Pole position and double podium in Race 1
Our customer, BRC Racing Team, has scored a pole position, two podium finishes and lots of points at Race of Portugal, this sixth round of the 2019 WTCR – World Touring Car Cup season, this weekend.
BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse driver Norbert Michelisz starred in qualifying on Saturday to take pole position. He successfully converted this into victory in Race 1, and has now closed the gap to first in the drivers’ championship to just 25 points.
Fantastic Saturday
“For me it was a good weekend. Saturday was a fantastic day – P1 in qualifying and victory in the race. I’m incredibly happy, it was a dream day,” said Norbert.
Both he and team-mate Gabriele Tarquini battled hard in the 14-lap Race 3 to bring home two further finishes in the points.
“In the last races I seem to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but we will keep pushing,” said Gabriele.
The BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse team now lies third in the championship with Norbert and Gabriele second and tenth in the drivers’ standings.
Double podium
BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team driver Augusto Farfus joined team-mate Norbert on the podium for Race 1 after finishing in third.
“Race of Portugal started really well with a great Friday and Saturday. But this is motorsport and it has been a hard Sunday for the team. That’s racing, we turn the page,” said Augusto
Team-mate Nicky Catsburg progressed to the second round of qualifying on Sunday, and started Race 2 on the second row of the grid. He finished in fifth.
“Overall, not such a bad weekend at Vila Real. I was fifth on both days and scored some good points,” said Nicky.
The team remains in fourth in the championship with Augusto and Nicky 11th and 12th in the drivers’ battle.
Team Principal of BRC Racing Team Gabriele Rizzo said of the weekend: “We are thrilled with our double podium on Saturday; a great job by Norbert and Augusto. Today it was not a comparable result for our drivers caused by a poor overall qualifying which then affected the races. But we look forward to the overseas races with Norbert’s win and points finish today which has helped us to close the gap to first in the championship. Thanks to the team for the commitment shown, but we have to keep pushing until the end of the season and focus on these last overseas races.”
WTCR now heads into a summer break and will return September 13 – 15 for Race of China Ningbo.
