 12 drivers in Q1. The three races are scheduled for 30 minutes plus one lap.

Drivers line up for Race 1 according to their qualifying results. The Race 2 grid is based on the qualifying results but with the top 10 in reverse, while the driver setting the fastest lap in Race 1 is moved up one position on the Race 2 grid. The Race 3 grid is formed according to the points scored in qualifying, Race 1 and Race 2 with the leading scorer starting from pole position followed by the next highest scorer and so on. 

The Kumho FIA TCR World Tour regulars will be joined by their counterparts from the TCR Spain Touring Car Championship during the Valencia weekend with Race 1 and Race forming rounds of the national series. Participation in Race 3 is optional for the TCR Spain drivers.

Although BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse’s focus is on Azcona and Michelisz after the team reverted to a two-car all-season line-up for 2026 having run three entries in 2024 and 2025, a third BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse entry has once again been registered for Italian Gabriele Covini, who scored points in both races at Misano last month.

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Manager Benoît Nogier said: “While Misano delivered an almost perfect start to the season with a 1-2 in qualifying and Race 1, and a podium in Race 2, we turned our attentions immediately to Valencia to ensure we are as well prepared as possible for the second round of the season. Following the usual strong commitment and dedication from BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, we arrive in Spain ready to defend our lead in both the Teams’ and Drivers’ standings through Mikel, while also hoping that Norbi can make up lost ground in the points, particularly as he won’t carry any Compensation Weight in his Elantra N TCR. Even though we achieved a fantastic result in round one, we are under no illusions that an even tougher challenge is in store at Valencia with Mikel carrying 30 kilograms of Compensation Weight in accordance with the regulations. But he’s handled this situation before and has a clear strategy in place to overcome this hurdle.”

Driver Notes: #196 Mikel Azcona (ESP), Hyundai Elantra N TCR

• With a victory and a podium in Misano, home hero Azcona leads the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour by 17 points ahead of round two of the season
• His success in Italy means he will race in Valencia with 30 kilograms of compensation weight fitted in his Hyundai Elantra N TCR
• Azcona demonstrated his pace and pedigree by finishing seventh from 16th on the grid in Race 2 at Valencia last season

Azcona said: “For Valencia my expectation, leading the championship, feels very positive and I’m very happy to go to my home race weekend in the lead, even though carrying 30 kilos of compensation weight isn’t going to be easy. We suffered a lot in the high temperatures last year and with the 30 kilos it’s going to be a big challenge. So my goal is to minimise the damage as much as possible and I will be very happy if we can be in the top 10 in qualifying, playing for the reverse-grid race. I will try to defend in the races with the target of taking the most points possible every time. If, after my home race weekend, I will still be leading the championship without any compensation weight for the next round in Paul Ricard, I will be very happy.”

Driver Notes: #105 Norbert Michelisz (HUN), Hyundai Elantra N TCR

• Scored a weekend best result of fourth when the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour visited Valencia last June
• The Hungarian has ground to make up in the title race after contact led to his retirement and no points from Race 2 at Misano, the opening event of the season
• Unlike team-mate Azcona, Michelisz won’t have to carry any Compensation Weight aboard his Hyundai Elantra N TCR during the Valencia weekend
   

Michelisz said: “The shorter circuit is a layout I don’t personally know as we used the longer layout last year. Nevertheless, there will be some corners in common so it’s not completely new. Valencia was not our strongest race weekend last year, but with the progress we made in winter testing, and after the momentum of Misano, I’m quite confident, especially because I will not be carrying any Compensation Weight. And we should be confident about our chances on paper. From a personal point of view, I would like to get some points after not finishing Race 2 in Misano, which was quite disappointing. On the other hand, with zero Compensation Weight, I have the possibility to catch up in the standings and this will be my target for Valencia. My strategy is certainly to score as many points as possible and I am really looking forward to the competition.”

Weekend at a Glance

The track action begins with Free Practice 1 from 15:00 local time on Friday June 12 ahead of Free Practice 2 taking place from 17:00. Both sessions are timetabled for 30 minutes. 

Qualifying Q1 is due to get under way at 11:45 on Saturday June 13 for 20 minutes with Qualifying 2 for the fastest 12 drivers in Q1 up next from 11:12. The first of three races, which are all scheduled for 30 minutes plus one lap, is set to start at 17:10.

Race 3 takes place from 11:55 on Sunday June 14 followed by Race 3 from 16:40.