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WORLD AND LIFE
TCR CHAMPIONS 2016
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DRIVERS TEAM
Stéphane Lémeret
by Alfredo Filippone
The TCR Benelux series could not
have a better ambassador as a
maiden champion: Stéphane
Lémeret is not only one of
Belgium’s top drivers, he is also an
influential and respected journalist.
After spending most of the last
decade competing in GT races
around the world, the Brussels-born
driver was a little bit worried about
going back to touring car racing,
but his campaign with the Honda
Civic run by Boutsen Ginion Racing
was crowned with success.
“It’s nice to win a title, and I wasn’t
expecting that outcome. At the
beginning of the season, and after
so many years in GT, I was a bit
sceptical about going back to front-
wheel drive cars and in a
competition where close fighting is
the rule and you have a lot of
younger guys around, but things
eventually went well. The challenge
for me, personally, was to get used
to so much torque to the front
wheels and to a longer turbo
response; also to get to learn how to
warm up rear tires, especially in
Benelux weather, but I could cope
with everything…
”
What were the keys of your
success?
“First of all, the car and the team.
The Honda Civic TCR, I think,
is definitely the best road car in its
class, so JAS had a very good base
to work from, and Boutsen Ginion
Racing is a very professional team.
Then, I think I was wise enough to
stay cool, even when things on the
track started to become hot.
I proved I had the pace to be with
the front-runners, but I played
the card of consistency, avoiding
useless risks and aiming
at scoring points.
”
You were also helped by some star
teammates stars such as Tiago
Monteiro and Norbert Michelisz…
“
For sure. This wasn’t the initial
plan, as Honda rather wanted to
have celebrities at my side, for
image-building purposes. It then
turned out that it was easier to get
Honda drivers from other series and,
yes, it helped, especially Norbi who
really impressed me!
”