Hyundai Elantra N TCR wins 2023 TCR World Tour in Italy

Hyundai Motor Co. announced on Monday that the Elantra N TCR has won the 2023 TCR (touring car racing) World Tour in Vallelunga Circuit, Campagnano di Roma, Italy, from June 9 to 11.

TCR World Tour is a customer racing event where professional racing teams that have purchased race cars from manufacturers, rather than auto manufacturers themselves, can participate.

It selects nine races out of over 200 TCR events worldwide, and the rankings are determined by points earned based on race results.

In the latest Italian race, drivers Norbert Michelisz and Mikel Azcona competed with the Elantra N TCR and claimed first and second places, respectively.

With this victory, Michelisz earned 65 points, placing him in the top position in the 2023 season driver rankings, while Azcona secured the fourth position with 51 points. Azcona had previously achieved overall victory in the WTCR 2022 Championship, the precursor to TCR, driving the Elantra N TCR.

"The TCR World Tour is a competition where we can demonstrate the expertise we have built up with our high-performance vehicles," head of Hyundai Motor's N Brand & Motorsport Business Division Till Wartenberg said. "We are pleased to achieve our second podium finish."

The top-15 participants who earn the most points in the TCR World Tour will compete for the ultimate championship title in the TCR World Final to be held at the end of this year or early next year.

Write to Nan-Sae Bin at binthere@hankyung.com