Thed Björk calls for “fair” racing in FIA TCR World Tour title shootout
Thed Björk is hoping for a “clean” battle on Sunday as the FIA TCR World Tour title comes down to the wire in Macau.
Björk has been the form man so far this weekend, converting pole position into a commanding Race 1 victory that moved him to within just five points of World Tour leader Norbert Michelisz.
The Swede was unsurprisingly delighted with his first-ever triumph at the Guia street track, and said he’d been determined to stay in front of the chasing BRC Hyundais of Michelisz and Mikel Azcona who followed him home to complete the podium.
“I decided from the beginning that if they wanted to beat me (today), they would have to be so fast. I gave it absolutely everything and it feels very good. It was my track, it felt like my track today.”
Björk also praised the approach taken by his Hyundai title rivals, and especially by fellow front-row starter Azcona, in a first-lap battle for the lead.
“I have to say big respect to them,” Björk continued. “Also, congratulations to Mikel for the job he did yesterday (in qualifying). I managed to beat him by just two hundredths of a second and he has more kilos (of compensation weight) in his car. I think that was the winning point today that I could start just in front of him and keep the lead.
“Mikel is such a hard fighter, but he gave me the respect today and I’m super happy to be sitting here as the winner.”
After helping his Lynk & Co Cyan Racing squad secure the teams’ title with a race to spare, Björk’s full focus is now on trying to seal the drivers’ crown for himself in the final race tomorrow. The Swede is currently enjoying his best season since winning the WTCC title in 2017.
“When I entered the WTCC in 2016, this was my dream, fighting with the best drivers in the world,” Björk said. “Now I’m doing it. Yes, it’s the last race and it’s Macau, five points between us, but there’s been so many things happening earlier in the season as well. Let’s just race fair and crown the champion in a clean way tomorrow, I hope.”
The title will be settled in Sunday’s reverse-grid finale, with Björk starting tenth courtesy of topping qualifying, and Michelisz setting off from fourth. Starting between the main title protagonists are their respective team-mates Azcona and Yann Ehrlacher, who both still retain outside championship hopes but face a massive task if they are to overcome a 26-point disadvantage with just 30 points remaining up for grabs.
