Hyundai Motorsport customer becomes double WTCR title winner

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Business

Sun, October 1, 2023 | 20:18

Companies

Hyundai Motorsport customer becomes double WTCR title winner

Posted : 2022-11-27 15:26

Updated : 2022-11-28 15:53

BRC Hyundai N Squandra Corse's Mikel Azcona holds a trophy at Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia, after winning the 2022 World Touring Car Cup. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

By Park Jae-hyuk

A customer of Hyundai Motorsport garnered both the driver and team champion titles at the 2022 World Touring Car Cup (WTCR), according to Hyundai Motor, Sunday.

At the final round held last weekend at Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia, Hyundai Motor's circuit racing car, the Elantra N TCR, also known as the Avante N TCR in Korea, enabled its driver and his teammates to become this year's winners.

BRC Hyundai N Squandra Corse's Mikel Azcona, who drove the car, has maintained the top spot throughout this year, since he won this season's opening round in France and several other races in Hungary, Spain and Bahrain.

Even before the final race, Azcona became the champion, as he added eight points in Saturday's qualifier. His team also clinched its inaugural teams crown, after building a big enough point lead on its closest competitor.

As a result, Hyundai Motor has proven its technical capability.

The carmaker's i30 N TCR previously enabled Gabriele Tarquini and Norbert Michelisz to become the WTCR champions in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

However, this is the first time for a Hyundai Motor customer to become a double WTCR title winner.

Manufacturers are not allowed to participate directly in the WTCR, as it is a "customer racing" event which only allows the participation of professional racing teams that bought racing cars from manufacturers.

pjh@koreatimes.co.kr