Preview: Round 3 – Paul Ricard

BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse’s mission of discovery in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour continues this weekend when Circuit Paul Ricard joins the line-up of tracks new to the series.

After competing at Misano and on Valencia’s shorter layout for the first time, the long-term Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing partner is heading to Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France for round three of the 2026 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour (4-5 July).

It does so on the back of a strong start to the season with drivers Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz and its event- and title-winning Hyundai Elantra N TCR. 

BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse converted a front-row lockout in qualifying into a 1-2 finish in the first of two races at Italian venue Misano last month. Having finished second to team-mate Michelisz in Race 1, Azcona then repeated the achievement in Race 2. 

Michelisz and Azona took third in Race 2 and Race 3 respectively in Valencia earlier this month after tyre damage in the closing stages of Race 1 denied Azcona a seemingly certain victory.

Those top three results have ensured that Azcona and Michelisz are well placed in the chase for the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour Drivers’ title with Spaniard Azcona third in the provisional standings, one place and five points ahead of Hungarian Michelisz. In the Teams’ standings, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse holds second position. 

Having carried 40 kilograms of compensation weight in Spain, Azcona’s Hyundai Elantra N TCR will be 30 kilograms lighter in France. Meanwhile, after competing without any additional weight during the previous round, Michelisz will carry 20 kilograms of compensation weight at Circuit Paul Ricard.

As was the case during the Misano season opener, the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour Format 1 timetable will be followed at Circuit Paul Ricard. That means two 30-minute free practice sessions, a two-phase qualifying and two races covering approximately 60 kilometres. 

The Race 1 grid will be based on the final qualifying results, while the top 10 in qualifying will line up for Race 2 in reverse order. That will put the 10th fastest qualifier on pole position for Race 2 with the driver in ninth after qualifying completing the front row of the grid. However, the driver clocking the fastest lap in Race 1 will be promoted one place on the Race 2 grid.

Built in 1969 and rebuilt 30 years later as a high-specification testing venue, Circuit Paul Ricard is now a regular fixture for national and international championships, on two wheels and four. The Kumho FIA TCR World Tour will race on the shorter 3.841-kilometre layout, which includes a chicane reducing the length of the 1.8-kilometre Mistral Straight. Once part of the FIA World Touring Car Championship, Circuit Paul Ricard’s corners are a combination of low, medium and high speed.

The Circuit Paul Ricard event will be followed one week later by a return to the Vila Real street track in northern Portugal with the event running from July 9-12.

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Manager Benoît Nogier said: “After the 1-2 finish at Misano, Valencia brought more success with podiums for Mikel and Norbi in two of the three races, a further demonstration of the performance of the Elantra N TCR and more payback to all the team for their hard work over the winter. While there wasn’t the second win of the season that Mikel drove so well and so hard to try to achieve in Race 1 due to tyre damage, we left Valencia well placed in both the Drivers’ and Teams’ championships and with plenty of important data accumulated. Circuit Paul Ricard is another unknown in terms of being a new race venue on the calendar. Along with very high ambient and track temperatures, the lack of previous track knowledge represents a significant challenge. But we’re ready to face all challenges head on and I have every confidence in the team and drivers overcoming whatever is thrown at them this weekend.”

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

• With two of the eight Kumho FIA TCR World Tour events run, Azcona holds third place in the race to win the 2026 Drivers’ crown
• After his sensational start to Race 1 in Valencia went unrewarded, the Spaniard hit back with his third podium of the season in Race 3
• Points scored at home event means Azcona will carry 10 kilograms of compensation weight at Circuit Paul Ricard

Azcona said: “I’m happy to race at Paul Ricard, it’s a track I know from the past from winning in TCR Europe and other categories, so I have a good knowledge and I like it. But I never drove on the short track, which will be an extra challenge. I’m happy to go with only 10 kilos and not 40 kilos, which is positive. I feel motivated after great success at Misano and Valencia. It’s looking good and the goal is to take as much points as possible. I think the track will suit well my Hyundai Elantra N TCR and I feel we will be competitive in the second and third sector, so I am quite optimistic to fight for good positions.” 

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

• BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse’s two-time Kumho FIA TCR World Tour champion is fourth in the provisional standings after two rounds
• Michelisz has podium form at Circuit Paul Ricard having taken a trio of FIA World Touring Car Championship top-three finishes between 2015 and 2016
• The Hungarian will compete in France with 20 kilograms of compensation weight fitted in his Hyundai Elantra N TCR

Michelisz said: “I was racing on the short Paul Ricard layout three times and had many podium finishes. Even though it’s not my favourite circuit, I enjoyed some good success in the past. It’s a tricky circuit because you have a big mix of corners, first-gear hairpins and ultra high-speed, almost flat out, 200kph corners like Turn 11. It’s very important to find a good balance between confidence and how much you attack on the qualifying lap because it’s very easy to do a mistake. The key points will be to gain confidence in the free practice sessions and find a good lap without big mistakes, which will not be easy. Although I will carry 20 kilograms of compensation weight, I am not sure if it will have a big effect on this circuit, even though extra weight never helps. I need to score points to keep the momentum from Valencia and Misano. To get on the podium two times is the target.”

Weekend at a Glance

• The Kumho FIA TCR World Tour’s first visit to Circuit Paul Ricard begins with Free Practice 1 from 09:35 to 10:05 local time on Saturday 4 July with Free Practice 2 scheduled from 12:00.
• Qualifying Q1 is next from 15:05-15:25 and is followed by Qualifying Q2 from 15:32-15:42 for the fastest 12 drivers from Q1.
• Race 1 is due to get under way at 12:40 for a maximum of 18 laps. Race 2, which is also scheduled for a maximum of 18 laps, follows from 16:35.