Points finishes in all three races

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing drivers scored points in all three races as the 2025 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour got under way at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City (May 1-3).

Mikel Azcona, Néstor Girolami and Norbert Michelisz praised the balance and handling of their Hyundai Elantra N TCR cars, run by Italy-based BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, but were unable to fight at the front due to a straight-line speed deficit on a circuit featuring two long straights.

The competitive nature of the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour grid, plus ambient temperatures approaching 30 degrees centigrade, further compounded the lack of outright pace on the 3,904-kilometre layout, prompting BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse to change strategy during its first visit to Mexico.

With its expectations lowered, Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing’s long-term and highly successful partner targeted points finishes in all three races as the minimum objective, particularly with its drivers forced to battle for position in the midfield.

Bidding for a third consecutive Drivers’ title, Michelisz was BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse’s fastest qualifier but was delayed in Race 1 and Race 2 by drivers going off in front of him. The Hungarian completed the Mexico weekend with 11^th position in Race 3.

Azcona’s 10^th place in Race 1 was the best Hyundai result of the weekend. While it handed him pole position for Race 2, the straight-line speed issues and minor damage following contact meant the Spanish driver was unable to capitalise and slipped to 12^th in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour ranking. He then spent three laps in the pits during Race 3 while his BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse mechanics repaired steering damage, the result of further contact.

Girolami made a strong start to Race 1, briefly climbing to seventh as he steered clear of early incidents. However, he was unable to maintain the position through the rest of race, finishing 11^th – an achievement he matched in Race 2. He completed the weekend with 12^th in Race 3.

The Kumho FIA TCR World Tour stops off in Valencia, Spain next when Circuit Ricardo Tormo stages three races from June 13/15.

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Manager Benoit Nogier said:

“I’m very proud of how the drivers and BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse have performed this weekend in incredibly difficult circumstances.  It’s been great to race alongside our Elantra N TCR customers in TCR Mexico but the FIA Kumho TCR World Tour races in Mexico City have been very tough, from the moment the team saw we were facing an unexpected issue. However, everyone worked all weekend to find solutions and the three drivers did everything they could on track. We now have to regroup for the back-to-back weekends in Valencia and Monza in June, when we can bounce back from a slow start to the year.”

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

• Weekend best result of 10^th in Race 1 secured pole position on the partially-reversed Race 2 grid
• Double contact in Race 2 affected steering alignment and led to Spaniard dropping from first to 12^th out of the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour eligible drivers
• Forced to pit with front-left steering damage in Race 3, lost three laps and finished 14^th among the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour competitors

Azcona said: “We were lacking top speed, and the problem was we couldn’t overtake in the infield section and we were not fast enough to overtake on the straights so it was very difficult. P10 in Race 1 was something positive as it gave us the pole position for the second race. Starting from pole is always very good but it was a mixed feeling because we didn’t have the speed to stop our rivals. I tried to save the position in the first metres but I was passed by six cars before T1 so it was frustrating. Race 3 was a bit disappointing because my car was damaged by contact on the first lap. I was able to bring the car to the box and my mechanics did a super job to fix the car in a very short time and I scored points, which is a positive. To be honest it was a very hard week for us as a team but at least we take some info for the future and we’re going to come back much, much stronger. It was very difficult when you don’t have the power to fight against your rivals, especially on this track where you have many areas needing the engine. We can think positively for Valencia because we are strong in terms of the chassis and the balance.”

Driver Notes: #129 Néstor Girolami (ARG), Hyundai Elantra N TCR

• Argentine made a fast start to Race 1 but finished in 11^th position
• Leading BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Race 2 finisher after determined drive
• Completed Mexico weekend with 12^th place in Race 3

Girolami said: “We managed to do a good start in Race 1 doing something completely different that I will not reveal but it worked, and I got myself into P7. However, I could not defend the positions. Race 2 was more or less similar to Race 1 with a very good start. There was some chaos and I could gain a position at T1. But after this I was taking care of the tyres all the time, taking care of the temperatures, all the things you do when you are in surviving mode. We need to understand when the situation is like this because if you over-push, it’s worse. Race 3 was very difficult again, I was struggling a lot with the speed, and we could not fight for position, which was very frustrating. As a racing driver you always want to go for it, but it is what it is and now we have to change our mind and focus on Valencia. I’m happy with the car, it was performing well, and this is very positive for Valencia. We collected some points and even the little points are counting for the championship.”

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

• Rear-left puncture restricted defending Kumho FIA World Tour champion to 13^th in Race 1
• Hungarian ace forced to take avoiding action at the final corner on the first lap of Race 1 and again at the first corner of Race 2 after rivals ahead hit trouble
• Saves weekend best result to last with 11^th place in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour order in Race 3

Michelisz said: “It was damage limitation this weekend with the target to stay out of trouble and finish the races, which we managed to do. The car felt good, the balance was fine, but I picked up a puncture on the left rear in Race 1, which was probably caused by some debris. As a driver you always want to be in front of the others which we couldn’t do as our speed was compromised. This wasn’t a weekend I enjoyed a lot, and I really hope from the next event we will be back on last year’s form. You have weekends which are forming the character and this was definitely one of the most character-forming weekends of my career.”