Hyundai Motorsport N returns from FIA ETCR Race IT with its first Manufacturer and King of the Weekend crowns of the season
- Hyundai Motorsport N has taken its first Manufacturer and King of the Weekend crowns of the season at the FIA ETCR Race IT and moves up to second in the manufacturers’ standings
- Mikel Azcona blitzed the competition to score maximum points in every round and top the drivers’ standings, while his team-mates all enjoyed competitive weekends
- Nicky Catsburg and Jean-Karl Vernay secured a Hyundai Veloster N ETCR 1-2 in Pool Furious Quarter Final 2, with Norbert Michelisz taking victory in Pool Fast’s Quarter Final 2
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Hyundai Motorsport N is celebrating its strongest event of the FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup season, having claimed both Manufacturer and King of the Weekend crowns at the Race IT, the fifth round of the year.
Mikel Azcona demonstrated blistering pace from the first session of the weekend and went on to top the timesheets with both his Qualifying attempts in Pool Fast. Starting from pole in Quarter Final 1, he briefly lost the position to Bruno Spengler at turn one but managed to successfully undercut at the fourth corner to regain the place. In an intense Semi Final, the Spaniard took his second victory of the weekend to claim pole position for the Super Final. He was under pressure for the lead in the opening laps of the last race and was pushed wide into the gravel, but Azcona saw off the challenge to win the Super Final and top the King of the Weekend standings.
His team-mate Norbert Michelisz was third and fourth fastest in Qualifying, which resulted in a pole position for Quarter Final 2. He went door-to-door at the start but was able to keep his Hyundai Veloster N ETCR in front; he went on to cruise to a comfortable win to secure a place in Semi Final 1. While putting pressure on Spengler for second place, he ran wide onto the gravel, resulting in vibration on the car. He eased off for the remainder of the race to bring the car home in third. The Super Final ended in heartbreak for the Hungarian, who was running in second place behind Azcona at the midway point of the race, before a puncture brought an end to his progress and he finished down in fifth.
In Pool Furious, Nicky Catsburg was second in Qualifying 2, although his lap time was fourth fastest overall. This placed him in Quarter Final 2 with team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay. Together they brought home a 1-2 for the team, with Catsburg triumphing. In Semi Final 1 on Sunday, he elected to slot into third off the line in a bid to mount a challenge for position later in the first lap. The Dutchman went door-to-door with Mattias Ekström and managed to pass him before the chicane sequence. He was hunting down first place in the final lap of the race but had to settle for second at the chequered flag. In a brutal blow, Catsburg picked up a puncture in the final corners of the Super Final while leading comfortably, and he fell to the back of the field to fourth.
Vernay was fourth in both Qualifying sessions, although his best attempt was only fifth fastest overall, and he began Quarter Final 2 from the middle of the Starting Gate. He was involved in close on-track battles throughout, successfully seeing off a challenge from behind to finish second in the Quarter Final. The Frenchman fought hard at the start of Semi Final 2 to move into first but was unable to pass the car ahead, and he had to settle for second. In the Super Final, he was fighting from start to finish with those in front of him and ultimately finished in third following his team-mate’s misfortune.
As a result of its triumphant weekend, Hyundai Motorsport N moves up to second in the Manufacturers’ standings. Azcona has regained third place in the drivers’ title battle.
Mikel Azcona (#96 Hyundai Veloster N ETCR)
- Claimed first King of the Weekend title of the year at Race IT
- Spaniard scored maximum points across all sessions in Vallelunga
This is an incredible feeling. I have wanted to achieve this result with Hyundai Motorsport for a long time this season, and we have done it here in Vallelunga – the place where I took my first King of the Weekend crown. It is a very positive moment, we have made a good improvement as a team and maximised everything from the car. I think we have plenty of opportunities ahead of us in the next events to fight for this result again. Thank you to my team for working so hard every single day – what an amazing weekend.
Nicky Catsburg (#88 Hyundai Veloster N ETCR)
- Dutchman led the majority of the Pool Furious Super Final before devastating puncture
- Quarter Final victory a highlight of strongest weekend of the season
The Super Final was a blemish on an otherwise positive weekend. I was leading quite comfortably, and everything was going to plan. We saw a lot of punctures during the day, so my plan was not to use any heavy kerbs, and it worked really well. I was managing the pace while maintaining the gap, but unfortunately with three corners to go until the chequered flag, it happened to me. I would have loved to win; I could have been second in the King of the Weekend standings, which would have been nice.
Jean-Karl Vernay (#69 Hyundai Veloster N ETCR)
- Positive Sunday with second and third place in the Pool Furious Semi and Super Finals
- Ensured a Hyundai Veloster N ETCR 1-2 in Saturday’s Quarter Final
Really happy for the team and Mikel. We had really good pace all weekend which was really satisfying. Overall, it was a challenging weekend for me. When you have a difficult Qualifying it is quite difficult at this circuit as there are not many opportunities to overtake. My start in the final race was good, pace was there but to make the most of it you have to start at the front. There are still plenty of positives to take from Race IT – we have the car to fight at the front and for the King of the Weekend title.
Norbert Michelisz (#5 Hyundai Veloster N ETCR)
- Victory in Quarter Final 2 secured place in higher-scoring Semi Final
- Puncture in closing stages of Super Final denied Hungarian a hard-fought second
Really happy for the team and Mikel. We had really good pace all weekend which was really satisfying. Overall, it was a challenging weekend for me. When you have a difficult Qualifying it is quite difficult at this circuit as there are not many opportunities to overtake. My start in the final race was good, pace was there but to make the most of it you have to start at the front. There are still plenty of positives to take from Race IT – we have the car to fight at the front and for the King of the Weekend title.
In the blistering heat of Vallelunga, we worked hard to keep our cool and as a result, we’ve enjoyed our best result of the season yet. All of our drivers have been competitive this weekend as we chased that elusive first Manufacturer and King of the Weekend. The team has worked so hard to continue improving and maximising our potential, and it has paid off here at Race IT. It is a fitting return to the location of the Hyundai Veloster N ETCR’s first-ever victory, and now the target is to continue this form in the final events of the season.
King Driver Classification – Race IT
- Mikel Azcona 100
- Mattias Ekström 79
- Tom Blomqvist 72
- Adrien Tambay 72
- Maxime Martin 60
- Nicky Catsburg 56
- Jean-Karl Vernay 48
- Norbert Michelisz 46
- Bruno Spengler 44
- Luca Filippi 43
- Jordi Gené 35
- Giovanni Venturini
2022 FIA ETCR Manufacturers' Standings
After round 5
- Cupra 876
- Hyundai Motorsport N 629
- Romeo Ferraris 627
2022 FIA ETCR Drivers' Standings
After round 5
- Adrien Tambay 435
- Mattias Ekström 421
- Mikel Azcona 368
- Maxime Martin 360
- Tom Blomqvist 334
- Bruno Spengler 267
- Jean-Karl Vernay 219
- Norbert Michelisz 216
- Jordi Gené 200
- Giovanni Venturini 170
- Nicky Catsburg 150
- Luca Filippi 140
- Kevin Ceccon 72
Contacts
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Florian Büngener
Head of Department PR & Communications
fbuengener@hyundai-europe.com LinkedIn ProfileAdriana Cerami
Head of Section Corporate & Brand PR
acerami@hyundai-europe.comKatharina Kupper
Hyundai Newsroom Lead
kkupper@hyundai-europe.comAnja Wente
Product PR & Communications Expert
awente@hyundai-europe.comElvira Herrera
Corporate Communications Expert
eherrera@hyundai-europe.comÁngel Pino Pérez
Product Communications Professional
apinoperez@hyundai-europe.comMaria Bricio
Corporate & Brand Communications Expert
