Norbert Michelisz won the first race of the 2026 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour in Misano, leading a BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse 1-2 to a formation finish. Pole-sitter and early race leader Mikel Azcona relinquished his lead and kept the Cyan Racing Geely Preface of Yann Ehrlacher at bay throughout the remainder of the race.
The top five stayed in order at the start, while Aurélien Comte leapt to sixth, soon joined by the fast-starting Honda of Esteban Guerrieri, who was up to seventh from P11 on the grid by the end of the first lap. Jenson Brickley was an early retirement, stopping soon with a broken splitter after a fight with Jean-Karl Vernay.
Up front, Azcona pulled aside at the end of lap two to allow Michelisz into the lead, while the two Geely cars of Ehrlacher and Santiago Urrutia continued to chase.
Thed Björk in fifth fell slightly back and found himself defending against the CUPRA of Comte. Despite several attempts to find a way past, Comte had to settle for sixth, while also keeping an eye behind to defend against Guerrieri.
Ma Qing Hua finished the race in eighth, ensuring all four of Geely Cyan Racing’s cars had a strong result for the first race, though he was also defending to keep back Jean-Karl Vernay, who had made good progress after starting 12th.
There was more success for BRC, as Gabriele Covini finished in tenth place, and was the winner of the first ETS Guest Star Trophy.
The one-place grid promotion was earned by Azcona, who set the fastest lap and so will move up to ninth on the reversed grid for Race 2 that will get underway at 11:05 CEST tomorrow, with the ALM Motorsport Honda of Jenson Brickley starting from the pole.
Quotes from the podium finishers
Norbert Michelisz, 1st: “You cannot wish for anything more. I pushed for 12 laps like crazy and I was able to build enough of a gap. We had made the plan for the swap before the race. It wasn’t an easy decision, but because of the threat from behind we agreed we needed to do anything possible to do a 1-2. We agreed that if whoever was in front didn’t feel as competitive as the car behind, we would swap. We have two cars for the full season, so we can’t leave any points on the table.”
Mikel Azcona, 2nd: “I’m happy to close the strategy and meet our target which was P1 and P2. And we managed it well. My start was very good, and I was able to do a clean first lap which was the target for the beginning. Then when I was second, the blue cars were very strong, and Yann especially in the first sector. They were very competitive for their first race. I didn’t know I set the fastest lap, so It’s good to gain one position tomorrow.”
Yann Ehrlacher, 3rd: “It’s not bad. Our qualifying was good; we had good pace, but it was difficult to put a whole lap together. It’s a good comeback; after my injury in the winter it’s been a long time since I’ve been in the car, so I’m happy to be the lead driver of the blue cars with no testing. I’m very happy with this podium, and it’s the first one for Geely, which is very important for China.”
Race 1
1. Norbert Michelisz (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, Hyundai Elantra N EV), 15 laps
2. Mikel Azcona (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, Hyundai Elantra N EV), 1.170
3. Yann Ehrlacher (Geely Cyan Racing, Geely Preface), 1.704 ...
Fastest lap: 1:41.362, Mikel Azcona in lap 4
ETS Guest Star Trophy: Gabriele Covini (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, Hyundai Elantra N)
Championship points
1. N. Michelisz, 40 pts.; 2. M. Azcona, 40; 3. Y. Ehrlacher, 30 ...
