Thed Björk took his first win of the season in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour at Mid-Ohio, taking the lead away from early race leader Mikel Azcona with three laps to go, with the Hyundai driver struggling for pace during the latter stages of the race.
Björk made the jump to second from third on the grid at the start, passing championship leader Norbert Michelisz, with the Hungarian under immediate pressure from Ma Qing Hua.
Ma was quickly passed by t Esteban Guerrieri on the second lap at Turn 12, with Néstor Girolami also making his way past at Turn 2 at the start of the next lap.
Up front, Azcona was beginning to build a gap to Björk and Michelisz behind, while Yann Ehrlacher was charging through the order from 13th on the grid and was already up to seventh, passing Dušan Borković on lap three. Girolami overtook his countryman Guerrieri for fourth on lap seven, while a lap later Ma dropped behind Ehrlacher to support his teammate’s title bid.
With four laps to go, Azcona’s pace suddenly dropped and Björk and Michelisz behind closed right up with the Spanish driver. Azcona was now on the defensive, battling to keep behind the Swedish racer who tried several different lines to get past, eventually making a dive for the lead at Turn 9 on lap 15.
Björk then bolted away, while Azcona was now under threat from teammate Michelisz, who was able to make a move at Turn 10 on the final lap to take second place away.
Björk’s win was his first in nearly a year, since Hungary last season, and helps move him up to joint-eighth in the drivers’ championship with teammate Ehrlacher, with Urrutia the leading Lynk & Co driver just two points ahead.
Hyundai drivers are now 1-2-3 in the standings, with Michelisz on 132 points, Azcona up to second on 106, and Girolami third on 104.
Race 2 gets underway at 17:45 local time (22:45 CEST), with Marco Butti on pole position.
Mid-Ohio – Race 1
- Thed Björk (Lynk & Co Cyan Racing, Lynk & Co 03 FL), 17 laps
- Norbert Michelisz (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, Hyundai Elantra N), 1.339
- Mikel Azcona (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, Hyundai Elantra N), 2.180
Championship points
- N. Michelisz, 132 pts; 2. M. Azcona, 106; 3. N. Girolami 104
Further information and images @ www.fiatcrworldtour.com
Schedule
Saturday – Race 2: 17:45 (23:45 CEST) live streaming
Picture: WSC/MotorSportMedia
