News
SPIRITED SUNDAY EFFORT FROM HMO IN KOREA
Solid performances from Josh Buchan and Ryan MacMillan have capped off a successful weekend for HMO Customer Racing in South Korea, after Races 2 and 3 of the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour at Inje on Sunday.
In a case of what might have been after his stunning race-winning drive on Saturday, Buchan’s day was impacted by a clutch issue prior to Race 2 which necessitated a pit lane start.
From 22nd and last, the two-time TCR Australia Series champion charged hard to ninth in Race 2, before finishing the third and final race in sixth.
Gaining valuable experience in just his second TCR round start, MacMillan battled among many well credentialed and more experienced rivals to finish 12th in both races.
RACE 2
After a clutch issue became apparent on the formation lap, Buchan and the team elected to start from pit lane to eliminate the risk of stalling on the grid.
From the 12th grid spot (11th position after Buchan entered the pit lane), MacMillan launched cleanly and held position on the opening lap.
The young Queenslander latched onto the back of the TCR World Tour regulars in the early stages and later engaged in a robust battle with Korean driver Junui Park for 10th position.
On a charge behind, Buchan progressed to 13th position by lap six when the Safety Car was deployed following an incident which left Junui Park’s Hyundai stranded close to the track.
On lap 11, the race restarted with MacMillan (now 12th) and Buchan in close formation before the senior HMO driver moved ahead by the end of the lap.
Shortly after, the two Australians capitalised on a wayward scrap between the Hyundais of Nestor Girolami and Junesung Park to move into 10th and 11th respectively.
In the thick of a lively mid-pack battle, Buchan then passed Honda driver Ignacio Montenegro and set after three-time TCR champion, Norbert Michelisz.
Buchan eventually took the chequered flag in ninth, less than three-tenths adrift of Michelisz, while MacMillan battled home for 12th after conceding a position to veteran Nestor Girolami.
The race was won by Spaniard Mikel Azcona (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse) from Cyan Racing Lynk & Co’s Yann Ehrlacher and Thed Bjork.
RACE 3
Starting third (grid determined by cumulative round points), Buchan was left to rue a slow getaway and a bout of oversteer at Turn 2 which shuffled the New South Welshman back to sixth.
From 13th on the grid, MacMillan slipped back to 16th on the opening lap but recovered two spots by lap five.
Buchan showed clear pace in a close battle for fifth against the Cyan Racing entry of Santiago Urrutia, who the Aussie shadowed for multiple laps in an intense pursuit.
But try as he might, Buchan could not break the defences of the factory Lynk & Co driver and settled for sixth.
MacMillan crossed the line in 13th – hot on the heels of a side-by-side battle to the flag between reigning Guia Touring Car race winner, Dusan Borkovic, and Junesung Park, but would later be promoted to 12th following a five-second time penalty for Borkovic due to a driving infringement.
The race was won by Bjork ahead of Ehrlacher and GOAT Racing’s Esteban Guerrieri (Honda).
HMO Customer Racing continues its Kumho FIA TCR World Tour campaign in the championship’s penultimate round at Zhuzhou International Circuit in China, on October 31 to November 2.