A tough 2024 KUMHO FIA TCR World Tour season opener at Vallelunga brought Lynk & Co Cyan Racing two podium finishes courtesy Yann Ehrlacher and Santiago Urrutia.
The high-speed Italian circuit proved difficult for the Lynk & Co 03 TCR drivers, lacking in top speed compared to its main rivals from Hyundai and Honda due to the current balance of performance parameters.
The first race saw Yann Ehrlacher starting from the front row in second place, a position he kept behind race winner Norbert Michelisz of Hyundai.
“The first race was tough and intense. I was able to take the lead on the first lap, but after that I just couldn't follow Michelisz's pace on the straights. The second race was a disappointment as I had to pit because of a loose bonnet following contact earlier in the race. The podium was nice to score for the team, but we have a lot of work to do for the remaining part of the season,” said Yann Ehrlacher.
The second reversed grid race had Santiago Urrutia starting from second place and the Uruguayan driver made a copy of his French team-mate’s result in the first race, coming home in second place behind Hyundai driver Néstor Girolami.
“I started second, did a good race and finished second. There was nothing else I could do, it was not enough for the win but still good points. We have the same problem as we had in Macau last year, we lack top speed due to the regulations,” said Santiago Urrutia.
Thed Björk secured a fifth and sixth place finish, battling hard in the mid-field, while team-mate Ma Qing Hua finished eighth and ninth.
“It was two hard races this weekend with a lot of fighting. Two sixth places is obviously not what we were aiming for. We need to head home now and see what we can do for the coming races,” said Thed Björk.
“This was not the result I wanted or the team wanted. I fought hard in the races but there was nothing we could do on the straights. Let’s hope that we have a better next race weekend in Marrakech, which will be an exciting place to come back racing at,” said Ma Qing Hua.
The first race weekend got Santiago Urrutia placed fifth in the drivers’ championship and Thed Björk sixth, while Lynk & Co Cyan Racing is placed second in the teams’ championship.
The KUMHO FIA TCR World Tour heads to Africa next and Morocco for the second round of 2024 at Circuit Moulay El Hassan in Marrakech on May 3-4.
KUMHO FIA TCR World Tour – Race of Italy
Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi
Results and championship points.
2024 KUMHO FIA TCR World Tour calendar
19-21 April – Vallelunga – Italy
03-04 May – Marrakech – Morocco
07-08 June – Mid-Ohio – USA
20-21 July – Interlagos – Brazil
02-04 August – El Pinar – Uruguay
19-20 October – Zhuzhou – China
14-17 November – Guia Circuit – Macau
More FIA TCR World Tour images.
Ends.
Media contact information
Johan Meissner
PR Manager
Cyan Racing
+46(0)70 241 3234
johan.meissner@cyanracing.com
About Cyan Racing
Cyan Racing was founded in 1996 and was formerly named Polestar until Volvo Cars acquired the performance section and trademark in 2015. Cyan Racing is privately owned and operated. The team has claimed eight touring car World Titles, most recently the 2023 TCR World Tour teams' title with Lynk & Co – and participated in the development of the Polestar performance models of the Volvo S60 and V60 in the years 2013 to 2015, including the concept models Volvo C30 and S60 Polestar Concept Prototype. The company launched the Volvo P1800 Cyan in 2020, Cyan Racing’s interpretation of the iconic Volvo sports car from the sixties.
About Lynk & Co
Lynk & Co was created to provide mobility solutions for the connected generation. We do make really, really good cars (the kind that have all the features you want without you having to ask for them), but we also offer a new way of using those cars. Our membership-based approach makes it simple to get on the go. Members can access a car on a flexible, month-to-month basis and share with friends, family, and the Lynk & Co community.
About Geely Group Motorsport
Geely Group Motorsport is a brand neutral entity based within Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. It was founded in 2018 to provide strategic and tactical expertise to serve the best motorsport sporting and commercial interests for the auto brands in the group. One of its tactical assignments include the development and management of the Lynk & Co TCR and customer racing programmes.