Spanish driver Miquel Azcona, driver of the BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, won the WTCR World Touring Car Cup organized by FIA in cooperation with Saudi Motorsports at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on November 26 and 27, lifting his score to 305 points after the qualifying round ended today.
The first day of the World Touring Car Cup at the Jeddah Corniche was full of sports and entertainment today as drivers took part in two free practice sessions as well as three qualifying races to determine starting positions in the two main races. Tomorrow, Sunday, there will be plenty of entertainment activities in the fan zone, including live art and music shows, enjoying the most delicious food, go-karting for children and many activities for all tastes and ages.
After the end of the qualifying round, Frenchman Nathanael Burton, driver of the Comptoyo DHL Audi Sport team, booked himself the first starting position for tomorrow’s race, after taking the lead in qualifying from the Hungarian driver Norbert Michels, driver of the BRC Hyundai N. Team Scudra Corse on the last lap when he scored, Spaniard Miquel Azcona was third fastest in the qualifying round, but took the title in the second qualifying round behind his closest competitor Argentinean AllInk.com Munich driver Nestor Girolami. Motorsport failed to record qualifying times among the top 12 drivers on the track.
After winning the title, Ascona said: “I come from a small family from a small village and now I am a world champion. This feeling cannot be described in words, thanks also to my team and my teammates. The track at Jeddah Corniche was very difficult, but very enjoyable for the drivers and in the end we managed to get to the third qualifying round and it was very difficult to concentrate during it as we reached the limit and it was difficult to face Audi cars on a long track, but winning the title this way is great”.
Audi were in the lead for most of the first 30-minute qualifying session until Norbert Michels pulled out Ascona and set the fastest time in the final minutes. , Franco Girolami and Nathanael Burton, while Argentine title contender Nestor Girolami advanced to the second round but finished in tenth place.
In the second qualifying round, which lasted 15 minutes, Nathanael Burton set the fastest time of 1:16:199 minutes, 0.111 seconds ahead of Ascona in second place, while Girolami lacked the necessary speed to finish the round in 12th place, losing the title to Ascona before the start of the third round.
On the other hand, on the sidelines of the World Touring Cars Cup, Saudi Motorsports signed a partnership agreement with Sixt for a period of 3 years, according to which Sixt becomes the official car rental partner of Saudi Motorsports Company. Martin Whitaker, CEO of Saudi Motorsports Company, and James Luxbacher, CEO of Sixt Saudi Arabia.
Commenting on the agreement, Martin Whitaker said: “We are pleased that Sixt has joined our Saudi Motorsport family as one of the company’s first official partners in the car rental sector. Sixt enjoys an outstanding international reputation, along with a good reputation here in Saudi Arabia, and it will be beneficial The partnership brings great benefits to both parties, especially in terms of supplying cars for our events throughout the year, and in raising awareness and promoting the Sixt brand in the Gulf region We have high ambitions for this partnership and we look forward to working together with Sixt and developing this important relationship.”
Sunday events
The battle for the title of the teams will continue in the events tomorrow, Sunday, as ticket holders will meet with a lively group of sporting events inside the ring circuit and entertainment events in the spectator area. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit will open its doors to the public starting at 15:00, the race will start promptly at 19:40, last 30 minutes, and the second race will take place at 22:15 and will last 25 minutes. Today, the Petromin-sponsored Saudi Supercars Club will also witness performances, a bike parade on the track’s new short track, and a host of fun activities throughout the day in the fan zone.
Motorsports fans will enjoy an event full of anticipation and excitement and experience the liveliness and energy that the world racing series brings to its first visit to the Kingdom, and the Jeddah Corniche Circuit has undergone major changes to add more variety to the events the circuit has to offer. . The WTCR series will be the first race at this new FIA-compliant third class circuit at Jeddah Corniche, home of the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, since its debut in 2021.
Driver Rating:
The position of the pilots before the final race:
First: Michael Ascona, 305 points
Second: Nestor Girolami, 237 points
Third: Nathanael Burton, 210 points
Fourth: Rob Huff, 187 points
Fifth: Norbert Michels, 183 points
Position before the final race:
First: BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, 488 points.
Second: AllInk.com Munich Motorsport, 372 points.
Third: Comtoyo DHL Audi Sport, 295 points.
Fourth: Comtoyo Audi Sport, 283 points.
Fifth: Zingo Motorsport, 251 points.