Nicky Catsburg: “The challenge is not doing any laps”

Nicky Catsburg is making his FIA ETCR debut this weekend for Hyundai Motorsport N. The Dutch driver is enjoying the series, but believes the lack of track time is working against him.

“I find the ETCR extremely interesting, because it’s all new to me and I haven’t done any electric racing before,” Catsburg told TouringCarTimes. “I tested the car 1-2 months ago at Vallelunga, but then didn’t do any of the races.”

An issue for the Hyundai driver has been the lack of track time to find the car’s limits: “The first race has been super interesting and super difficult because, before the qualifying, you have three laps, so it’s very difficult to find the limits without doing any laps. So this is what I find very difficult, because it’s extremely challenging and interesting to me.”

“I have to improve a bit and work on myself, because it’s a good challenge, unlike any other sport in a way. So I really like it, I think the show would be better if we had some more cars. I think we should focus on getting a bigger number of cars but, other than that, it’s been really fun,” added the Hyundai driver.

Having previously raced in the WTCR for Hyundai, the transition from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive is no issue, according to the Dutchman.

“I’m used to the real wheel drive because of doing GTs a lot, the extra weight it’s difficult but, other than that, the real challenge is not doing any laps and the braking. It’s very easy to go off and, if you only got three laps, that’s really difficult to judge,” said Catsburg.