ISSUEISSUE 10 01 / /2019 2019 FIA Motorsport Games: Touring Car Gold Medal for Klim Gavrilov The WTCR title fight Suzuka crowned The new Zhouzhou circuit gets hotter after Japan TCR Japan’s first champions hosted TCR China’s finale COLOPHON THE TCR SNAPSHOT Editor in chief Fabio Ravaioli ([email protected]) Editors Alfredo Filippone ([email protected]) Mark James ([email protected]) Contributors Yoshinori Arimatsu, Chen Yu, DPPI, Petr Frýba, Daphne Gengler, Grigoriy Golyshev, Laura Hernández, Patrick Koziolek, Christopher Otto, Procar.cc, Adalberto Ramos, Gen Suzuki Sightseeing in a Touring Car Where: Downtown Rome What: Jessica Bäckman drives around the Colosseum during the parade of the FIA Motorsport Games What’s next in the world of TCR 14/17 November FIA WTCR Circuito da Guia, Macau Published by WSC 14/17 November 24H TCE Series Circuit of the Americas, Austin World Sporting Consulting Ltd 15/17 November TCR Australia The Bend Motosport Park 22 Eastcheap, 2nd Floor, 22/23 November UAE Procar Championship Dubai Autodrome London EC3M 1EU, 6/7 December UAE Procar Championship Dubai Autodrome United Kingdom 13/15 December FIA WTCR Sepang International Circuit Designed by Inpagina s.r.l., via Giambologna 2, 40138 Bologna, Italy [email protected] Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without the publisher’s permission 2 SPOTLIGHT Jan Magnussen to race in the inaugural TCR Denmark Jan Magnussen, arguably the most successful racing driver from Denmark, is the latest big name to enter the TCR fray. Last week, the 46-year old from Roskilde announced his 2020 programme in the newly launched TCR Denmark series with LM Racing. “I have always enjoyed racing on my home tracks in front of all the Danish motorsport fans, and I am so happy to be offered a seat in the inaugural season of TCR Denmark. I have been following the American TCR and 2013 and scored four GT class championship while racing with Corvette victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours in IMSA, and there’s no doubt that the (2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009). performance of these cars is great. Magnussen also proved to be Besides, the cars also fit very well with competitive at the wheel of the short racetracks and exciting street production-based saloon cars. He circuits that we have in Denmark. I’m became a regular in the Danish Touring pretty sure that we will create a cool Car Championship and Scandinavian show for both fans and drivers,” said Touring Car Cup driving Peugeot, Magnussen. Toyota, BMW and Chevrolet cars Following three Karting World titles between 2001 and 2010, claiming and victory in the Formula Ford several race wins and being crowned Festival, Magnussen’s racing career took Danish champion in 2003 and 2008. off when he dominated the 1994 In recent seasons he has returned to British Formula 3 Championship, in 24 F1 rounds for Stewart Grand Prix. endurance competition, securing the winning a record 14 races out of 18 After some appearances in the CART title in last year’s IMSA SportsCar with Paul Stewart Racing. The year series, he built himself a solid Championship. after, he made his maiden Formula 1 reputation as a successful Sportscar In TCR Denmark Magnussen will drive appearance replacing Mika Häkkinen at driver, mostly as a member of the a Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR for LM McLaren in the Pacific Grand Prix and Corvette Racing team. He clinched Racing and will began testing early between 1996 and 1997 took the start American Le Mans Series titles in 2008 next year. “I have not had the opportunity to test a TCR racing car yet, but I have heard a lot of good things about it from different good drivers. I am really looking forward to beginning the testing programme as soon as possible,” he said. “We are thrilled to have Jan with us. We are an ambitious racing team with high expectations from our partners and sponsors, and Jan’s long experience in racing for some of the most famous teams in the world will be crucial for the top results that we want to deliver. We are aiming for the title!” says LM Racing team principal Lars Mogensen. 3 WTCR A sparring match for Guerrieri and Michelisz THE FIGHT FOR THE WTCR TITLE BECOMES RED HOT AFTER SUZUKA The battle for the 2019 WTCR title with a six-point lead. becomes hotter after every racing Those six points, however, are peanuts, weekend. The competition is now so close because 170 points will be on offer in the that during the Suzuka event the points World Cup’s two final events at Macau leader changed three times, or after every and Sepang. According to the numbers, race, between the two main contenders. 15 drivers have theoretical chances of Esteban Guerrieri won Race 1 and clinching the title, with Ma Qing Hua demoted the previous leader Norbert placed 15th with 133 points. However, it Michelisz to second, 13 points down. The is reasonable to believe that the fight will Hungarian responded with victory in Race be restricted to the first four in the 2 and retook the advantage by six, but standings, with the Lynk&Co duo of Thed the Argentine had the last word as he Björk and Yvan Muller currently in third finished second in Race 3, behind Johan and fourth positions with gaps of 40 and Kristoffersson, and ended the weekend 48 points from Guerrieri. 4 5 WTCR RACE 1 – GUERRIERI WINS into action; when racing resumed, victory, his fourth of the season. BEHIND THE SAFETY CAR there were no further changes until lap At the start, he made a controversial Guerrieri converted pole position into 22, when Nicky Catsburg hit the back manoeuvre, zigzagging to keep his third victory. At the start, he led of Andy Priaulx’s car and sent it Rob Huff behind, but this only the field into Turn 1, but Niels crashing into the tyre wall at T1. The resulted in a warning flag, while Langeveld was able to pass him during safety car was deployed again and Gabriele Tarquini kept third position the first lap; Guerrieri kept Frédéric circulated until the chequered flag, ahead of Kevin Ceccon. For the whole Vervisch at bay and at the beginning with Guerrieri the winner from race, of lap 2 re-passed Langeveld at the end Langeveld (who took his first WTCR Huff tried to get close enough to of the straight. Behind the leading podium) and Monteiro. attempt an overtaking move, trio, Tiago Monteiro defended fourth but to no avail because Michelisz didn’t place from Björk and Kristoffersson. On RACE 2 – FOURTH WIN OF make even the slightest mistake. lap 8, Vervisch stopped with a flat THE SEASON FOR MICHELISZ Behind them the fight for third front tyre, prompting the safety car Michelisz claimed a lights-to-flag was much closer, with Ceccon trying to 6 SUZUKA - ROUND 22, SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 2019 DRIVER CAR TEAM 1 Esteban Guerrieri Honda Civic FK7 TCR All-inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 26 laps, 26:36.701 2 Niels Langeveld Audi RS 3 LMS Comtoyou Team Audi Sport 0.460 3 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic FK7 TCR KCMG 1.602 4 Thed Björk Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Racing Lynk&Co 1.991 5 Johan Kristoffersson Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Sébastien Loeb Racing 2.400 6 Jean-Karl Vernay Audi RS 3 LMS Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport 3.699 7 Gabriele Tarquini Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 5.208 8 Kevin Ceccon Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Team Mulsanne 5.842 9 Ma Qing Hua Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Team Mulsanne 8.091 10 Rob Huff Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Sébastien Loeb Racing 8.566 Fastest lap: Esteban Guerrieri, 54.007, average 149.50 kph, lap 2 pass Tarquini on every lap and the latter putting in a great defensive drive SUZUKA - ROUND 23, SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER 2019 to retain the last spot on the podium. DRIVER CAR TEAM Similarly, Björk was able to keep 1 Norbert Michelisz Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 24 laps, 22:01.538 Monteiro at bay to finish fifth. After making a poor start, 2 Rob Huff Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Sébastien Loeb Racing 0.293 Guerrieri was passed by Kristoffersson 3 Gabriele Tarquini Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 8.205 and Mikel Azcona on lap 2, 4 Kevin Ceccon Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Team Mulsanne 8.531 dropping from seventh to ninth; 5 Thed Björk Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Racing Lynk&Co 11.102 for the rest of the race his teammate Néstor Girolami protected his shoulders, 6 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic FK7 TCR KCMG 11.330 but during the final laps, Jean-Karl 7 Johan Kristoffersson Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Sébastien Loeb Racing 11.699 Vernay managed to pass them 8 Michel Azcona CUPRA TCR PWR Racing 12.114 both to finish ninth. 9 Jean-Karl Vernay Audi RS 3 LMS Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport 12.883 10 Esteban Guerrieri Honda Civic FK7 TCR All-inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 18.072 Fastest lap: Norbert Michelisz, 1:53.888, average 149.80 kph, lap 2 SUZUKA - ROUND 24, SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER 2019 DRIVER CAR TEAM 1 Johan Kristoffersson Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Sébastien Loeb Racing 30 laps, 30:07.581 2 Esteban Guerrieri Honda Civic FK7 TCR All-inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 3.070 3 Thed Björk Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Racing Lynk&Co 11.063 4 Gabriele Tarquini Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 11.715 5 Andy Priaulx Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Performance Lynk&Co 12.545 6 Kevin Ceccon Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Team Mulsanne 12.586 7 Rob Huff Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Sébastien Loeb Racing 13.104 8 Norbert Michelisz Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 13.864 9 Jean-Karl Vernay Audi RS 3 LMS Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport 14.838 010 Benjamin Leuchter Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Sébastien Loeb Racing 18.942 Fastest lap: Johan Kristoffersson, 53.912, average 149.70 kph, lap 8 7 WTCR RACE 3 - KRISTOFFERSSON PULLS OFF A GREAT OVERTAKE Kristoffersson claimed his second win of the season thanks to a masterpiece overtaking move on Monteiro.