Santiago Urrutia: “Hyundai is always at the top”

WRT Audi driver Santiago Urrutia says even getting into the top ten in qualifying for the final round of the TCR Europe series season will be “difficult” following Hyundai’s clean sweep of practice at Monza.

Urrutia was tenth fastest in the first session and fifth in the second, but bemoaned a lack of a tow which he feels is crucial to getting into Q2 tomorrow.

Despite the Monza circuit supposedly favouring the aerodynamic characteristics of the Audi RS 3 LMS, the Uruguayan os realistic about his chances after a challenging opening day of running.

“Honestly, it has been the same story all year. Every time we go to a track, they say ‘this is a proper Audi track’ and blah, blah, blah and then Hyundai is always at the top,” a frustrated Urrutia told TouringCarTimes.

“From what I have seen in free practice, we need the tow to even be in the top ten. Without the tow, it will be difficult. I had a good run and we have improved the car from FP1 and we still need to improve a bit more for qualifying.

“But it’s all about the tow, if we don’t get it, I’m going to be able to get in to the top ten.”

Urrutia says he has no particular strategy ahead of qualifying, but admits he must maximise his grid position if he is to have any chance of a podium in Race 1.

“I’m lucky that we are near the bottom of the pitlane so I could follow the Hyundais at the start of the session, said Urrutia.

“For tomorrow, I need to put together a perfect lap really, just to get into Q2. But for sure it will be the most important qualifying session of the year.“

Urrutia has also dismissed any chance of working with fellow Audi driver, and rival, Gilles Magnus in qualifying, but laments not having a team-mate in the same car to work with.

“From our side, let’s see what we can do, I am for sure not going to help Magnus [in the Comtoyou Racing Audi] because we are rivals, we have been fighting each other all season and we are close in the points,” Urrutia said.

“Target are like five cars, so they are for sure working together. I cannot even get a tow from them because they pull away from me on the straight.

“[Team-mate] Maxime [Potty] had quite a good day today so hopefully there is something we can do together, but he is in a different car so it will be difficult.”