TCR / 26 July 2023

Civic Type R TCR back in victory lane in South America

The Honda Civic Type R TCR got back to winning ways in Uruguay as Squadra Martino scored a treble win in the latest round of TCR South America.

There were several other pole positions and podium finishes to celebrate across the world as well on a busy weekend of action for TCR customer teams.

 

TCR South America

Ignacio Montenegro was the dominant force at the latest round of the series - which was also a round of the new TCR Brazil Championship - at Rivera as the young Argentine stormed to pole position and then led every lap on his way to victory in Race One.

From 10th on the reversed-grid second race, he climbed to sixth before the safety car was deployed with a handful of laps to go, freezing the order until the finish.

He still increased his series lead with Martino jumping back to the top of the Teams' standings thanks to team-mate Juan Manuel Casella's sixth and fourth-place results.

 

In the Trophy category reigning champion Fabio Casagrande was triumphant in Race One, but had to give best to team-mate Enrique Maglione - the fastest qualifier in the class - in the afternoon. Casagrande continues to head the points.

 

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

Mat Pombo made it a staggering six TCR poles in seven races and maintained his record of never qualifying off the front row at Lime Rock Park on Friday.

In Saturday's race the LA Honda World Racing driver led until the final lap of the opening stint and then handed over to co-driver Ryan Eversley, who - on a baking hot day - was forced to manage his tyres and brakes for the second half of the race.

This he managed, but at the expense of the lead, which he lost with 10 minutes left. He did hang on to a second podium finish of the season aboard the FL5 Civic.

Team-mates William Tally and Mike Lamarra were 10th with VGRT duo Victor Gonzalez Jr and Karl Wittmer eighth in the older FK7 model.

 

TCR Europe

Estonian Teenager Ruben Volt, making only his second appearance in the series for ALM Motorsport, was one of the stars of the event as he qualified ninth and then finished sixth in the opening race with a cheeky passing move into the final corner of the Paul Ricard circuit.

He went even better on Sunday as the reigning TCR Italy Under-25s Champion, who was driving an FL5 Civic, came home fourth. On both occasions he was the runner-up in the Junior class.

 

TCR UK

JAS Development Driver Scott Sumpton scored the best finish of his career at Knockhill; the Restart Racing man showing competitively as he finished eighth in the second of two races in Scotland.

He was 12th and 11th in the others; the youngster incurring time penalties for both exceeding track limits and a jump-start that dropped him down the order from his on-the-road finishing position.

Team-mate Chris Smiley led the second race convincingly until a suspension issue forced him out. Ninth in Race One was the 2022 champion's best result.