Meanwhile Norbert Michelisz increases his lead at the top of the the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour standings
What started as arguably the most challenging race day of the 2024 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour season yet at the Autódromo Victor Borrat Fabini in El Pinar ended with silverware and, eventually, smiles for BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse – as Norbert Michelisz extended his points lead in tricky circumstances.
Mikel Azcona’s exemplary drive from second on the grid in Race 1 was rewarded with a runner-up finish and a seventh podium visit of the season for Elantra N TCR drivers in 2024.
And while there was no top-three result for Michelisz, the reigning champion kept his cool to leave Uruguay with a pair of fourth places as he added 10 points to his advantage in the drivers’ standings over the weekend, which now sits at 25 points.
The relief – having come through two contact-heavy races, carrying 30kg of Compensation Weight – was etched across his face come the end of Race 2, his warm expression offering the perfect contrast against the cold, grey backdrop of the El Pinar sky.
“I’ve been doing this for some time now and the closer you get to the end of the season the more you have to prepare for this kind of action,” said Michelisz. “I take it as it comes”.
“I’m happy with the weekend, especially with the extra kilos we were carrying.”
Azcona followed up his accomplished Race 1 performance by playing the support role perfectly, shadowing team-mate Michelisz all the way in an eventful, at times bizarre, Race 2 that ran uninterrupted once a red flag for a start procedure issue and subsequent safety car restart had been negotiated.
Néstor Girolami’s experience meanwhile underlined how difficult a race day this was.
Fifth at the end of Race 1, having ceded position to finish right behind team-mate Michelisz, the Argentinian led the BRC charge in the early stages of Race 2 as he sniffed a podium, only to be shuffled back in battle. Girolami rallied in the closing stages, though, and regained a position late on to take eighth.
“Overall, a very difficult weekend again. Of course we had one podium, which is always welcome. But it was a frustrating weekend,” summarised Hyundai Motorsport Circuit Racing Project Manager Julien Moncet.
“We have increased our lead in the Drivers’ championship with Norbi, but we have lost ground in the Teams’ championship. So, job half-done, I would say.”
There will be time to reflect on that, with an 11-week break before the penultimate round of the season at the Zhuzhou International Circuit in China on October 18-20.
“First of all I would like to say thank you to all the team members and drivers for their commitment to the project and their hard work. They will take a well-deserved rest,” added Moncet. “But it will give us time as well to analyse and come back stronger for the last part of the championship. We will not give up.”
