Hyundai heading Aussie and global TCR title races in harbour city

Hyundai is the manufacturer to beat ahead of this weekend’s Race Sydney event, leading both the Australian and World Tour TCR championships.

The final two rounds of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia series will run side by side with the top level World Tour at Sydney this weekend and Bathurst a week later.

In the national championship, Hyundai HMO Customer Racing occupies the first two positions on the standings thanks to Bailey Sweeny and Josh Buchan.

Much like in TCR Australia, Hyundai is also on top in the TCR World Tour, but only just.

BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse’s Hungarian driver Norbert Michelisz heads into the final three rounds at Sydney, Bathurst and Macau with a four-point championship lead over Lynk & Co Frenchman Yann Ehrlacher. The sister Hyundai of Mikel Azcona is fourth.

Bailey Sweeny leads the TCR Australia standings after a super Sandown. Image: Daniel Kalisz

Sweeny is on top by 30 points and is flying following back to back wins at Sandown, while Buchan has been ultra consistent, never finishing outside the top 10 all year.

In addition to chasing a championship, Buchan cannot wait to study how the top teams in the world go about TCR racing.

“It’s great for the category, the last time a world series event was hosted in this country for TCR was a long time ago, so it is super exciting,” Buchan told TCR Australia.

“We get to test ourselves against not only the best drivers but the best teams who spend millions a year to run these cars.

“I want to see what they do, how they operate, simple things like that are very interesting to me. “What do they do differently to get more speed out of the car? Are we getting as much out of it as they are? It’s stuff I am very curious to see.

“It will be interesting to see how different they are and if they have different ideas to us on how to achieve speed. 

Josh Buchan racing the Hyundai at Phillip Island. Image: Daniel Kalisz Photographer

“From a selfish driver’s point of view, it’s basically research and development when they come over here.”

In addition to racing on completely new terrain and tracks, the TCR World Tour drivers will have to adjust to a new format and rivals.

Usually the global series holds just two races each weekend, but will expand to three down under to align with the domestic championship.

Michelisz started the season strong with wins in the opener at Portugal’s Algarve circuit and Italy’s Vallelunga Circuit.

Although he has only scored one podium in the seven races since, it arrived last time out in Argentina and he is excited by the prospect of racing under lights at the “old school” Sydney and especially Bathurst.

“I have never been to Australia before so I’m looking forward to visiting the country and racing there because there are two very exciting circuits ahead of us,” he said.

Norbert Michelisz heads the field on his way to a season-opening win at Portugal.

“From the pictures I’ve seen, Sydney looks like an old-school circuit which I always enjoy driving at. 

“The crown of this year will be driving at Bathurst. I have always wanted to go there, and I am excited to have the possibility this year. 

“The battle for the title is close so we need to make sure we get up to speed quickly to score maximum points.”

Teammate Azcona is fourth in the championship and on a high after scoring his first win of the year.

The Spaniard led home Michelisz in a Hyundai one-two at Argentina’s Autódromo José Carlos Bassi street course.

In addition to the win he has scored four other podium finishes.

With both Australian tracks featuring high-speed corners, Azcona fancies Hyundai’s chances.

“I have never been to Sydney Motorsport Park or Bathurst, but I am preparing myself a lot on the simulator,” he said. 

Mikel Azcona scored his first TCR World Tour win in a Hyundai one-two in Argentina.

“The format is different in Australia to what we are used to, but having three races per weekend will give us more opportunity to gain points and places in the standings. 

“Both circuits have high-speed corners, which I feel is one of the Hyundai Elantra N TCR’s strong points so I cannot wait to get started.”

TCR begins with practice at 13.20 AEDT on Friday afternoon.

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