WTCR – 2021 Race of Hungary Race 1 press conference

WTCR – 2021 Race of Hungary Race 1 press conference

Sport news

In attendance:
Gilles Magnus (Comtoyou Team Audi Spoer), first position
Mikel Azcona (Zengő Motorsport), second position
Yann Ehrlacher (Cyan Racing), third position

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ou7dg1eohe2z8me/FIA%20WTCR%20RACE%20OF%20HUNGARY%20RACE%201%20VIRTUAL%20PRESS%20CONFERENCE%20.m4a?dl=0

WATCH THE VIDEO:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jlirpztedd31d9q/FIA%20WTCR%20RACE%20OF%20HUNGARY%20RACE%201%20VIRTUAL%20PRESS%20CONFERENCE%20.mp4?dl=0

RACE 1 REPORT:

https://www.fiawtcr.com/wtcr-race-1-flash-magnus-scores-first-wtcr-victory/

Q:
Gilles, what a race and what a win. Talk us through it.

GM:
A big relief, I have to say. When I knew I was starting on pole I had a good feeling because this is a track where you need downforce and starting in front is a big advantage for sure. But you have still got to nail the start because it’s a long way to the first corner, so for me that was the crucial moment. We did that very well and afterwards it was just managing. I was lucky to have Fred just behind me, he defended for me very well so I have to thank him for that, good team work. I’ really so happy because finally, we deserved this for a long time. I’ve been second a few times, so I’m really happy with this win.

Q:
Your first WTCR win and you’ve jumped up to P3 in the standings. I bet you didn’t expect that this weekend.

GM:
No, for sure. We have had a difficult start to the season, so to be third in the championship is super.

Q:
Poor old Fred. Before the start he told us he had a really bad feeling about this one and unfortunately he did get swallowed up on the last lap. But until then it was such good team work.

GM:
Exactly, yeah. I don’t know what happened in the end, but it’s a shame for him. It would have been nice to be 1-2, it would have been amazing. Same colours as well. That’s how it is but I really have to thank him. He made my race and made me win today, so thanks to him and thanks to the team.

Q:
Mikel, congratulations on second place. Talk us through your race.

MA:
First of all, congrats to Gilles and Yann. It was a very challenging race, that’s true. From the start I didn’t know what Muller did, he went left as I was going straight going to a right corner, so I was very surprised by this move. And from this point I had really good pace, I was quite comfortable in the car. I tried to push [Yann] on the first laps beut I could see he was also very strong so I decided to keep going all together. I saw he had several track limits so I said OK, now is the moment to attack. I did it, I could overtake just before the safety car. And after the safety car with three laps remaining I said I have to do it. In the first laps, I said oof, maybe it’s not so easy, [Fred] is pushing very hard, closing the doors very well. I tried some moves but I couldn’t manage it, so I went again behind Vervisch and on the last lap I saw he was doing a mistake at the chicane and was faster on the exit, so I decided to go in that corner. I went to the inside and unfortunately when he closed the door I was on the inside. So I’m very sorry for him, but they were very close battles. I’m happy to be P2 here at the Hungaroring at my team’s home track, so there’s much pleasure for this and I’ll keep going.

Q:
On the incident with Yvan, what do you anticipate is going to come out of that?

MA:
For me it is really clear. I was faster on the straight and I say OK, I go to the left, we are three wide. But of course I didn’t want to go on the outside at the first corner because you know when you are three wide and you are the last car on the left you don’t have a chance. I went to the left, to brake and have a better performance than him. But on braking I saw him going to the left and that’s why we had a contact, because he went to the left on a right corner, so I didn’t understand that. For me it is really clear.

Q:
So the Goodyear #FollowTheLeader jacket you liked a lot last year, so you decided to take it back, yes?

YE:
Yes, it feels good to be leading even if we are only on the fourth race weekend. There is still a long way, there are a lot of races won in a few hours, all the gaps are really close. It doesn’t mean anything, I would say at the moment, it just feels good. We just have to take it race by race because when we see how the races are so eventful we have to take the most out of everything.

Q:
Talk us through that race from your perspective.

YE:
The start was not bad, I went on the inside because I reviewed quite a lot of races and it’s much more safe to be on the inside. Then I tried to push but I hadn’t the pace to keep that third place in front of Mikel. So he passed me, I judged it was better for my race if I don’t make his life too complicated. And then after the safety car restart I saw that Frédéric and him were having quite a nice battle, so I have to stay close and maybe I will have a go. And that’s exactly what happened.

Q:
You were just waiting for a mistake to happen so you could clean up…

YE:
Exactly, exactly. I saw it coming, there was a big chance so I just had to be here to take the opportunity and that’s what we did. So it’s good points, for me, for the team especially. We lead the team championship as well, which is important for Lynk & Co and Cyan. We will keep working that way.

Q:
Question from Máté Jámbor from Racingline.hu: You took the lead in the championship, so no looking back now, especially as we are going to your home turf soon.

YE:
True, it’s a good thing. As I said we are really early in the championship. It’s a good position to be in. People say don’t be in the lead too early, then you have to defend blah, blah, blah. That’s bullshit because if you are in the lead you are in the lead and there is no more pressure of this. It’s even better to be in the lead of the championship for the teams because it means a lot and that’s what we need especially. So now we will go to France and I’m really happy there is a race in my home country. It didn’t happen since I’ve been racing on the world stage. So I’m really pleased for this and we are in a good position, so I’m looking forward.

Q:
Back to Mikel. A question from Máté Jámbor from Racingline.hu. You’ve managed to get on the podium at your team’s home race and you’ve already said how you feel. Do these kind of emotions improve your performance?

MA:
Yes, of course, always. When you get good results it’s always better for your performance. You feel fast, you feel strong. I really think so, but at the same time you need to keep training, to keep going and don’t stop. We saw that every weekend everything can happen. One day you are here, another day you are down. You need to keep pushing and that’s the goal I think. But of course it is helping.

World Touring Car Cup

WTCRRace of HungaryWTCRSEASON 2021SportCircuit1SportWorld Touring Car CupCircuitWTCRSEASON 2021WTCRRace of Hungary00Sunday, August 22, 2021 – 4:28pmSunday, August 22, 2021 – 4:28pm

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WTCR – Young star Magnus claims first WTCR victory

WTCR – Young star Magnus claims first WTCR victory

Sport news

Gilles Magnus scored his first victory in the WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup after leading Race 1 at WTCR Race of Hungary all the way from pole position.

Driving a Goodyear-equipped, second-generation Audi RS 3 LMS, the Comtoyou Team Audi Sport driver headed team-mate Frédéric Vervisch for most of the race at the Hungaroring, until Mikel Azcona forced his way past on the last lap to claim second. Yann Ehrlacher also passed Vervisch in the scramble to claim a podium and assume his new status as Goodyear #FollowTheLeader.

The race had earlier been interrupted by the intervention of the Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition safety car after Saturday’s top qualifier Rob Huff broke his front left suspension by clipping a tyre stack at the chicane.

“The start was going to be crucial,” said Magnus, who made the perfect getaway from his reverse-grid pole position. “After that the pressure fell away. I have to thank Fred for his work because Azcona was coming fast. I wanted this first win and finally my dream has come true.”

While Magnus and Vervisch made it to Turn 1 without a problem, fifth-placed starter Azcona made contact with the back of Yvan Muller’s Lynk & Co under braking, which knocked the Frenchman into a spin. Later in the lap Santiago Urrutia nudged Tiago Monteiro’s ALL-INKL.DE Münnich Motorsport Honda out of Turn 3 during a frenetic opener.

As the two Audis led the way, Azcona pressured Ehrlacher for third, the King of WTCR incurring a black and white warning flag for violating track limits as he worked to keep the Spaniard behind him. Thed Björk was running fifth ahead of local hero Norbert Michelisz and Huff’s Zengő Motorsport CUPRA Leon Competición.

Azcona moved past Ehrlacher as Huff’s race unravelled when he lightly clipped the tyre stack with only the faintest of touches on lap seven. But it was enough to damage his suspension and leave his Cupra stranded on the circuit, enforcing a safety car interlude while it was recovered.

When the green flags flew on lap 12 of an extended race distance of 14, Vervisch did a great job of holding back the pack as Magnus escaped to secure his victory. But Vervisch was unable to deliver a Comtoyou 1-2 as Azcona and then Ehrlacher got by in a thrilling climax. Vervisch finished fourth, ahead of Björk, Michelisz and Urrutia.

Esteban Guerrieri claimed eighth in his Honda, up from 12th on the grid, ahead of team-mates Néstor Girolami and Monteiro who completed the top 10.

Luca Engstler scored points in P11 ahead of fellow Hyundai driver Gabriele Tarquini and another local hero Attila Tassi. Jean-Karl Vernay climbed to P14 after starting in P16, but it wasn’t enough to keep his points lead. New Goodyear #FollowTheLeader Ehrlacher now holds a six-point advantage ahead of Race 2.

Muller recovered from his first-corner spin to finish as the final points scorer in P15 as local driver Bence Boldizs finished second to Magnus in the WTCR Trophy. Wildcard Nicola Baldan finished one place further back ahead of the Bäckman siblings Andreas and Jessica, Baldan’s Target Competition team-mates.

Along with Huff, Nathanaël Berthon was another non-finisher after retiring to the pits. The Frenchman had just incurred a 10-second time penalty for making contact with Tassi and Vernay at the chicane.

Race 2 at WTCR Race of Hungary takes place from 15h15 local time.

World Touring Car Cup

WTCRRace of HungaryWTCRSEASON 2021SportCircuit1SportWorld Touring Car CupCircuitWTCRSEASON 2021WTCRRace of Hungary00Sunday, August 22, 2021 – 3:09pmSunday, August 22, 2021 – 3:09pm

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