TCR World and life

20 ENDURANCE Round 1 – Friday 15/Saturday 16 January, Dubai Autodrome 1. F. Danz/A. Spescha/R. Jost/B. Leuchter (TOPCAR Sport, CUPRA DSG); 2. K.P. Laaksonen/G. Xavier/J. Preisig/M. Born (Autorama Motorsport by Wolf-Power Racing, Volkswagen Golf GTI DSG); 3. E. Heyerdahl/M. Menden/J. Ogay/C. Kletzer (Autorama Motorsport by Wolf-Power Racing, Volkswagen Golf GTI DSG) Round 2 – Friday 26/Saturday 27 March, Mugello Circuit 1. I. Breukers/R. Breukers (Red Camel-Jordans.nl, CUPRA DSG); 2. H. Hilders/G. Bessem (NKPP Racing by Bas Koeten Racing, CUPRA DSG); 3.S. Perrin/M. Detry (AC Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS DSG) CUPRA cars dominated the first two rounds of the 24H Series. TOPCAR Sport (left) secured its first win at the 24H Dubai after a race- long battle with reigning Teams’ champion, Autorama Motorsport by Wolf-Power Racing. The TOPCAR Sport CUPRA of Fabian Danz, Adrian Spescha, Patrick Sing, Ronny Jost and Benjamin Leuchter took the lead shortly before one- third distance and despite a momentary power loss during the night, was rarely led thereafter. Autorama Motorsport made an impressive start to its title defense by securing the other two podium spots with two Volkswagen Golf GTI cars; the #112 driven by Kari-Pekka Laaksonen, Gustavo Xavier, Jasmin Preisig and Miklas Born finished just ahead of the #1 of Emil Heyerdahl, Marlon Menden, Jérôme Ogay and Constantin Kletzer. Adoublewin for CUPRA cars inthe 24H Series TOPCARSPORTANDREDCAMEL-JORDANS.NLAREVICTORIOUS INTHE FIRSTTWOROUNDSATDUBAI ANDMUGELLO The Red Camel-Jordans.nl CUPRA of Ivo and Rik Breukers emerged victorious in the 12H Mugello (above), beating the other CUPRA of Harry Hilders and Gijs Bessem entered by NKPP Racing by Bas Koeten Racing. The AC Motorsport Audi RS 3 LMS of Stéphane Perrin/Mathieu Detry completed the podium. All three teams began ‘part two’ of the 12-hour event on the same lap, and the Red Camel CUPRA was quickly on a charge going door-to-door with both the AC Motorsport Audi and the NKPP Racing CUPRA throughout the opening hour. Having played its pit strategy to perfection during multiple Code 60 cautions, the orange CUPRA eventually pulled two laps clear of its rivals en-route to its first win of the season. An unluckily timed Code 60 caution meant NKPP Racing overtook AC Motorsport for second place during the final pit stops. This result enabled the AC Motorsport team (right) to take the lead in the standings, two points clear of the Autorama Motorsport by Wolf-Power Racing #1 Golf GTI.