Hyundai Claims Two 1-2 Finishes at Zhejiang, Sets Up Macau Title Decider

Hyundai Sweeps Zhejiang With Back-to-Back 1-2 Finishes

Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz delivered Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing two sensational 1-2 finishes at the Zhejiang Circuit in China, leaving the pair first and second in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour Drivers’ standings ahead of the season finale in Macau.

Azcona won the rain-hit opening race on Saturday after starting second on the grid, passing team-mate Michelisz early. Michelisz, who took pole, dropped to fifth before fighting back to second. On Sunday, Azcona claimed his fifth victory of the 2026 season in the mainly dry Race 3, passing Santiago Urrutia after a safety-car period. Michelisz again started from pole and defended his position to finish second, protecting Azcona from attacks behind.

The results completed a double-header sweep for BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse. Azcona carried 20 kilograms of Compensation Weight in Zhejiang, while Michelisz ran without additional ballast.

Race 2 Contrasts Fortunes for Team-Mates

Race 2 offered a contrasting picture. Michelisz charged from ninth on the grid to second in wet conditions. Points from that result, his pole position, and his Race 1 runner-up finish earned him pole for Race 3. Azcona, starting 10th on the reversed grid, opted for dry-weather slicks on the front axle expecting the track to dry. The rain persisted, leaving him 14th at the finish. He later called it a mistake from the team’s side.

Standings and the Macau Showdown

Azcona heads to Macau with a 33-point advantage over Michelisz and a 39-point lead over Santiago Urrutia. The 2026 Kumho TCR World Tour concludes on the streets of Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, at the Guia Circuit from November 19 to 22.

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Manager Benoît Nogier said the team heads to Macau with the Drivers’ title "to lose," but warned that the circuit leaves no room for error.

"Macau is a hugely challenging track, any mistake can have big consequences, so it requires full focus from start to finish," Nogier said.

Driver Comments

Azcona described Race 1 as tricky but praised the team’s work, noting that Michelisz let him go inside at the first corner. On Race 3, he said he did not want to risk too much until Urrutia made an error at Turn 16, running onto the astroturf under braking and opening the door for the pass.

Michelisz called his first pole of the season "fantastic" and said his Race 3 target was to defend and protect Azcona. He described the final race as "probably one of the toughest races of my career," adding that the Hyundai Elantra N TCR worked flawlessly.

Hong Kong driver Lo Sze Ho won the Guest Star Trophy in all three races, driving a Hyundai Elantra N TCR for Evolve Racing.

What Is Confirmed and How to Verify

Confirmed: Azcona and Michelisz finished first and second in Races 1 and 3 at Zhejiang; Michelisz finished second in Race 2; Azcona leads the Drivers’ standings by 33 points over Michelisz; the season finale is at Macau’s Guia Circuit on November 19–22.

Not addressed in the announcement: the full Macau entry list, exact tyre specifications beyond the front slicks mentioned for Race 2, or whether Michelisz’s suspected left-rear damage in Race 1 was confirmed by inspection.

Readers can check the original announcement at Hyundai’s official motorsport media center: https://motorsport.hyundai.com/media-center/news/2026/tcr-world-tour/13-review-round-7-zhejiang