Mikhail Grachev: “My championship starts here.”

Mikhail Grachev took his maiden TCR International Series win at Imola, Italy, on his debut at the wheel of the WestCoast Racing Honda Civic TCR. The Russian driver, who has moved over from Liqui Moly Team Engstler for the remainder of the season, was very happy to get this monkey off his back.

“It was not a bad start, especially because unlike in Race 1 I chose to stay on the tarmac rather than visiting the grass,” said Grachev. “I was lucky to overtake Jordi (Gené) in the first laps, I didn’t lose too much time and I was able to create a gap. We had a problem with the steering, and it only came up at Acque Minerali, so I tried not to force the steering rack at that corner. I was perhaps a bit too slow, and that’s how Mat’o (Homola) caught me, but I was still quick in the other corners. My job was only to control the gap compared to the car behind me.”

Grachev had to chase his old car for the lead, as Jordi Gené used the very same Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR the Russian used up until Spa-Francorchamps: “It was maybe a bit confusing, but at least I knew all the weaknesses of that car, to be honest, so I was able to prepare the overtaking move and it was probably an advantage.”

When asked about his future goals, the Russian said to TouringCarTimes: “I start my own championship here. For me it’s a new season and I will try to win it. I want more race victories, I want to be in the top five and on the podium all the time, which is much better than being in the middle of the grid. It’s surely the same for everyone, I think.”

Grachev scored 28 of his 29 points today at Imola.