Title glory for YMRacing and Gabriele Tarquini
Our i30 N TCR took an important step towards the FIA WTCR title with a competitive weekend at the Race of Japan, while there was more success for our customers in the final TCR Europe event in October.
Our i30 N TCR customers YMRacing and BRC Racing Team’s Gabriele Tarquini captured the teams’ and drivers’ titles respectively on the final weekend of the inaugural FIA WTCR season in Macau.
Across three races, it was Gabriele who eventually emerged top of the drivers’ battle in an intensely fought battle.
“It’s a great feeling to win the title,” he said. “It’s been a year of hard work, not only for me, but by all of the BRC Racing Team and Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing as well. The i30 N TCR has proved itself to be the car to beat all season.”
Street fighters
The Italian finished fourth in the opening race, defending two restarts after safety car periods. However, YMRacing’s Yvan Muller narrowed the championship gap with a second-placed result.
With the teams’ gap down to seven points, the pressure was building. Race 2 proved dramatic from the very start. From 14th on the grid, Gabriele found himself an innocent victim of an accident ahead that created a chain-reaction through the field, and resulted in heavy front-end damage to his i30 N TCR.
He was able to bring the car back to the pit, allowing the team extra time to prepare for Race 3. Yvan meanwhile, finished third to take a second podium of the weekend, closing the gap to just 18 points. However, completing race three in tenth place was enough for Gabriele to take the drivers’ title.
Perfect reward
“We are extremely proud to see a Hyundai customer secure the inaugural FIA World Touring Car Cup title,” said Mr. E. S. Chung, Executive Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group. “It is an honour to have seen our Hyundai i30 N TCR performing so strongly against impressive competitors.”
“This is a massive achievement for the Hyundai i30 N TCR, and of course for Gabriele Tarquini and YMRacing,” added our Customer Racing Deputy General Manager Andrea Adamo. “For the i30 N TCR to end its first season of racing with the two most prestigious titles in TCR competition is the perfect reward for everyone who has worked on the project.”
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