Photo: WTCR

Hyundai confirms two-car World Tour entry

By

Hyundai has confirmed that it will support a two-car entry into the new TCR World Tour for the 2023 season.

As was the case in the final year of WTCR, BRC Racing will continue to field Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz in a pair of Elantra N TCRs.

The team enjoyed a fine end to the WTCR era as it secured both championship titles, with Azcona grabbing four wins as he took the drivers crown and Michelisz also making it onto the top step on a single occasion.

“BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz have already proven themselves to be a winning combination, so we’re obviously very happy to have both drivers and the team representing Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing again for the first season of the Kumho TCR World Tour,” Hyundai Motorsport chief Cyril Abiteboul said.

“The Customer Racing department have customers in many of the championships the new global series will visit, and the arrival of BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz will only increase the profile of Hyundai Motorsport teams in these nations.

“We have seen many times in different series that the Hyundai Elantra N TCR is a very strong package, even at the highest level of the category. I’m confident that 2023 will add to list of successes for Hyundai Motorsport-built cars.”

Azcona admitted he was delighted to have the opportunity to continue his relationship with Hyundai into a second year. 

“When I joined the team for 2022 it was a great opportunity, and now we have another one with the beginning of the Kumho TCR World Tour,” he said. “Last year we proved that me, Norbert and the team worked very well together when we won both titles and I think we are only stronger at the start of this season with Hyundai Elantra N TCR.

“With the preparation done, I think we have a great chance to race of the titles again and add to the success we had last year.”
 
Michelisz meanwhile predicted that an interesting season lies ahead as TCR heads into a new era.

“As the first season of the Kumho TCR World Tour this year is really exciting,” he said. “A lot of things are changing and in good ways. We know that Mikel and I are very strong, and we know that the Hyundai Elantra N TCR is a great car. However, there are lots of questions which we will only find the answer to when we start racing in Portugal.

“All of these unknowns – the new tracks, the new tyres, racing with teams in the regional TCR series – mean that the driver who will win the title will be the one who adapts to these things the fastest. I can’t wait!”