Norbert Michelisz and team newcomer Néstor Girolami got BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse’s 2024 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour campaign off to a sensational start with a double victory in Italy.
At the same Vallelunga track where the Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing-supported outfit recorded a 1-2 finish last season, polesitter Michelisz overcame a tricky start in damp conditions to overtake Yann Ehrlacher and forge ahead to the Race 1 win – and begin his TCR World Tour title defence in impressive fashion.
Experienced TCR campaigner Girolami, who was making his debut in Hyundai Motorsport-built machinery, put the disappointment of a stall at the start of Race 1 behind him to lead from the front in Race 2 for a resounding victory during a strong first competitive appearance for the new-look Hyundai Elantra N TCR.
Team-mate and 2022 FIA WTCR winner Mikel Azcona made his mark in both races with a pair of fourth place finishes. He was promoted to fourth in Race 1 after Marco Butti was penalised for contact between the pair and again benefitted from a penalty – this time for Esteban Guerrieri – to take the same result in Race 2
BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse’s success at its home event represented the best start to a season for the team and the third time that Hyundai Motorsport customers have claimed a clean sweep of victories, following previous results in Ningbo in 2018 and Bahrain in 2022.
Hyundai Motorsport Circuit Racing Project Manager Julien Moncet said: “It was a perfect weekend because, already in qualifying Norbi was in pole position and we managed to get Néstor in tenth position on the reverse grid for Race 2. Yesterday was a tough race, Norbi had a difficult launch because he was on the damp side of the track but he recovered and kept the lead to the end. Then today we confirmed the results with Néstor starting first and doing an incredible race, despite the safety car interventions. It was a very encouraging weekend and the first time we ran the new-look Elantra N TCR in the World Tour. We have shown the potential of the car and now we will prepare for the next race in Marrakech with renewed confidence.”
