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MICHELISZ TAKES INCREDIBLE WIN AFTER PENALTY FOR AZCONA
BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse driver Norbert Michelisz has emerged the victor of the opening Kumho FIA TCR World Tour race at Tailem Bend, despite trailing penalty-afflicted team-mate Mikel Azcona to the chequered flag in a remarkable finish.
Azcona, who controlled the entire 13-lap race on the road with unmatched pace, was imposed a five-second time penalty for a starting infringement.
Needing to build an equivalent gap over Michelisz to win the race, Azcona fell agonisingly short by 0.0024s despite momentarily building the margin in the final metres of the race.
The result is the closest in TCR Australia and TCR World Tour history, despite a considerable physical distance between the two Hyundai Elantra N machines at the chequered flag.
Lynk & Co Cyan Racing’s Yann Ehrlacher, competing this weekend with significant Balance of Performance and Compensation Weight ballast, produced a hard-fought drive for third while Josh Buchan took fourth overall and clear honours among the TCR Australia field.
The first TCR race in Australia for more than 10 months was a largely clean affair, with all 18 starters finishing the race.
Ashley Seward Motorsport driver Cody Burcher, less than 24 hours after driving first ever laps in a TCR car, finished an outstanding ninth outright and second in TCR Australia after a final lap pass on the experienced Nestor Girolami.
TCR Australia drivers Jordan Cox and Lo Sze Ho lost positions after recoverable off-track excursions, while Ryan MacMillan’s debut TCR race was unfortunately impacted by a pit lane start.
Three drivers in addition to Azcona – Aurelien Comte, Santiago Urrutia and Brad Harris – also incurred five-second penalties for starting infringements.
The second race of the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour at Tailem Bend is scheduled for 12:00pm ACST on Sunday, with the SP Competition Cupra of French driver, Comte, starting the reverse grid encounter on pole from BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse’s Girolami.