ISSUEISSUE 11 01 / 2019/ 2019 Norbert Michelisz clinches the WTCR title in a rainy Malaysian night TCR Australia’s The 24H TCE Series Interview: Alba Cano, final event at the Bend ended in Texas CER champion COLOPHON THE TCR SNAPSHOT Editor in chief Fabio Ravaioli ([email protected]) Editors Alfredo Filippone ([email protected]) Mark James ([email protected]) Contributors Alexandros Annivas, Yoshinori Arimatsu, Joakim Åström, Liam Curkpatrick, DPPI, Fabiola Forchini, Petr Frýba, Daphne Gengler, Laura Hernández, Daniel Kalisz, Patrik Koziolek, Fiammetta La Guidara, Aaron Meriwether, Paul Riordan, Arthur Christopher Rosales, Grant Rowley, Gen Suzuki, The TCR workaholic Salvatore Tarantino, Evita Tidmane Where: Red Bull Ring What: Over the last three seasons Luca Engstler took part in 97 TCR races, claiming 28 victories What’s next in the world of TCR 9/11 January 24H Series Continents Dubai Autodrome Published by WSC 16/18 January TCR Malaysia Sepang International Circuit World Sporting Consulting Ltd 23/24 January IMSA Michelin Challenge Daytona International Speedway 22 Eastcheap, 2nd Floor, 24/25 January UAE Procar Championship Dubai Autodrome London EC3M 1EU, 15/16 February TCR Malaysia Sepang International Circuit United Kingdom 21/22 February UAE Procar Championship Dubai Autodrome 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 Romeo Ferraris unveils the Alfa Romeo Giulia ETCR project Romeo Ferraris has announced the launch of the Alfa Romeo Giulia ETCR project. The company has been involved for more than five years in the design and production of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR, which has become a race winner in every national and international championship in which it took part, including the TCR International Series and FIA WTCR. Following the announcement of the new ETCR series, Romeo Ferraris decided to embrace the new philosophy while remaining faithful to the Alfa Romeo in the ‘electric era’, it now takes up a racing is a fascinating world and it’s no brand, and so elected to design and new challenge, which marks its first coincidence that we have been successfully develop the Giulia ETCR. The project will venture into the world of alternative present in this area for the last twenty bring the Giulia name back to motor energies, after having reached the years. After giving the Alfa Romeo racing, fifty years after the Giulia Ti highest standards in engineering and Giulietta TCR the best results on the Super made its racing debut in 1962. performance with thermal engines. international scene that could be achieved The strictly private nature of the project, For this project, Romeo Ferraris will by an independently-run programme, we as it was for the Giulietta TCR and, benefit from the support of Hexathron have decided to take a brave big dive into previously, for the FatFive derived from Racing System as technical consultant. the new ETCR series concept. A lot of the Fiat 500 in both Racing and Stradale Michela Cerruti, Romeo Ferraris things still need to be outlined, which is versions, underlines the merits of the Operations Manager said: “We are absolutely normal when you start from a work that Romeo Ferraris undertakes delighted to announce the start of a new blank sheet of paper, but we believe that without official support from carmakers, venture for our company. Touring Car electric is the obvious choice for the future, firmly believing in the principles of fair not only for auto mobility but also for competition in racing and relying entirely motor racing. Our engineers are already at on its own staff, trained and developed work and we are starting this journey later in-house over the years. The current than the big carmakers that have already organization, despite its smaller size, can been engaged in electric racing for some claim the same level of professionalism time, with way more resources than a and commitment of many works racing private constructor like us. Regardless of departments. all that, we will do our utmost to keep our Romeo Ferraris has been successful in reputation high, as we have always done motor racing since 1965, and by engaging so far.” Marcello Lotti, president of WSC Group that has launched the ETCR commented: “Very few brands in motorsport history have such great tradition and appeal as Alfa Romeo. We are delighted and proud that Romeo Ferraris has embarked on such an ambitious programme that involves another mythical name like Giulia. The company has proved its expertise and professionalism with the successful Giulietta TCR and I am confident that they will be up to the task in this new demanding undertaking.” 3 WTCR 4 Michelisz and Guerrieri fight to the bitter end THE HUNGARIAN Norbert Michelisz was crowned the 2019 season finale, his pursuers WAS CROWNED CHAMPION WTCR champion at the end of rainy Esteban Guerrieri and Yvan Muller Malaysian Sunday, with three back-to- found themselves in the need AS THE ARGENTINE back races that provided plenty of of fighting back. The Argentine WAS PUSHED OFF dramas and ended in the middle of the qualified tenth and second, dropping night. The Hungarian driver had staked 15 points behind Michelisz, while the a claim on the title with a superb Frenchman saw his gap going up to performance in Friday’s Qualifying 21 points when he was relegated in sessions, when he won pole positions 16th and 13th positions as the for Races 1 and 3. Lynk&Co cars struggled And so, from the very start of the to clock competitive lap times. 5 WTCR After he converted his Race 1 pole would have been enough for Michelisz very much at ease in home races, like position in an authoritative victory, to clinch the title. On a slippery track at Ningbo. Michelisz seemed to have the title in and under the floodlights, Guerrieri The Swedish team played a thorough the bag, but then he was involved in an gave all he had, but his efforts and strategy in favouring Muller, its best- incident in the early stages of Race 2. hopes were swept away after Mikel placed driver in the championship. With Guerrieri at the front, this would Azcona hit him and sent him on the After the Frenchman converted his pole have completely erased Michelisz’s grass. With Guerrieri forced to pit, position in a dominant victory in Race leading margin, but Lady Luck gave Michelisz could cruise to the end and 1, he was gifted with the lead in Race 2 him a helping hand in the form of a secure the title, the second in a row for by his teammates Yann Ehrlacher and controversial decision from the race Hyundai after the one conquered by Thed Björk. Then in Race 3, Björk again control that suspended the race Gabriele Tarquini in 2018. slowed down to let Muller take sixth. because Nicky Catsburg’s car was on The Team’s title went to Cyan Racing This helped the Frenchman to re-launch fire, despite the intervention of the Link&Co from BRC Hyundai N Squadra his odds in the title, having reduced his marshals had already averted any Corse and All-Inkl.com Münnich gaps to 11 points from Michelisz and danger. Motorsport. two from Guerrieri. When action finally resumed, Michelisz Everything was in favour of Muller in was able to recover from 13th to MACAU - A HAT-TRICK the Macau event, beginning with the seventh and so retained a ten-point FOR THE LYNK&CO CARS incident in the second Qualifying that lead over Guerrieri before the last race The Chinese manufacturer completed a involved Michelisz, relegating him to in which the two rivals would share the clean sweep on the Guia circuit, 12th on the grid for both races 2 and 3. front row. The Argentine was obliged to winning the three races and confirming As for Guerrieri, he struggled with the win again, knowing that a third place that the cars run by Cyan Racing are speed of his Honda car, but was able to 6 qualify 10th in the second session that meant pole position for Race 2. However, a very controversial decision from the Stewards resulted in the Argentine dropped by three positions on the grid for impeding Catsburg MACAU - ROUND 25, SATURDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2019 during the first lap of the second DRIVER CAR TEAM Qualifying. Guerrieri salvaged a fourth 1 Yvan Muller Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Racing Lynk&Co 8 laps, 20:30.047 place in Race 2 and so retained the second position in the standings. 2 Norbert Michelisz Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 0.405 The other leading actors on the stage 3 Kevin Ceccon Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Team Mulsanne 1.644 of the Guia circuit where Andy Priaulx 4 Rob Huff Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR Sébastien Loeb Racing 2.153 and Kevin Ceccon. Priaulx claimed a 5 Thed Björk Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Racing Lynk&Co 2.882 lights-to-flag win in Race 3, providing the icing on the cake for Lynk&Co and 6 Andy Priaulx Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Performance Lynk&Co 3.169 returning to victory in Macau twelve 7 Frédéric Vervisch Audi RS 3 LMS Comtoyou Team Audi Sport 3.397 years after he secured his third World 8 Yann Ehrlacher Lynk&Co 03 TCR Cyan Performance Lynk&Co 4.704 Touring Car title. Ceccon emerged as 9 Gabriele Tarquini Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 4.918 one of the fastest drivers in the Asian 10 Nicky Catsburg Hyundai i30 N TCR BRC Hyundai N Lukoil Racing 5.921 street circuit and collected well- deserved third places in the first two Fastest lap: Frédéric Vervisch, 2:31.800, average 145.10 kph, lap 5 races.